Vision Statement

The Pinellas County Juvenile Justice Council envisions a Pinellas County where parents work with their children, schools, law enforcement, religious and community institutions to provide a safe and positive environment for the healthy development of all our children.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Pinellas County Juvenile Justice Council is to engage youth, parents, families, businesses, schools, religious and community organizations, government, law enforcement and the justice system in a collaborative approach to reduce risk-taking behavior that leads to juvenile delinquency.

The mission will be accomplished by:

Ø Utilizing a data driven approach to meet the needs of the community

Ø Linking youth and their families to a full range of supportive services

Ø Increasing cooperation and collaboration among youth-serving organizations and groups

Ø Educating the community about issues relating to juvenile delinquency prevention and intervention

Introduction

Section 985.4135 (2) of the Florida Statues (2004) requires the Juvenile Justice Council in each county to develop a Juvenile Justice Prevention and Early Intervention Plan (FS 04). This plan constitutes the local jurisdiction’s opportunity to organize a continuum of services to deal with juveniles who have been referred for juvenile prosecution or who display an array of risk factors that indicate they are likely to be active clients in the juvenile justice system. This plan has become increasingly important over the years as the state philosophy has shifted to focusing on the 8% to 15% of juvenile offenders who constitute the bulk of offenses.

Background Information

Description of Geographic Boundaries

Pinellas County is a peninsula on the west-central coast of Florida. Pinellas County has no rural land left; it is the most densely populated county in Florida. Pinellas County has 280 square miles of land with a population of 3,291 persons per square mile, with an estimated total population of 921,482 (85.9% White, 9.0% Black, 2.1% Asian and 3.0% Other, as indicated by the 2000 U.S. Census Bureau. About 3.7% were identified as Hispanic ethnicity (C 00). Pinellas County consists of 24 municipalities and enclaves of unincorporated communities.

Risk Factors

Under the Sphere of Influence COMMUNITY, specific issues that stand out:

· According to the “2002 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey, Pinellas County”, students surveyed Beginning in 6^th grade, the perception of availability of marijuana increases and continues to increase through 12^th grade; the perceived availability of marijuana increases significantly in the 8^th grade and continues through the 12^th grade. The percent of students responding that marijuana is easy to acquire: 5^th – 4.2, 6^th – 12.9%, 8^th – 46.3%, 10^th – 69.6%, 12^th – 76.4% (FYS 02).

· According to the “2002 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey, Pinellas County”, students surveyed Compared to national rates, Pinellas County demonstrated higher prevalence rates of recent drug use by students for every substance question for all 8^th, 10^th and 12^th grade students with the exception of 12^th grade alcohol prevalence(FYS 02).

· According to the “2002 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey, Pinellas County,” students surveyed reported 59.9% for lifetime use and 35.1% for past 30-day use, making alcohol the most commonly abused drug among Pinellas County students. After alcohol, Pinellas County students reported cigarettes (42.1% lifetime and 15% past 30-day) and marijuana (30.3% lifetime and 16.1% past 30-day) as the most commonly abused drugs (FYS 02). Regarding the use of OxyContin without a prescription, surveyed students reported a lifetime prevalence rate of 3.1% and a past 30-day prevalence rate of 1%. The use of prescription drugs without a prescription is a growing concern in Florida, according to the Office of Drug Control (ODC 02).

· The “2002 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey, Pinellas County” also documents certain risk and protective factors for Pinellas County students. Surveyed students reported lower scores on the Community Rewards for Pro-social Involvement (43) protective factor scales, compared to the national average of 50. This indicates that students in other Florida counties feel more appreciated or rewarded for their involvement in the community than students in Pinellas County (FYS 02).

· According to the June 2004 Pinellas Profile, middle schools demonstrate the highest number of reports for threats or injury with a weapon on school property with 11.2% for 6^th grade and 12.8% for 8^th grade students. Followed by 5^th grade at 10.4%, 10^th grade at 10.2% and 12^th grade at 9.2% (PP 04). Middle school demonstrates the highest incident rate of youth carrying a weapon to school with 6^th grade reporting 12.3% compared to 8.9% for 5^th grade, 7.5% for 8^th grade, 6.6% for 10^th grade, and 7.0% for 12^th grade (PP 04).

· According to the Department of Juvenile Justice, between 1996 and 2002 there is a distinct pattern where the number of admissions for juvenile crime drops significantly during the months of December, June, July, and August, which correlates with when students are out of school. The number of admissions peaks during the months of October, March, and May (DJJ 96-02).

· According to Department of Juvenile Justice Data the Pinellas Regional Juvenile Detention Center (JDC) admitted 1,257 youth between November 1, 2003 and April 30, 2004. Of that total, 77.7% (977) were male and 22.3% (280) were female. Of all youth admitted, 57.9% were 14-16 years old; another 14.5% were 11-13 years old. Based on the results of the MAYSI assessment, 20.7% scored with alcohol and drug problems; 41.8% scored as Anxious and Irritable; 34.8 % scored as Depressed and Anxious; 47.6% scored as Somatic Compliant; 30.9% scored with Suicidal Ideation and 36.2% scored with Thought Disturbances. Additionally, 65.6% of girls (183) and 66.9% of boys (652) reported at least one traumatic experience in their lifetime. About 730 youth less than 14 years of age leave the JDC with no connection to diversion, no probation officer services and no court-ordered services to address the service needs identified through their assessments at the JDC and the PJAC (DJJ 02-04).

Risk Factors

Under the Sphere of Influence SCHOOL, specific issues that stand out:

· The “2002 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey, Pinellas County” also documents certain risk and protective factors for Pinellas County students. Surveyed students reported lower scores on the School Rewards for Pro-social Involvement (37) protective factor scales, compared to the national average of 50. This indicates that students in other Florida counties feel more appreciated or rewarded for their involvement in the community than students in Pinellas County (FYS 02).

· Information retrieved from an article published in The St. Petersburg Times on May 3, 2003 reports that 22% of Pinellas County 3^rd grade students failed the FCAT reading, with a state average of 23%. More than 1,000 third grade student will be held back to repeat the third grade for school year 2003-2004 (SPT 5/03).

· Pinellas County reported a graduation rate of 69%, and the state reported a graduation rate for 2002-2003 (FDOE 04). In 2000, Pinellas County had a higher-than-state average for chronic absence among all school levels: elementary, middle, and high school (PP 04).

In-School Suspension Rates

per 1,000 Students

Pinellas County Schools