Mar 02, 2012

Dear DJJ Team Members:

Welcome to my weekly letter. Please allow me to share the following news and announcements.

NEW CHIEF OF INVESTIGATIONS: I am pleased to announce the appointment of Keith W. Morris as Chief of Investigations for the Office of the Inspector General. Keith fills the position vacated by Howard Greenfield, who recently accepted a similar post with the Florida Department of Transportation. We again commend Howard for his fine work here and wish him the best at FDOT. Keith served as an IG investigator in northwest Florida for 18 months and recently completed his Certified Inspector General Inspector certification from the National Association of Inspectors General. Keith has 28 years of law enforcement experience, including serving as second-in-command with the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. His impressive background includes administration, staff and financial management, budgeting, law enforcement accreditation, and the development and coordination of grant-funded programs, as well as extensive investigation experience. He received a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Troy University. Please join me in welcoming Keith to the IG’s office. We are confident his skills and qualifications will be an asset in this key position.

PROBATION SPOTLIGHT: Juvenile Probation Officer Bernika Stokes was working at the Marion County Work In Lieu of Arrest (WILA) Civil Citation program when she recognized a youth who was on probation. She quickly informed the program coordinator and learned that the youth had lied about his prior contact with law enforcement. By spelling his name incorrectly he was able to avoid detection of his probation violation and qualify for WILA. As a Civil Citation program, participation in WILA allows first-time misdemeanant youth to avoid a law violation, but it is not available to repeat offenders. Due to Bernika’s vigilance, the deception was discovered and on Feb. 8, Marion County Sheriff Ed Dean presented her with the “Eagle Eye” award in recognition. Kudos to Bernika for safeguarding the integrity of the Civil Citation process!

FAITH PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: Leo Fisher is senior chaplain with DJJ in Palm Beach County, where he has been helping troubled youth for more than eight years. He and five other volunteer chaplains in the area provide youth access to spiritual care, regardless of religious affiliation. Four months ago, one of the boys in the Palm Beach Regional Detention Center broke his eyeglasses. Chaplain Fisher offered to repair them. The retailer he visited told him of the OneSight program, which repairs or replaces broken glasses free of charge. Since then, two more youths in detention have been helped through the program. Chaplain Fisher says that of all the ministries he serves, he enjoys working with youth in the juvenile justice system the most. “I see Christ in these kids.”

A HEARTFELT TESTIMONIAL: Allow me to share with you excerpts from a youth essay. It was the winning entry for a Circuit 14 contest during the recent celebration of Children’s Week organized by Juvenile Probation Officers April Cannon and Samantha Jones. This poignant account highlights the difficulties faced by many of the children we serve.

“I am 15 years old and this is my story…My father left when I was seven months old…Shortly after that my mother was arrested and incarcerated for shoplifting some clothes. So I lived with my grandmother…She taught me the right way to be. She taught me manners and how to show respect to my elders. She didn’t have a job so we had to live in the projects. We got by on Food Stamps and occasional assistance from friends and family… My grandmother wasn’t only good to me, she was good to everyone.


I was introduced to drugs at an extremely young age by my Uncle D…Unfortunately, everyone but my grandmother treated me this way…


Life continued for me this way until I was eight, that’s when tragedy struck. My grandmother who had provided for me had a stroke that left her entire left side paralyzed. Her memory was left so damaged she couldn’t remember much outside her own name and birthdate. She didn’t even recognize me, something that crushed my spirit.


Whenever we did live on our own it seldom lasted for long. We were doing good for a little bit and then money would get tight and our lights and water would get cut off. Sometimes we lived in hotel rooms. I began to get in trouble with police for hanging out with kids who stole things…


When I was 13…my mother got locked up. I ended getting in trouble and had to come live with my father. I had been visiting him the last two summers but still didn’t know him that well. I was still mad at him for not being around so I refused to live by his rules. This resulted in us fighting. We hit each other, but I got arrested for it which led to six months’ probation. This whole experience has been an eye opener and I’m beginning to finally understand what my father’s been trying to teach me. He’s trying to teach me that even though your past does in a way make you who you are it doesn’t have to dictate where you’re heading.


I find myself at a crossroads…”

This essay powerfully reminds me that how we treat the children in our care can influence the path they choose for their lives. Keith, Bernika and Chaplain Fisher, thank you for your vigilance and dedication. April and Samantha, and to all employees, thank you for all you do to help troubled children choose a path to a brighter future.

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.