Feb 08, 2013

Dear DJJ team members:

Welcome to my weekly letter. I am pleased to share the following news and announcements.

ROADMAP UPDATE: Last week, while I was in the Panhandle for Roadmap to System Excellence meetings in Bay and Escambia counties, I visited the staff and youth at the Pensacola Boys Base, the Escambia Regional Juvenile Detention Center (RJDC) and the PACE Center for girls in Pensacola. At the Escambia RJDC, I had the pleasure of joining a group of juvenile justice officials from around the world – Poland, Egypt, Rwanda, Okinawa, Uruguay, Spain, and Trinidad and Tobago – as they toured the facility. They were visiting Florida as part of the International Visitor Leadership Program, under the auspices of the U.S. Department of State.I’m honored one of our facilities was selected – a true testament to the value of the work we do each and every day.

With international visitors at the Escambia Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Pensacola

The next Roadmap Town Hall meeting is in Duval County on Wednesday, Feb. 27 (this is a date change from what was previously announced). Please visit the Roadmap meeting calendar for the location. The meeting begins at 6:00 pm.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: On Thursday, Jan. 31, Governor Rick Scott announced his Florida Families First 2013-14 Budget. Juvenile justice stakeholders across Florida voiced their support for the DJJ budget, which funds the priorities in our Roadmap to System Excellence. This week DJJ Director of Administration Fred Schuknecht briefed the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice regarding community based programs that are currently funded in DJJ’s FY 2012-13 budget as part of the Florida Senate's review of funding for all local initiatives. Staff and I also met with individual legislators to discuss the agency’s 2013 legislative initiatives; Gov. Scott’s budget recommendations for DJJ, which shift dollars from the deep end to prevention programs (CINS/FINS, PACE-Miami) and budget recommendations that support the Department's Roadmap to System Excellence; juvenile records and impact on youth; recently filed legislation that would impact the provision of education for youth in DJJ's residential and detention facilities. Today, Rep. Janet Adkins will tour a DJJ residential program in her district in Nassau County to observe the provision of education in our facilities. She will be joined by DJJ Director of Education Joan Wimmer.

Next week is the fifth committee week of the 2013 legislative session. On Tuesday, Feb. 12, two DJJ bills will be heard in the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee: HB 4019-Youth Custody Officer and HB 353-Grand Jury Recommendations and Jail Tours. Thanks to Rep. Gayle Harrell and Sen. Greg Evers for their sponsorship of both bills. On Wednesday, Feb. 13, we will present an update on the Roadmap to System Excellence and residential bed utilization to the House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee.

CIVIL CITATION UPDATE: Currently, 49 of Florida’s 67 counties operate a juvenile civil citation process. This is good news for first-time misdemeanant youth and for Florida residents, whose local taxes fund juvenile justice-related law enforcement and court costs. Since most youth who are arrested do not re-offend, those who successfully complete civil citation requirements are able to avoid a criminal record. The costs to implement civil citation are drastically less than those to process a child through DJJ. Civil citations put Florida’s families first by keeping communities safe while reducing the burden to taxpayers.

During my trip last week to the Panhandle to discuss the Roadmap to System Excellence, I was honored to meet State Attorney William Eddins and Circuit Judge Edward P. Nickinson, III, who hears juvenile cases in the First Judicial Circuit. Both expressed their interest in developing a civil citation process in Escambia County to further strengthen diversion services. Also, stakeholders in Bay County expressed that they may be willing to consider the addition of the civil citation process. Currently, Bay County has a successful Teen Court program and the introduction of the civil citation process could further reduce taxpayer costs for dealing with first time, misdemeanant youth.

CONGRATULATIONS: The following team members graduated from basic officer training at the Florida Public Safety Institute in Tallahassee today. To become certified juvenile justice probation officers (JPOs), they successfully completed 196 hours of training. Thanks to Chief of Staff Alex Kelly and probation senior analyst Jean Becker-Powell for speaking to the graduating class, emphasizing the importance of their service as we work with Florida’s families to achieve better outcomes for youth.

Ashley Baird

Liduvina Betancourt

Scott Buchanan

Willie Bullard, Jr.

Vicki Burke

Vogiel Celestin, Jr.

