• Word processing software We know that homeless youth and those in the foster care system are more likely to commit status offenses like skipping school and breaking curfew. They may

also commit petty crimes to meet their needs. One of the current trends in juvenile justice is diverting youth from the system altogether. This means preventing delinquent behaviors before they happen. Although the Juvenile Court Act of 1899 keeps juveniles separate from adult offenders in prisons, there are certain circumstances in which it is permissible for states to house juveniles with adults. Because the state of Florida has the highest number of juveniles in adult prisons, it seems that enough is not being done to divert youth away from the Florida justice system. For this activity, you will come up with a plan for young people in Florida (or any other state) from delinquency. You must include the following in your plan: • At least three status offenses or crimes that the plan aims to prevent • Information or statistics on these crimes and any connected circumstances (e.g., homelessness, foster care, abuse/neglect) At least five ways that police officers and/or other juvenile justice workers could aid in prevention • Information on at least one alternative program that could be used to help youth avoid offending/reoffending/nYour goal is to create a solid plan that, when put into place, would divert youth away from the justice system altogether. To do so, you'll need to combine research with original ideas. Step 1: Research Elements and Documentation Before you begin creating your plan, take a moment to research the top offenses that youth are committing in the state you are writing the plan for. Gather statistics and see if you can find a connection between these offenses and outside factors. You will want to include this information in your plan. You will also need to decide which of these status offenses or crimes your prevention plan will focus on. Will your ideas help youth avoid disorderly conduct charges? Will it help lower the number of teens being caught with alcohol? The decision is yours. Step 2: Create Your Plan Next, you'll need to come up with at least five actionable items that juvenile justice workers/advocates could use to help reduce the number of youth committing and being arrested for these offenses. You should also include information on at least one alternative program that could assist in this process. You don't need to use a special program, simply type your plan a word processing document. If you'd like, you can find or create a template to structure your plan. You can include images, but it is not required. To complete this activity, please submit your plan.