(a) Repealed by Session Laws 2013-289, s. 5, effective July 18, 2013.
(b) The Secretary shall have the following powers and duties and may delegate those powers and duties to the appropriate deputy secretary, commissioner, or director within the Department of Public Safety:
(1) Give leadership to the implementation as appropriate of State policy that requires that youth development centers be phased out as populations diminish.
(2) Close a State youth development center when its operation is no longer justified and transfer State funds appropriated for the operation of that youth development center to fund community-based programs, to purchase care or services for predelinquents, delinquents, or status offenders in community-based or other appropriate programs, or to improve the efficiency of existing youth development centers, after consultation with the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations.
(3) Administer a sound admission or intake program for juvenile facilities, including the requirement of a careful evaluation of the needs of each juvenile prior to acceptance and placement.
(4) Operate juvenile facilities and implement programs that meet the needs of juveniles receiving services and that assist them to become productive, responsible citizens.
(5) Adopt rules to implement this Part and the responsibilities of the Secretary and the Division under Chapter 7B of the General Statutes. The Secretary may adopt rules applicable to local human services agencies providing juvenile court and delinquency prevention services for the purpose of program evaluation, fiscal audits, and collection of third-party payments.
(6) Ensure a statewide and uniform system of juvenile intake, protective supervision, probation, and post-release supervision services in all district court districts of the State. The system shall provide appropriate, adequate, and uniform services to all juveniles who are alleged or found to be undisciplined or delinquent.
(7) Establish procedures for substance abuse testing for juveniles adjudicated delinquent for substance abuse offenses.
(8) Plan, develop, and coordinate comprehensive multidisciplinary services and programs statewide for the prevention of juvenile delinquency, early intervention, and rehabilitation of juveniles.
(9) Develop standards, approve yearly program evaluations, and make recommendations based on the evaluations to the General Assembly concerning continuation funding.
(10) Collect expense data for every program operated and contracted by the Division.
(11) Develop a formula for funding, on a matching basis, juvenile court and delinquency prevention services as provided for in this Part. This formula shall be based upon the county's or counties' relative ability to fund community-based programs for juveniles.
Local governments receiving State matching funds for programs under this Part must maintain the same overall level of effort that existed at the time of the filing of the county assessment of juvenile needs with the Division.
(12) Assist local governments and private service agencies in the development of juvenile court services and delinquency prevention services and provide information on the availability of potential funding sources and assistance in making application for needed funding.
(13) Develop and administer a comprehensive juvenile justice information system to collect data and information about delinquent juveniles for the purpose of developing treatment and intervention plans and allowing reliable assessment and evaluation of the effectiveness of rehabilitative and preventive services provided to delinquent juveniles.
(14) Coordinate State-level services in relation to delinquency prevention and juvenile court services so that any citizen may go to one place in State government to receive information about available juvenile services.
(15) Appoint the chief court counselor in each district.
(16) Develop a statewide plan for training and professional development of chief court counselors, court counselors, and other personnel responsible for the care, supervision, and treatment of juveniles. The plan shall include attendance at appropriate professional meetings and opportunities for educational leave for academic study.
(17) Study issues related to qualifications, salary ranges, appointment of personnel on a merit basis, including chief court counselors, court counselors, secretaries, and other appropriate personnel, at the State and district levels in order to adopt appropriate policies and procedures governing personnel.
(18) Set, in consultation with the Office of State Human Resources, the salary supplement paid to teachers, instructional support personnel, and school-based administrators who are employed at juvenile facilities and are licensed by the State Board of Education. The salary supplement shall be at least five percent (5%), but not more than the percentage supplement they would receive if they were employed in the local school administrative unit where the job site is located. These salary supplements shall not be paid to central office staff. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to include "merit pay" under the term "salary supplement".
(19) Designate persons, as necessary, as State juvenile justice officers, to provide for the care and supervision of juveniles placed in the physical custody of the Division.
(c) Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Part and in Article 1 of this Chapter, the Secretary of Public Safety shall prescribe the functions, powers, duties, and obligations of every agency or section in the Division.
(d) Where Division statistics indicate the presence of minority youth in juvenile facilities disproportionate to their presence in the general population, the Division shall develop and recommend appropriate strategies designed to ensure fair and equal treatment in the juvenile justice system.
(e) The Division may provide consulting services and technical assistance to courts, law enforcement agencies, and other agencies, local governments, and public and private organizations. The Division may develop or assist Juvenile Crime Prevention Councils in developing community needs, assessments, and programs relating to the prevention and treatment of delinquent and undisciplined behavior.
(f) The Division shall develop a cost-benefit model for each State-funded program. Program commitment and recidivism rates shall be components of the model. (1998-202, ss. 1(b), 2(b), 2(f); 1998-217, ss. 57(2), 57(3); 2000-137, s. 1(b); 2001-95, s. 5; 2001-490, s. 2.40; 2003-284, s. 17.2(a); 2005-276, s. 29.19(b); 2006-203, s. 111; 2008-118, s. 3.12(c); 2011-145, s. 19.1(l), (t); 2012-83, s. 12; 2013-289, s. 5; 2013-360, s. 16D.7(b); 2013-382, s. 9.1(c).)
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Last modified: March 23, 2014