Elvin Corey, Jr.

Gibenson Dieu

Willie Francis

Carolyn Hernandez

Henri Holmes

Brandon Hurbs

Stephen Meredith

Jose Rivera

Caroline Romero

Betsy Santiago

Kimberly Schneider

Sharon Seales

Laqueda Smith

Joseph Vertil, Jr.

Glendale Walker

Teqouria Wheeler

Leo Williams

Shelly-Ann Wilson

DJJ Human Trafficking Director Tyson Elliott

WELCOME ABOARD: I am pleased to announce that Tyson Elliott has joined DJJ as human trafficking director. He will train current staff on human trafficking screening techniques for youth; develop a curriculum for the DJJ probation and detention officer training academies; and assist in the development of human trafficking policies and procedures. Tyson has an extensive background in human trafficking training and policy. As a certified law enforcement officer, he investigated child crimes and human trafficking at sheriff’s offices in Osceola and Alachua counties, and has recovered both foreign-born and domestic human trafficking victims. Tyson also started and co-chaired the Alachua County Human Trafficking Task Force. For the past two years, Tyson served as the statewide human trafficking coordinator for the Florida Department of Children and Families, where he helped train staff, developed human trafficking policy and contributed to the development of the Safe Harbor Act, which passed the Legislature in 2012. He has assisted several human trafficking task forces around the state in building their capacity to investigate allegations, collaborate with partnering agencies and identify victims. He has also served as a guest speaker on human trafficking at several local, state and national conferences. Tyson has a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Central Florida.

To all local offices, as you work with community partners and local human trafficking task forces, please contact Tyson at Tyson.Elliott@djj.state.fl.us to coordinate training.

RESIDENTIAL KUDOS: Students at Avon Park Youth Academy receiving training from the Home Builders Institute (HBI) assisted a local widow during January by repairing her home. The boys painted the exterior, completed landscaping and installed soffit and fascia, strengthening the home’s roof, and their own professional skills in the process. Thanks to the Avon Park Rotary Club for matching HBI with the community to build a stronger sense of commitment and employability among DJJ youth.

HBI participants from Avon Park Youth Academy repairing the home of an Avon Park resident

PROBATION KUDOS: Circuit 17 juvenile probation officer (JPO) supervisors Winsome Battiste, Michelle Green and Evanjalyst Harris, JPO Emma Johnson, senior JPO Sharon Wong and support staff Michelle Moncrieffe participated in the American Heart Association’s Wear Red Day on Feb. 1. The event kicks off “Go Red for Women,” a nationwide month-long event to raise awareness about prevention measures for heart disease.

(Left to right) Winsome Battiste, Michelle Green, Evanjalyst Harris, Emma Johnson, Sharon Wong and Michelle Moncrieffe

PROBATION KUDOS II: Chief Probation Officer Adrienne Conwell shares a letter of appreciation from Judge Lorraine M. Kelly of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, following a meeting between her team and Pinellas County judges to acquaint them with DJJ probation supervisors and discuss local priorities.

Thank you very much for the warm hospitality and delicious food this week during the DJJ meeting. It was nice to meet the supervisors of the probation officers of DJJ and some of the program providers. Thank you for providing this opportunity for all of us to get together and for the very important work you do in the community helping young people make good choices and move in a positive direction. I know the other judges appreciate you very much too.

State Fair project “Keeping Youth on Track” by Hillsborough-West RJDC students

DETENTION KUDOS: For the past four months the students at Hillsborough-West RJDC have been working together on a school project for this year’s State Fair, which opened in Tampa on Feb. 7. Schools across Florida submit displays for the annual competition. Due to the short-term length of stay in detention facilities, approximately 60 youth altogether worked on the project. Students wrote short essays on the theme “Keeping Youth on Track” and constructed a replica of the train station in downtown Tampa using popsicle sticks, wooden paint stirrers and glue. Detention Superintendent Adonis Miles said, “Participation in the project benefits youth by reinforcing their commitment to make the right decisions and stay focused on educational goals.” Thanks to the Hillsborough County Board of Education employees and local retailers who donated the supplies for the project.

Thanks to all employees and provider staff who work hard every day to improve the lives of children and the communities in which they live.

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.