JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice was notified early Monday morning that five non-violent youth offenders had run away from Duval Academy, a non-secure residential treatment program for 14- to 18-year-old males facing non-violent criminal charges.
That's on top of two juveniles who ran while on the recreational field of the facility on Friday.
Law enforcement officials were immediately contacted and officers reported to the facility and are working to locate the seven juveniles.
The 28-bed facility at 7500 Ricker Road, on the Westside, is operated by a private contractor, Youth Services International.
Admissions to Duval Academy have been frozen and DJJ staff is on site to work with Youth Services International on an immediate corrective action plan.
Department of Juvenile Justice officials at the facility Monday said they did not wish to comment on the incidents, but the DJJ secretary in Tallahassee issued a statement.
"We will be working with law enforcement to ensure that those youth that absconded are quickly and safely taken into custody," said Christina Daly. "DJJ residential services staff will be conducting interviews and thoroughly investigating these incidents to ensure they do not happen again."
Neighbors in the area told News4Jax they were not happy they were not told about the runaways.
"I live across the street and (the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office) hasn't even come and notified us that there are seven escapees from this facility," said Bronson Rivera. "I figured, if anything, they would have people come knock on our doors and say, 'We have people that have let loose or gone free and be on the lookout.'"
Freddie Johnson said he has lived next to the detention facility for nine years and this is the first time he has heard about an escape, although he added, "I would not know if I hadn't seen the news van.