A.S. v. State

Appellant, A.S., appeals the trial court’s Final Disposition Order, in which the court committed him to a maximum-risk residential program. Appellant argues that this disposition must be reversed because the trial court failed to state its reasons for departing from the recommendation of the Department of Juvenile Justice (“DJJ”) and failed to make reference to the characteristics of the program vis-a-vis his needs. Because we agree with appellant, we reverse the trial court’s disposition and remand for further proceedings.

The State charged appellant with shooting or throwing deadly missiles…