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Report of the Chair, Pinellas County Juvenile Justice Council March 23, 2006 On February 23, 2006, this Council adopted four motions that advise DJJ to support:
On March 3, 2006, the Chair mailed a letter to DJJ Secretary Schembri conveying the Council’s advice to support the closure of juvenile boot camps in Florida. On March 15, 2006, the Chair delivered three letters to DJJ representatives in Tallahassee. The letters recommend that DJJ support the legislation on suicide prevention, limitations on the release of juvenile criminal history, and limitations on the use of restraints on youth in court. These three letters were addressed to Secretary Schembri and hand delivered to Charles Chervanik, DJJ Assistant Secretary for Residential Services. In addition, Keith Knight, DJJ Legislative Affairs Director, received copies. The recommendations were also described to Chris Caballero, DJJ Chief of Staff. Caballero and Knight both said these recommendations would be reviewed by DJJ and a reply would be provided to the Council. Each of the bills' sponsors received a copy of their letter. One sponsor, Senator Siplin, who proposed the bills [SB0304 and SB0320] relating to the use of restraints asked this Council for help. These bills can not progress in the legislature until they get on the agendas of the Criminal Justice Committee and the Judiciary Committee. Siplin, asked that each Council Member call the Committee Chairs to say we want the bills on their agendas. [Script] Lastly, at the February 23 Council meeting, the Chair reported peculiar statements from the Circuit 6 Juvenile Justice Board. The Board Chair warned that this Council might be abolished because it does not represent DJJ. On March 9, 2006, your Chair spoke with Tina White, Staff Director, Juvenile Justice Committee, Florida House of Representatives. White, an attorney, reviewed the statute (FS985.4135) that creates the Boards and Councils. Her interpretation is that the Pinellas County Juvenile Justice Council is independent of both DJJ and the Circuit 6 Juvenile Justice Board: neither has authority over this Council. The Circuit 6 Juvenile Justice Board meets again on April 24, 2006 from 2pm to 3:30pm in the County Commissioner’s Conference Room in the downtown Clearwater Courthouse at 315 Court Street. The Chair submits this report for the Council’s records. |
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