C.J. v. State

C.J., a child, appeals the trial court’s adjudication of delinquency and commitment to the Department of Juvenile Justice. The trial court erred because it failed to refer to the needs of the child or explain why its consideration of the evidence led to a different conclusion than that recommended by the Department. S.C. v. State, 877 So.2d 850 (Fla. 1st DCA 2004); D.R.B. v. State, 876 So.2d 700 (Fla. 1st DCA 2004). The trial court’s reasons for disagreement were a restatement of facts already known to the Department without an explanation of the reasons for coming to a different conclusion.

Th…