Random Drug Testing/Youthful Offenders

Random Drug Test Results Through FY 1999-00

	Valid Tests	Negative Tests	Positive Tests	Positive Rate	Positive Test Results
					Alcohol	Cannabis	Cocaine	Opiates	Other	Total*
FY 1994-95	50,973	48,901	2,072	4.06%	134	1,943	158	–	–	2,235
FY 1995-96	72,238	70,038	2,200	3.05%	95	2,031	173	66	6	2,371
FY 1996-97	77,417	75,814	1,603	2.07%	72	1,450	203	131	53	1,909
FY 1997-98	91,380	90,057	1,323	1.45%	50	1,216	164	123	–	1,553
FY 1998-99	91,945	90,985	960	1.04%	29	851	131	103	–	1,114
FY 1999-00	88,889	87,680	1,209	1.40%	25	1,078	139	55	49	1,346

The Department’s Drug Testing Unit oversees the inmate random drug testing program in which 10% of the inmate population is selected and tested for illegal substances each month through a computerized random selection system. In addition to random drug tests, the program also includes "for cause" testing of any inmate based on reasonable suspicion of involvement with drugs or alcohol. The role of testing, as an integral part of effective substance abuse treatment programs, has been recognized as highly effective in identifying those who have substance abuse problems, getting them into treatment, and monitoring them during the treatment process. Since the inception of the drug testing program in January 1994, the rate of positive tests has declined from 6% to .4% indicating an overall reduction in inmate drug use in our system.

Youthful Offender Population by Facility

Institution	Age Range	Custody	Population
Brevard C. I.	19-24	close/minimum	932
Brevard Work Camp	19-24	medium/minimum	263
Hendry C. I.	19-24	close/minimum	618
Hernando C.I.	19-24	close/minimum	113
Hillsborough C.I	14-18	close/medium/minimum	288
Indian River C. I.	14-18	close/minimum	367
Lake City C.I.	19-24	close/medium/minimum	343
Lancaster C. I.	19-24	medium/minimum	574
Lancaster W.C.	19-24	medium/minimum	253
Lowell C.I.-Women Boot	24 and below	medium/minimum	13
Lowell C.I.-Womens Unit	24 and below	close/medium/minimum	105
Sumter B.T.U.	24 and below	medium/minimum	101
Reception Centers	24 and below	close/minimum	344
Work Release Centers	24 and below	minimum	279
Contract Work Release Centers			14
Other (Broward,ZHCI)			10
TOTAL			4,617

• The Court may sentence a person as a youthful offender if the crime was committed prior to his or her twenty-first birthday (F.S.958.04)
• The Department of Corrections may classify an inmate as a youthful offender if he or she is 24 years old or under, with a sentence of 10 years or less. Vulnerable inmates who are 19 or under with a sentence of more than 10 years may also be classified as youthful offenders, if their safety would be jeopardized in an adult institution. YO’s must also be on their first prison commitment.
• During FY 1999-00, 55 inmates were at some point classified in youthful offender status for protective reasons. (F.S.588.11)
• Capital or life felons may not be classified or sentence as youthful offenders.

This information is also available for download/printing as an Adobe Acrobat 87K PDF file.