Circuit 13 review finds 62% civil‑citation utilization; members push for ZIP‑level data and JACC model

Circuit 13 advisory board members reviewed a department presentation showing that, from December 2023 through November 2024, the circuit issued pre‑arrest delinquency citations to roughly 60–62% of eligible youths while 299 eligible youths were arrested instead of being offered a citation.

The presentation said Circuit 13 had 797 pre‑arrest delinquency‑citation‑eligible youths during the period and that the statewide average was about 62.2%. Domestic‑violence‑related eligible youths received citations at a lower rate locally (about 51%) than the statewide average (about 35%), and 114 domestic‑violence‑eligible youths in the circuit were arrested in lieu of citation; 40 of those cases received diversion services, the presentation said.

Why it matters: board members said higher citation utilization can reduce formal juvenile records and increase diversion to community services. Members and presenters discussed operational changes and data needs that they said could increase utilization.

Presenters and data: Chief Hammersley (department staff) summarized statewide and circuit citation dashboards and said…