PINELLAS JUVENILE JUSTICE COUNCIL

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

February 24, 2005

7:45-9 p.m

Martin Luther King Family Center

1201 Douglas

Clearwater FL

Present: 36
Jackie Griffin-Doherty—Operation PAR (Chair)	Tammy Hillier-Flowers-Boys & Girls Club (Vice Chair)
Stephanie Prestwood— Parent Advocate (Secretary)	Tony Hinson—Juvenile Welfare Board, (Parliamentarian)
Sonya Graham, GCC	Timothy Niermann—Dept. of Juvenile Justice
Bonnie McClelland—Suncoast Yellow Ribbon	Erin Fitzgerald—YMCA of the Suncoast
Cathy Corry—Advocate	Michael Whalen, SunCoast Center CMH
Phyllis Cloman—Marriage & Family Center	Braden Malnic- Operation PAR
Elka Zwick- Community Member	David Plyer—justice4kids.org
Dennis Segall, C.R.Y.S.	Matthew Sullivan-Medic Alert
Jeannie Lewis—West Care	Miquel Hernandez-Critical Resistance
Pat McGhee—Dept. of Juvenile Justice	Ashley Mercer- Student
Julie Matheney—The Refuge	Katrina Harris, Gulfcoast, SCC
Rev. Rev. Bruce Wright—The Refuge/Solid Rock	Robert Valenti, City of St. Petersburg
James Myles—Bethel Community Foundation	John Feeney, Minister/Advocate
Ben Shirley- DCF	Christina Tirado, Student
Jackie Walters, Safehouse	Hope Kleinfield, Safe Children Coalition
Gordon Hawkins, DJJ	Ryan Mosgrove, Student
Michael White, Refuge	Matthew Allan, Student
Hazel Hudson, DJJ	Michelle Green, BGCS
Absent 44
Vance Arnett—State Attorney’s Office	Joe Zawolski—Directions for MH
Marty Fogel-Juvenile Arbitration	Anita Hartley, JSP
Joe Aschenbrenner—Family Resources	Martha Maxey- Parent
Kathleen Peters—YMCA of Greater St. Pete	Tom Camp—Operation PAR
Stacey Welton—Family Resources	Stephanie Bell—E.D.I.P. Daniel Memorial
Nancy Zambito—Pinellas County Schools	David Archie—Citizens Alliance for Progress
Mary Ann Assiff—Youth Arts Corp	Rod Bisson—Sheriff’s Office
Tina Booze—Smart Fighter Institute	Diana Matthews—justice4kids.org
Linda Cooke—Sheriff’s Office	Terri Costello-Girls Scouts of Suncoast Council
Chris Ortiz- Community	Beverly Eller—Community Member
Pat Gerard—Family Resources	Khush Jagus—Pinellas County Schools
Frank Valdez- Community Member	Marshall Lester, Jr.—R’ Club Child Care
Carol Madura—Pinellas County Schools	Randy Tennant—Dept. of Juvenile Justice
Curtis Anderson—Boley Centers	Lynn Mattiace—Pinellas County Schools
Sharon Monteleone—United Way	Herbert Murphy, Sr.—Boys & Girls Club
Gayle McNeil- PEHMS	Lonnie Reddick—Dept. of Corrections
Donna Sicilian—Pinellas County Schools	Stephen Slaughter—Largo Police Department
Tom Toy—Juvenile Arbitration	Jane Gallucci- Pinellas County School Board
Libby Lubin- Public Defenders Office	Daniel Warshowsky- The Refuge
Elizabeth Shaw- GCCC	David Parham- Parent
Ann Kelley, Directions for Mental Health	Monica Quioco—Boley Centers
James Uliasz—Dept. of Juvenile Justice
Edwin Bryant-PCSO Boot Camp

Call to Order, Welcome, Meeting Dedication: The meeting was called to order by Chair Jackie Griffin-Doherty at 7:45 p.m. There was no meeting dedication.

Roll Call, Introductions: The Parliamentarian, Mr. Tony Hinson, proceeded with the roll call. The Chair stated for the purposes of procedure it is important to establish an official quorum. The Chair asked council members to raise their hands if they believed they were active voting members. The Chair requested the Parliamentarian to check the roll call. The Parliamentarian certified the roll and announced those in voting and non-voting status. Council member Matt Sullivan requested clarification on the bylaw rule governing voting status. The chair reviewed the bylaw and clarified the question. The Chair then requested those members to please place their names on their ballots when they voted.

Distribution of Minutes and Ballots: The minutes of 1/27/0405 Council, the 2/26/05 Executive Committee minutes, email responses in regards to the 1/27/05 minutes and ballots were made available.

The chair stated the single purpose of this meeting is to prioritize our mission. However, there were other regular agenda and business items to cover tonight.

The Chair stated that the meeting focus tonight was at the request of Council member John Feeney to have: AN HONEST & OPEN PUBLIC DIALOGUE AMONG MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL REGARDING WHAT WE BELIEVE THE MISSION OF THIS COUNCIL TO BE.

The Chair introduced Parliamentarian Tony Hinson, the facilitator of the meeting. Mr. Hinson began by reading a copy of the purpose/ mission statement to the council and the attendees.

Council member Dave Plyer asked whether the Pinellas County Juvenile Justice Council is independent of the Department of Juvenile Justice. Tim Niermann, Chief Probation Officer stated yes, we are stipulated by F.S. 985.4135 to have a council or a Circuit Board. Pinellas County is unique in that it has both a council and Circuit 6 Juvenile Justice Board. The Pinellas County Juvenile Justice Council is here to advise and provide direction to the Department of Juvenile Justice.

