Jun 01, 2012
DJJ is excited to be opening up the Florida Statutes that govern the delivery of services to young people who are at risk or involved in the juvenile justice system. We hope proposed revisions to the law will break down barriers so that youth receive the services they need.
Dear DJJ team members:
Welcome to my weekly letter. Please allow me to share some recent news and announcements.
THE FUTURE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE: DJJ is excited to be opening up the Florida Statutes that govern the delivery of services to young people who are at risk or involved in the juvenile justice system. We hope proposed revisions to the law will break down barriers so that youth receive the services they need. We have established a process for employees and all members of the public to follow so that your voice and all others with a stake in reform may be heard as we craft proposed revisions for the Florida Legislature to consider in the 2013 session. We have identified key areas to target for proposed revision in the 2013 session, which begins in March. An oversight committee will be formed in late summer to review the work done as a result of input from stakeholders, providers and the public that share the vision of improving the juvenile justice system. We have identified six working groups for each juvenile justice issue. These working groups will represent various juvenile justice stakeholders, including our boards and councils, and will review subjects and issues for inclusion in any proposed changes to state law. You may submit your name online through the dedicated web page if you are interested in actively participating on a specific work group. This project is based on a very ambitious timeline. This month we will be hearing from you and your recommendations and the working groups will finalize a collaborative draft by July. The draft will go before an oversight committee designated by me that will convene in early August to make final recommendations. Because input from all juvenile justice stakeholders is extremely important and critical to this process, we have dedicated a webpage on our website (www.djj.state.fl.us) to this reform effort. Please use the form on the webpage to identify which areas of the juvenile justice system in which you are interested. You may also send your comments via letter. Please remember that all comments and information you submit to DJJ on the form, or by any other correspondence, become public record under state law. If you would like to be contacted in the future and/or receive updates as we move through this reform process, please provide your email address and other relevant contact information on the form. Please refer any questions or comments about this initiative to comments@djj.state.fl.us or by calling Nikki Blanton at 850.414.8398 or by writing to her at DJJ headquarters, 2737 Centerview Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32399.
RESIDENTIAL KUDOS: The following email was sent May 29 by a former DJJ youth to Oliver Jones, director of Pensacola Boys Base. The young man is now a vice president at a Florida company and his letter shows the value he places on the help he received at DJJ.
Mr. Jones,
I am a former resident of PBB. I was there from December 2005 – June 2006. While I was there I worked with Mr. Cotton to graduate high school and get my diploma within a few weeks of being there. After that, my greatest influence, Mr. Newsome, helped to get me in the JJET (juvenile justice education training) program, a period of time I will never forget. I have to say that some of the staff took a bad situation and rough time that I was in and turned it around for me. It showed me what life was like to not be able to come and go as you please, be taken away from family and loved ones, and really made me realize that was not a road I ever wanted to go down. Although I still believe the punishment given to me by the judge was excessive, I wouldn’t trade the experience. Without it I would not be where I am today. I appreciate everything that yourself, Mr. Scott, Mr. Newsome, Mr. Stier, Mr. Riley, and the rest of the staff did to show me the right path to go down. I am happy to report that I have a great career and I am doing well, a great deal of that thanks to the experience I learned from my stay at PBB. I know that former residents are not allowed to be mentors but if there is anything else I can do for PBB, please don’t hesitate to ask. If you would pass my gratitude on to the staff it would be much appreciated.
Thank you (Name redacted for confidentiality)
WORKING TOGETHER: Juvenile Probation Officer (JPO) Supervisor John W. Thompson and ResidentialCommitment Manager Virgil Wright recently guided staff from the State Attorney’s Office for the 7th Judicial Circuit on a tour of Impact House (a residential substance abuse treatment program with behavioral health overlay services), Duval Juvenile Residential Facility (which has mental health overlay services), and Duval Regional Juvenile Detention Center (RJDC). In a letter, John said: “My hope in arranging the tours was to impress that our commitment programs offer excellent substance abuse counseling, mental health services, education and a positive environment of caring.” He wanted to show the attorneys that youth treatment needs could be met without petitioning the court for a higher level of commitment, “a juvenile commitment program can be a viable alternative to an adult filing, (and) that youth can be served and saved in the juvenile system.” Stuart Wolcott, a commitment manager supervisor in the Office of Residential Services, noted that escorting the tours went above and beyond the normal call of duty: “By taking the time to accompany the attorneys, (Virgil and John were) able to respond to specific questions, to point out program features and to educate them about the specific programs and our continuum. I have found that when the attorneys are familiar with the programs and have a level of confidence and appreciation towards them, they are less punitive and the youth get a better opportunity.” Thanks to Virgil and John for working together to improve outcomes for youth!
