August 19, 2004

Wildwood Center

 

PINELLAS COUNTY JUVENILE JUSTICE COUNCIL

COMMUNITY OUTREACH INQUIRY

 

August 19, 2004

 

Juvenile Justice Concerns:

  • Risk assessments/Intensive Probation-Indefinite.
  • Human and Civil Rights for African Community.
  • Youth Awareness of Illegal Drugs.
  • How youth are evaluated and processed through the Juvenile Criminal Justice System: especially that their rights are safeguarded and they do not suffer penalties disproportionate to the offenses they are charged.
  • Treatment and care of our youth, access to proper community care (family child teacher med mental health) proper training for staff, proper licenses. Physical training for under staff (mental health).
  • Criminalization of youth, lack of input from youth re problems, DJJ accountability to the public, not enough viable things for youth to do that they can relate to. No street outreach to youth other than law enforcement, police brutality and harassment, racial and cultural profiling, probation officers predicting failure of youth.
  • The council oversees grant funds annually; minority over-representation is a key concern; encourage interested parties in submitting a grant application for a minority program.
  • Human rights concerns; democratic rights concerns.
  • Getting harassed at school because of what my boyfriend did in the past. They harassed me so much that I do not want to go to school any more, but I cant just stop going to school any more because I’m on probation.
  • I know of several children who have no passion about anything. I do not know whether this is the result of depression or any other (psychological) problem.
  • To reduce the rate of child abuse and neglect and other social problems, which emanates from this matter, we need to teach class which prevents this. This class should be taught from the perspective of child development and behavioral management. This class needs to start in middle school when children are starting to have sex.
  • I’ve heard from several children who are being bullied that their school administrators and teachers are ignoring their disclosure. One of these children is furious with his teachers and classmates and I feel there is the potential that he might shoot-up the school.

 

Suggestions for Improvement:

 

  • Parent Involvement Prior to Court.
  • Drug Education Programs.
  • Not yet sufficiently well-informed to be prepared to make viable suggestions.
  • Life Skills such as empowerment/entrepreneurial skills/emotional development.
  • More information to parents and organization (bridges for youth or family crisis or better-trained staff.
  • We need more youth motivators, mentors, and big brothers-big sisters.
  • Education of public that youth aren’t criminals; citizen accountability, dismantling unfriendly business practices toward youth, education of police and probation officers about appropriate treatment and consequences when they don’t, more funding for prevention, youth advisory board.
  • Assist grass roots groups in grant submission and technical support when awarded
  • Teachers could teach a hobby or interest to students like they did when I attended middle school 25 years ago.
  • Since Governor Bush wouldn’t fund something as worthy as this, a grant could fund it as a pilot program.
  • You need to take their complaints seriously. He families of bullies and victims who bully need to be checked for domestic violence. They’re learning this behavior at home.

 

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