The Coordinating Council of Broward, the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice and the South Florida Regional Planning Council undertook this study to examine the rising incidence of delinquency among middle school age youth in Broward County over the period 1990 through 1995, to map where the offenders live in the County in order to identify "hot spots" where service targeting or further study might be warranted, and to inventory the services available to address the needs of these youth. A summary of the findings appears below:

• 5,112 middle school age youths were referred for 12,507 felony and misdemeanor offenses in Broward County during the period 1993-1995.
• The total number of reported offenses committed by middle school age youth in Broward County increased by 27% from 1990-92 to 1993-95 while the population of 10 to 14 year old youth increased an estimated 14% during the same period.
• During the period 1990-95, for each year of increase in age, the number of offenses committed by 11 to 14 year olds almost doubled -- 1,666 offenses were committed by 11 year olds; 3,347 were committed by 12 year olds; 7,437 were committed by 13 year olds; and 13,081 were committed by 14 year olds.
• Three ZIP Codes -- 33311 (northwest Ft. Lauderdale), 33313 (east Sunrise) and 33060 (west Pompano Beach) recorded the highest numbers of felony and misdemeanor offenses during the five year period 1990-95 and were the only areas in the County with reported number of offenses for this age group in excess of 1,000.
• ZIP Code 33311 (northwest Ft. Lauderdale) is the most populous of the 53 ZIP Codes in Broward County; ranked #1 (highest) in the number of offenses reported among middle school age youth during 1990-95 and ranked #5 in the rate of offenses per 1,000 youths during the same period. This ZIP Code also ranked highest in the County for associated risk factors -- lowest median income, highest number of poor youth and highest number of single parents.
• ZIP Code 33311 (northwest Ft. Lauderdale) recorded more than 2 times as many felony offenses against persons (bodily harm) as the second ranked ZIP Code for this type of offense.
• ZIP Code 33060 (west Pompano Beach) ranked #1 (highest) in the rate of offenses per 1,000 youths during 1993-95.
• More than 20% or 219 out of every 1,000 middle school age youth in west Pompano Beach were referred for offenses during the period 1993-95 -- 3 times the County average of 7.3% or 73 per 1,000 middle school age youths.
• Three general regions of the County show significant delinquent activity by the middle school age group and are recommended for further examination and targeted services:
• Central and east Broward including parts of Ft. Lauderdale, Lauderdale Lakes and east Sunrise;
• The section of Pompano Beach between Federal Highway and I-95 in northeast Broward; and
• Parts of central Hollywood and Miramar in the southern region of the County.
• Explosive growth in middle school age youth is expected to continue through at least 2005.
• More than ½ of the population growth in Broward between 1995 and 2015 is projected to take place in the area west of State Road 7.
• The lowest overall number of services reported for this age group occurs in the southwest quadrant of the County where the growth is projected to continue at a high rate.
• 40% of the services, the highest number, were reported provided in the central east section of the county, which was found to be the "hot spot" on the maps for highest number of felony and misdemeanor crimes.

For further information about the report or to obtain copies, please contact Richard F. Ogburn.

This page and all contents prepared by the South Florida Regional Planning Council.
Updated on Jan. 28, 1997