CIRCUIT 6 JUVENILE JUSTICE BOARD MEETING

June 20, 2005

 

DRAFT

 

I.                    WELCOME AND CALL TO ORDER

 

Commissioner Calvin Harris called the meeting to order at the Youth and Family Alternatives Office in New Port Richey, FL.  Board Members, Juvenile Justice staff and guests were welcomed. 

 

The following were in attendance:

 

Commissioner Calvin Harris

Mr. Paul McClintock

Judge Marion Fleming

Mr. Vance Arnett

Mr. Mark Phillips

Mr. Ben Shirley

Ms. Martha Lenderman

Ms. Jackie Griffin-Doherty

Mr. James Myles

Mr. Tim Niermann

Lt. Kathy Brown

Mr. James Uliasz

Ms. Jane Gallucci

The Honorable Ken Welch

 

 

Others Present: Randy Tennant, Susan Budka, Cathy Corry and Matt Sullivan

 

 

 

 

 

 

         II.   ROLL CALL AND QUORUM COUNT

 

A Quorum was present.

 

 

  III.   APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

The minutes of the April 18, 2005 were amended to read that Lt. Kathy Brown was in attendance at the April 18 meeting.   Martha Lenderman made a motion to approve, Judge Fleming seconded.  The minutes were approved.

 

 

IV.                COUNTY JUVENILE JUSTICE COUNCIL REPORTS

 

Pinellas County Council Report:

Jackie Griffin Doherty reported that the Pinellas County Council Annual report was given to each board member.

 

Jackie Griffin Doherty reported that Pinellas County had $258,363 available in DJJ grant prevention dollars. Based on the $258,363 that was available to Pinellas, Pinellas had 3 applications that were submitted.  Jackie stated that the Youth Summit was a huge success and  also reported that opportunities for working families to be able to participate in recreational facilities is very important to these individuals. Jackie thanked Mr. Myles for the help his department gave at the Youth Summit. The next Council meeting will be held on June 23, 2005 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am in Pinellas Park.

 

Pasco County Council Report:

Mark Phillips reported that they had three meetings since this board last met.  He also invited any Board Member to take a tour of the Rap House after the meeting

v      The Council is continuing to enlarge are membership.  We have a committee working on our three-year plan.  They are in the process of doing a survey, they will use the feedback to start working on the plan.  Mark also informed the board that they received $540,000 in funding which will go towards salaries for Shelter Youth Care workers.  Starting salary will be raised to $9.00 per hour.

v      The Rap House also received deemed status

 

VI.             CIRCUIT MANAGER’S REPORT

 

Circuit Manager Tim Niermann provided the Board with the following update:

 

Mr. Niermann presented a Legislative update to the Board Members.

Ø       Interstate Compact Law has been revised for the first time in 50 years. Judges can sentence to low risk youth into a non residential program.

Ø       House Budget 1917Expands the definition of fiscally constrained county as it relates to the detention cost shift to counties.

Ø       Background checks will retain FDLE for retention and searching of fingerprints on all DJJ and Contract providers.   Mr. Arnett asked if the department on a decertification process for Probation Officers.  At this time the department does not.

Ø       Teen Courts authorizes the boards of county commissioners in each county in which a teen court has been created to adopt a mandatory court cost of $3.00

Ø       Budget Highlights:

v      Detention Services $1,400,000 for State secure Detention Costs

v      500,000 for Detention Health

v      The Governor vetoed the $2.7 for home detention electronic monitoring, stating he felt it was not enough money to fund a successful program.

Ø       Probations budget $279,642,000.  This is the first time in 4 years that Probation did not loose any positions.

Ø       Prevention budget $65,025,982 and did not suffer any position loses.

Ø       Residential budget $166,539,949. They took some hits with reference to reduction to residential commitment bed funding.

Secretary Schrembri’s goal is to open up smaller program facilities.

 

 

Superintendent Uliasz presented information regarding Pinellas Detention:

 

Secured 25 surplus computers, which will be used for vocational and reading programs.

Ø       The electronic library is up and running. Pinellas Detention is the only center with this library.  It is equivalence to 100,00 books that can be retained on the electronic library.

Ø       First time in 6 months that the center has been under populated.

Ø       A new Com Stat policy is in effect.  This is a weekly report of statistics on every type of information.  Quarterly meetings will be held with the Secretary

Ø       Currently have 6 vacancies.  Detention looses a lot of staff to adult DOC and law Enforcement

Ø       Jackie Griffin Doherty stated that the difference in salaries with adult DOC workers is around $4,000.00

Ø       A pilot program for post detention services in the works.  I will be administered by PHEMS and funded with JWB funds.  This is a voluntary program offered to families.

Ø       Mr. Uliasz stated that statistics  show that 67% of juveniles are arrested after school hours 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm.  Vance Arnett disagreed.  Many youths are arrested when youth should be in school.

 

 

 

 

 

 

V.                  CHAIRMAN’S COMMENTS

 

Chairman Harris thanked everyone for attending and for all of there hard work and dedication they give to this board.   

 

VI.                NEW BUSINESS

 

Next Board meeting will be held on September 19, 2005 in Clearwater.

 

 

VII.              ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Judge Fleming stated that DJJ personnel have been very well prepared and timely when arriving to court.  Times have been changed for Detention Hearings to start at 7:45 am.

v      Tim Niermann stated that Diana Boyce was attending a conference that will be looking at Standardization of Board and Council by-laws. The Board needs to have a chair-person and a vice chair to be in compliance.

v      Martha Lenderman attended the Youth Summit.  She stated that it was a wonderful experience and is hoping that it will be held again next year.

v      Jane Gallucci thanked Jackie Griffin-Doherty for all of her hard work

v      Mr. Myles stated that the Faith & Community was an excellent program

 

VIII.            PUBLIC COMMENTS

 

Cathy Corry commented that juvenile arrest records are coming up on the FDLE database. 

v      Cathy handed out information on juvenile offense dissemination errors.

v      Cathy handed out a complaint email she received from a parent regarding abuse of a youth while in Riverside Academy.  She also stated that she receives 1 to 2 complaints per week on abuse.

v      Cathy also passed out a letter she sent to the St. Petersburg Times referencing youths in juvenile facilities are not allowed to talk books back to their rooms.  Mr. Uliiasz brought it to Ms. Corry’s attention that youths really to not spend much time in their rooms.  When books were allowed in the rooms the youths mostly ripped them up and stuff the papers in toilets, cracks in the walls, jam into key locks. 

v     Cathy also thanked Vance Arnett on his comments.

IX.                ADJOURNMENT

Commissioner Harris motioned to adjourn the meeting.  It was seconded and adjourned.