Council member the Reverend Bruce Wright asked Mr. Hinson to re-read the purpose. The Chair provided Rev. Wright an updated copy of the mission/purpose statement. Mr. Hinson re-read the purpose of the Pinellas County Juvenile Justice Council as stated in the By-Laws.

Mr. Hinson provided the ground rules of the dialogue:

Focus on the problem not the person

Focus on interest, options, and criteria.

Robert Valenti asked Mr. Hinson if he was requesting a review the purpose as he stated and if he was requesting recommend changes. Mr. Valenti suggested the wording on the purpose that reads at risk youth for delinquency to just read youth at risk of delinquency.

Council member John Feeney requested to make a point of clarification for folks that were not members of the council and that the reason for the meeting is why we members of the council believe we are here. Mr. Feeney further stated that he and other members of the Council believe there are strong differences of philosophy within the council and he suggested a clarification of those differences of philosophy. He further stated there needed to be some definitions and some clarification of our purpose as a Council.

The Chair advised the Council that if any suggestions or recommended changes required proposed By-Law amendments, the Council must provide a 21-day written notice of intent to change existing By-Laws to all Council members.

Council member Cathy Corry stated she appreciated the interest of Mr. Valenti and that she was pleased he was at the meeting. She further stated “just to let him and other people know that some of the information in the bylaws actually comes from Florida Statute.”

Mr. Hinson stated we would focus on process not content.

The Rev. Wright stated based on what is in the bylaws, in his opinion, in the history of the Council, there has not been a real concerted effort to deal with advice and direction to the department and advocate for at risk youth. Rev. Wright further stated that advocating is more than getting programs it is for advocating for youth when they being mistreated and abused by the system.

Council member Dennis Segall stated that he hears the same problems by parents that their kids are abused by the system and he thinks when someone breaks the law they should be arrested and when someone who works for DJJ slams a kid’s head against the wall they should be arrested.

Ms. Corry stated we should set aside our personal agendas and we should progress with policy changes locally or statewide. Ms. Corry further stated we need to advise and direct the Department of Juvenile Justice so they would then utilize their legislative office to implement some policy changes that would change the manner of which are youth are impacted (the tape was not clear). Ms. Corry further stated that a continual problem is the system is clogged up and that many misbehaviors are now minor charges. Ms. Corry further stated that this places an emotional impact on the family and real at-risk youth are not receiving necessary services and that maybe now with a Strategic Plan we do something about this important issue.

Mr. Hinson asked Rev. Wright if the Zero Tolerance committee was still meeting. The Rev Wright stated yes and that the recommendations have been made and approved in the Strategic Plan by the council. The issue now involves implementation and implementation has to involve the Circuit 6 Juvenile Justice Board and its willingness to recommend and support the implementation to Tallahassee. The Rev. Wright stated we need to press the Circuit 6 Juvenile Justice Board to do their job and to go to Tallahassee and say these are some things in our Strategic Plan including the Zero Tolerance, which has the full support of the Secretary of DJJ, Secretary Schrembri and to make policies that would implement a change of how Zero Tolerance is practiced.

Christina Tirado, a student stated that she had heard from other girls, but “had never seen it,” regarding abuse in juvenile justice programs and JDC. Ms. Tirado further stated when she goes back home to Child’s Park she is going to go around and ask the drug dealers what they think we should do and share their ideas with the Council. The facilitator advised her to be careful. Ms. Tirado stated she knew them.

Mr. Feeney stated that the purpose of the council is (tape was not clear). But one of the purposes that has been kicked aside or ignored is serving the function of a watchdog on the Department and how it operates, particularly holding officials and detention officers and administrators accountable for mistreatment of youth. This is a part of what we as a Council are supposed to be doing here and this function or this aspect of our mission has not been proactively pursued in the past and we would like it to see proactively pursued in the future.

Ms. Tirado, the student, stated she would probably get in trouble for this statement but she does not think we should not be on the cops’ asses, because there are good cops out there and there are other ways to approach this.

The Chair stated this was a healthy comment.

Council member Elka Zwick stated that juvenile curfew is the highest risk of victimization.

Mr. Valenti stated we all have stories but that we need to leave out the innuendoes and have kids speak first hand not he said, she said.

Mr. Seagull stated that he is guilty of this.

Council member and Circuit 6 Juvenile Justice Board member James Myles stated he has heard an awful lot of negative comments about the system all night. The last meeting turned his stomach. Mr. Myles stated that he has been in the community 30 years and sometimes what you have to look at is what parts of the system are working and what parts are effective and push for these programs.

One youth attending the meeting stated that this is a negative situation and that’s why we are reporting it negatively.

Mr. Hinson stated this is part of the group dynamics we formed we are here for a purpose, we stormed -we talked and got it out in the open- it is good because we got it out, some may not like because they are beyond this, it but we are making progress.

The Chair announced the facility was closing at 9 p.m.

The Chair distributed the PCJJC JJ week form and asks for suggestions.

Ms. Corry stated/requested due to the time limitations on the dialogue topic and to do justice to the topic we as a council need to set aside a large amount of time at the March meeting to continue this important conversation.

The Chair asked if any one in the room had any objections to sending the JJ week form out for comments. There were no objections. The Chair further stated that we would use most of March meeting to memorialize those lost to suicide or to celebrate kids who have turned their lives around.

The meeting adjourned at 9 p.m.

The next meeting of the Council will be March 24, 2005 at 9:00 a.m. at the Pinellas Park

Training Facility, 5851 Park Blvd.

Final Minutes with Amendments prepared by Jackie Griffin-Doherty, Chair, 3/20/05

First Draft submitted by Stephanie Prestwood, Secretary February 24, 2005

Second Draft submitted by Stephanie Prestwood, Secretary, March 15, 2005

Corrections to approved minutes made May 2, 2005.