Gov. Scott proposing 10% pay raise for juvenile detention probation officers

Governor Rick Scott today announced that he will propose a 10 percent pay raise for juvenile detention and juvenile probation officers in his 2018-2019 recommended budget. The Governor will recommend $8 million in pay raises to support officer recruitment and retention and to reward these officers for their life changing work in the juvenile justice system. The State of Florida has more than 2,000 juvenile detention and juvenile probation officers who work around the clock to protect Florida’s at-risk youth and keep families and communities safe.
Governor Scott said, “Over the past six and a half years, we have taken aggressive steps to reform Florida’s juvenile justice system. Today, I’m proud to announce that as part of my upcoming recommended budget, I will be proposing an $8 million investment for the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice to use as a 10 percent pay raise for the recruitment and retention of detention and probation officers.
“Florida’s juvenile detention and probation officers have the important responsibility of working with youth in DJJ care, but they also have the unique opportunity to help change lives and redirect our youth to a successful path. I look forward to working with the Legislature during the upcoming session to pass this 10 percent pay raise, which will ensure DJJ can hire highly qualified and dedicated detention and probation officers to help our youth and keep our communities safe for years to come.”
Florida Department of Juvenile Justice Secretary Christina K. Daly said, “I am extremely proud of the thousands of staff who come to work every day to change the lives of the youth and families we serve and the dedication they put forth in ensuring our communities are safer places to live, work and play. Governor Scott’s commitment to making Florida a leader in juvenile justice began on the first day of his administration and continues today, and I cannot thank him enough for his recognition of the importance of dedicating resources for the recruitment and retention of committed, high-quality employees.”
Today’s proposal builds on the Governor’s proposed $30 million investment in pay raises for our state law enforcement agencies to use for officer recruitment and retention, and the pay raises for state law enforcement and correctional officers included in the current year’s budget. The Governor’s entire 2018-2019 recommended budget will be released prior to the beginning of the upcoming legislative session.