Pinellas County Juvenile Justice Council

May 26, 2005

Child's Park

4301 13th Ave South

Saint Petersburg, FL

 

Jackie Griffin –Doherty, Operation PAR (Chair) Active, Voting if Tie; DJJ Provider

 

Tammy Hillier-Flowers, BGCS (Vice Chair),  Active, Voting, Business Community 

Stephanie Prestwood, DCF (Secretary)Active, Voting eligible for 5/26/05 as designee for Ben Shirley

Michael Whalen, SCCCMH, Active, Voting; Other Interested Entities

Karen Segerberg, DJCS, Active, Voting; Board of County Commissioners

Major Donnie Williams, SPPD, Inactive, Non -Voting; Local Law Enforcement

Lydia Brown,  PACE; Inactive, Non-Voting; DJJ Provider

Cathy Corry, Active, Voting; Community Member

Matt Sullivan, Active, Voting; Business Community

Dave Plyer, Justice4kids, Active, Voting; Advocate

 

Pat McGhee, DJJ

James Myles,  Inactive, Non-Voting;  Faith Community

Diana Boyce, DJJ Partnership Coordinator 

Elka Zwick, Inactive, Non- Voting; Community Member

Timothy Niermann, DJJ

Bob Valenti, Inactive, Non-Voting; Gov. Body

Gordon Hawkins, DJJ

Anita Hartley, JSP, Active, Voting; DJJ Provider

Dennis Segall, CRYS, Active, Voting; Advocate

 

 

New Members

 

Wendall Newton, Advocate

Liz Donclan, Student

Robin Mobley, Parent

Lydia Brown, DJJ Provider

Lottie Cuthberson, Parent

Queen Collins, Parent

 

 

 

 

Welcome; Call to Order: The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:15 p.m.  The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked him or her for their participation in this meeting.

 

4.2.1        Attendance; Quorum Count:  In the absence of the Parliamentarian, the Vice-Chair proceeded with the roll call and certified the vote and quorum count. The Vice-Chair certified that there were 10 active members in attendance and 9 voting members (Chair does not vote unless there is a tie) in attendance, which does not constitutes a quorum according to the Pinellas County Juvenile Justice Council By-Laws

 

 

The Chair stated in the absence of a quorum the Council could not vote on any item until a quorum was obtained or until the next Council meeting in which a quorum is present.

 

Council member Corry reminded the Chair to inform Council members that in order to become active members again, members need to complete and submit a new registration form and attend two consecutive meetings in accordance with the bylaws.  The member is eligible to vote at the second consecutive Council meeting. 

 

Approval of the minutes of the 4/28/05 Council meeting:  The Chair stated that the in the absence of a quorum that the Council could not move to approve the minutes of 4/28/05. 

 

Public Comments Council member Segall spoke of a youth that was arrested for sitting on a park bench.  He further stated that the youth’s friend had written something on the bench. The youth was arrested and taken to the Detention Center and later placed on probation.  He further stated that the probation officer never visited him- he even bet the youth’s mother that the youth would never make it.  The youth was violated for staying out too late. No one ever checked his home, or saw how pleasant his home was. When Mr. Segall heard that the youth was being placed in a program, he had a meeting where he was told the program was only four months long. It ended up being two years.  Mr. Segall further stated,  “with most youth I have followed through the system, I am sure another youth is on his way to prison”.

 

Unfinished Business, Committee Reports: There was a report by Council member Corry on Florida Juvenile Arrest records and it was reported that they are available to anyone who pays for an FDLE background check.  Handouts were distributed. Council member Corry again recommended that the Council approach DJJ for legislative changes so the records are not accessible to the public. Council member Corry stated that this impacts youth and is detrimental.

 

Council member Whalen stated that this search just shows the arrest not the disposition of the case.  

 

DJJ worker Hawkins again reported that he had a client that lost a job due to this process and the child was never charged was only arrested but never charged with the crime. 

 

The Chair suggested forming a committee to pursue this issue.

 

Council member Corry stated that she did not want to form another committee because she wants the Council to directly work on issues at Council meetings.  She further stated this topic needs expertise from other council members.

 

Council member Corry stated that she is looking for policy change regarding this issue and to advise DJJ to pursue legislative change.

 

DJJ Timothy Niermann gave the Council some recommended avenues to approach this issue: 1.  Place it in the PCJJC Annual report, 2. Place it on the Circuit Board agenda, 3. Place it on the agenda for the next Legislative Delegation meeting. 

 

The Chair suggested that we engage a lawyer, perhaps NAACP President and St. Petersburg attorney Darryl Rouson, to draft proposed legislation.

 

Council member Whalen suggested that we to place it in the Annual Report but also send a letter to the Circuit 6 Juvenile Justice Board highlighting this as an issue that the Pinellas County Juvenile Justice Council feels strongly about.   

 

Council member Corry requested this item be continued and to be placed on the agenda in June.

 

The Outreach Committee met and meeting minutes will be distributed upon completion.  Outreach Committee Chair Whalen stated that the committee has revised the meetings calendar, is updating the Pinellas County Juvenile Justice Council brochure and is continuing to work on the website issue.  The next meeting has not been scheduled.  

 

The Planning committee met directly following the Executive Committee Meeting on May 18th to complete the Annual Report.  The Chair stated that the Pinellas and the Circuit 6 Board draft portions are complete. However, she is awaiting input from the Pasco Chair.  She further stated she would send the completed draft to the entire Council and Board for input.  The report is due June 17th in Tallahassee.

 

The Zero Tolerance committee has no update.  The Chair was not present.


Council member Corry stated that DJJ McGhee agreed to do research regarding the 'legality' of the Board empowering the Council to approve the recommendations for DJJ Delinquency Prevention Grant Awards.  Council member Corry further requested a follow-up to this commitment that was made by DJJ McGhee.   DJJ McGhee reported she researched the issue through the bylaws and statute and is reporting back to the Council that in the Pinellas County Juvenile Justice Bylaws it states:

 

DJJ McGhee further stated that the 1998 FL Statutes reflect more on the Board involvement and in 1998 the Board had every right to empower the Council.   Over the years the statute has changed and either can review score and recommend grants. Traditionally that is why we operate the way we do. She further stated they receive direction from Headquarters and DJJ is mandated to follow the law and Circuit 6 tries to stay consistent in the manner that they conduct business. 

 

Council member Corry requested that DJJ McGhee put her answer in writing. The Chair stated the Council meeting minutes would also include the summary.

 

Council Members Announcements:

 

Council member Corry made a request to include the issue of Proxy voting on the June agenda.

 

 

Adjourn:  A motion was made by Tammy Hillier - Flowers to adjourn the meeting and was seconded by James Myles.  The meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m.

 

Next meeting date: The next meeting is scheduled for June 23, 2005 from 9:00- 11:00 at the Pinellas Park Training Facility, 5851 Park Blvd., Pinellas Park.

 

Minutes with Amendments prepared by Jackie-Griffin Doherty, Chair, June 1, and June 8 2005.

Drafts submitted May 30, and June 7, 2005 by Stephanie Prestwood, Secretary

Approved minutes with changes June 24, 2005 by Stephanie Prestwood