PROBATION KUDOS: On May 17, Circuit 19 JPOs Eddie Davis and Nicos Antonakos volunteered to present information about juvenile probation to a group of middle school students from James E. Sampson Memorial School, a private Christian school in St. Lucie County. The presentation was the final field trip for Juvenile Justice Project 2012, coordinated by Ft. Pierce Police Officer Daniela “Dani” Dreizehnter. Many of the school’s students are from economically disadvantaged, minority neighborhoods and are able to attend due to the Step up for Students Scholarship Program. Dani developed the series of field trips after noticing that many of the students were from high risk backgrounds and neighborhoods. She was especially motivated when one of the school’s students was arrested and direct-filed to the adult system. Juvenile Justice Project 2012 enrichment experiences were designed to follow imaginary youth beginning with arrest for shoplifting and included discussions with a state attorney, a public defender and a local juvenile judge as well as visits to a juvenile courtroom in session and the exterior area of St. Lucie RJDC. The final presentation by Eddie and Nicos ended with a question-and-answer session about probation sanctions, consequences, types of charges and jurisdiction, and helped participating students develop a more meaningful understanding of the importance and possible consequences of their choices. Partnering with efforts such as this benefits youth and builds stronger communities. A letter of appreciation to Probation from the school is below.
We the student body, faculty and School Board of James E. Sampson Memorial School would like to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to educate and inspire our young people to make good choices throughout their life.
We are very appreciative of your efforts and commitment to all young people and feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to visit your courtroom (sic). Our aim and goal is to instill in our students the truth that they should always take the high road and focus on their goals. You have reinforced that aim in our students and we are truly grateful for your influence.
Thank you again. You are appreciated.
Regards, James E. Sampson Memorial School Family
GENERAL COUNSEL KUDOS: Chakita Jenkins has worked for DJJ for six years in various administrative support positions. Since 2008, she has been working in litigation support in the Office of the General Counsel, where she has earned “outstanding” evaluations. Recently, she demonstrated exemplary service when her expedited response helped to get a lawsuit against DJJ dismissed. Defending lawsuits filed against DJJ is a necessary process, and Chakita helped bring an end to the expense of a case that had been in dispute for more than five years. Below is a letter from DJJ outside counsel praising Chakita.
Please be advised that I was the attorney assigned to the above-referenced matter for litigation. During this difficult and extensive case, I was fortunate to work with Chakita Jenkins, who was of great assistance and conducted herself with the utmost professionalism during this entire matter. In fact, without her assistance, we would not have been able to successfully defend this case and have such matter dismissed. As such, I just want you to know that she has been of tremendous help and is obviously an asset to the Department.
Sincerely,
Christopher J. Whitelock, Whitelock & Associates, P.A., Attorneys at Law
PREVENTION KUDOS: Thanks to Salvador Renaldi, a friend of juvenile justice in Circuit 15/Palm Beach County, who recently donated a 40” flat screen television to Palm Beach RJDC. Mr. Renaldi is active in local efforts to establish a neighborhood accountability board and is working with the Palm Beach Catholic Diocese to become a Faith Partner volunteer.
Salvador Renaldi with Palm Beach RJDC Assistant Superintendent Ann Marie Campbell
NEW EMPLOYEE BENEFIT! ONLINE MBA: I am pleased to announce that DJJ is partnering with Academic Partnerships to offer reduced tuition rates on an online MBA program from Florida International University (FIU). Employees and their family members have the opportunity to enroll in a fully accredited online MBA program at reduced tuition rates.The FIU MBA program also offers the following benefits to those who enroll:
- $10,000 Scholarship available for employees and family members (partner tuition $27,500) of DJJ (non-partner tuition $37,500)
- Employees may utilize the Tuition Waiver Program – Section 1009-.265, providing space is available. Please note: OPS employees are not eligible to participate in the tuition waiver program.
- 100% online – no residency requirements
- No GMAT needed
- Earn your MBA in 18 months
- Multiple start dates per year
- Same professors as the on-campus students
As always, thank you for your dedication and service to youth, communities and the public.
Sincerely,
Wansley Walters
Secretary
PS: Please send any noteworthy or newsworthy items for consideration in my weekly letter to Communications Director C. J. Drake at cj.drake@djj.state.fl.us or call 850.921.5905. Submissions are considered on a space-available basis and may be edited for clarity and length. Thank you for your cooperation.