In response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, this week, the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) has issued a supplemental emergency order continuing the suspension of visitation at all state-operated juvenile detention centers and juvenile residential commitment programs until May 15.
DJJ continues to assess the safety of its facilities and will restore visitation with modifications to the normal procedures when it is safe to do so. Parents and guardians will be contacted directly regarding the visitation schedule and the screening criteria for their child’s specific facility when modified visitation is restored.
“We are concentrating all our efforts on fighting the spread of the virus and keeping the youth and staff inside our facilities safe,” said DJJ Sec. Simone Marstiller on Wednesday. “Visitation with family is an important part of a youth’s rehabilitation, and we look forward to restoring those visits in a safe and mindful way.”
DJJ will continue to ensure regular communication between youth and their families. Clinical personnel are still permitted to visit youth for treatment purposes, instructional personnel are permitted to provide educational services, and attorneys are permitted to conduct legal visits with youth. Parents or family members with questions about visitation should contact the facility where their child is located.
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