Recommendations to the Blueprint Commission

The Chair of the Pinellas County Juvenile Justice Council planned to present a list of recommendations to DJJ Blueprint Commission on October 29, 2007. The Council developed the list during its meeting of October 25, 2007. Several members of the Council attended the Commission meeting in Tampa, Florida. The Commission meeting fell behind schedule and time became an issue. Therefore, to insure that these Council members had the opportunity to speak, the Council Chair did not present the recommendations during the public comment segment. Instead, the Council sent the following presentation to each member of the Commission by e-mail on October 30, 2007.

Recommendations to the Blueprint Commission

Presented by  the Pinellas County Juvenile Justice Council
October 29, 2007

Good evening, I am Dave Plyer and I am pleased to be here on behalf of the Pinellas County Juvenile Justice Council.

The Pinellas County Juvenile Justice Council is among the county councils established by Florida Statute 985.664.  

The primary function of these councils is to provide advice and direction to the department of juvenile justice.

The Pinellas County Juvenile Justice Council has, among its members, parents, youth, schoolteachers, clergy, business representatives, youth advocates, and concerned members of the community.

During its public meeting last Thursday, October 25th, the Council conducted a round table exercise to identify issues related to the juvenile justice system and some of its key elements: the Department of Juvenile Justice, the courts, the legislature, schools and law enforcement. The Council did not analyze the topics or test them for practicability. The list is simply member observations and concerns that the Council wishes to share with you.

Here is the list: 

  1. Establish a citizen review board with enforcement capability.
  2. Give juvenile justice circuit boards and county councils enforcement authority.
  3. Reimburse county councils for basic operating expenses.
  4. Remove handcuffs and shackles from youth during court appearances.
  5. Establish a youth advisory board.
  6. Support legislation to keep juvenile records confidential.
  7. Stop arresting youth for “misbehaving” in school
    (trespassing, disorderly conduct, disruption of school environment).
  8. Change Florida statute to clarify the definition of “gangs.”
  9. Change the statute dealing with circuit boards and county councils.
  10. Provide due process for all youth.
  11. Replace school resource officers (SRO) with behavioral specialists.
  12. Implement trial by “peers” for juveniles—that is, by people of similar age.
  13. Support a 20% increase in funds for prevention.
  14. Require that juveniles have a parent or counsel present before any interrogation begins.
  15. Revise rules governing direct file of juveniles to adult court at the discretion of the state.
  16. Make all DJJ facility audits readily available for public scrutiny.
  17. Require independent certification of DJJ detention facilities and programs.
  18. Enable county councils to get public documents from DJJ at no cost.

This ends my presentation. I invite you to visit the Council’s web site at www.PinellasJJC.org.

Thank you.

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