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Pinellas County Juvenile Justice Council July 27, 2006 — Report of the Chair Nomination of Candidates At the September meeting, the Council will elect four officers. Then, at the October meeting, the Council will appoint six representatives to serve a two-year term as members of the Circuit 6 Juvenile Justice Board. Vice Chair Sullivan is Chair of the Nomination Committee. Moratorium on school-related arrests The Council continues to work with the Pinellas County School Board in an effort to stop school-related arrests for disorderly conduct and disruption of school environment. The Council’s efforts to stop these arrests support our three-year strategic plan as a way to prevent youth from entering the juvenile justice system. The Council began its effort in January 2006. Recently, on June 13 and again on July 13, 2006, the School Board held workshops to address the issue of discipline and school-related arrests. On July 11, Superintendent Wilcox sent me this message: “We are continuing to work on the arrest data ... while we have not gotten to the point I or any of the team would like ... I believe we are and we will make progress reducing and hopefully eliminating arrests on our campuses for any reason. Creating more civil classroom and school environments will be a major focus of our back to school work.” On July 13 Carol Cook, Chair, of the Pinellas County School Board sent this email: “It is my opinion that the Board is not ready to call for a moratorium on the specific school-related charges arrests. We understand that you are addressing the childhood misbehaviors not arrests for things such as drugs and other violent behaviors, however as we discussed at the workshop today I believe we have begun the discussion, the superintendent is looking for alternatives and we are moving toward changing some of the practices of both the school officials and law enforcement.” I believe the school board is beginning to move to reduce, if not eliminate, school-related arrests for childhood misbehaviors. This is a nation wide problem and when the school board finds alternatives that maintain discipline without arrest, it may well set a national precedent. Let this Council continue to help them stay on track. Legislative proposal On March 15, 2006, the Council handed letters to Keith Knight, DJJ Director of Legislative Affairs, for delivery to Secretary Schembri. The letters recommended that DJJ support of three pieces of legislation. They dealt with 1) placing limits on the use of shackles on youth during appearances in juvenile court; 2) the establishment of a statewide office of suicide prevention; and 3) putting controls on the release of juvenile arrest records by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). On July 20, Knight wrote to say that a response would be coming by close of business July 28, 2006. He also invited the council to “submit legislative proposals for the upcoming session [2007].” He went on to say that these are “an excellent vehicle by which to make proposed changes to Florida's juvenile justice system, including proposed changes that you may have advocated for but which failed in the 2006 session.” Any proposals this Council wished to make must be received by DJJ tomorrow, July 28, 2006. As Chair, I submitted a proposal on behalf of the Council that deals with the release of juvenile arrest records. I forwarded a copy of that email to the Council members this afternoon. A copy of the legislative proposal is submitted for the record. Circuit 6 Juvenile Justice Board meeting of July 17, 2006 As Chair of the Pinellas County Juvenile Justice Council, I am also a member of the Circuit 6 Juvenile Justice Board. I reported the Council’s efforts to reduce the flow of youth into the juvenile justice system by encouraging the Pinellas County School Board to adopt a moratorium on school related arrests for disorderly conduct and disruption of school environment. This generated discussion but no action by the Board. Under new business, I moved that the Board amend its bylaws to remove DJJ authority to amend the Board’s bylaws. The Chair of the Circuit 6 Juvenile Justice Board, Calvin Harris, said that the Board represents DJJ, that it is not an independent body but takes its direction from DJJ, and that these are DJJ bylaws. The motion did not receive a second; this means no member of the Board thought the motion worthy of discussion and the motion failed. Finally, Board Chair Harris said to me that the Council “attacks” people and that is why no professional will attend the Council meetings. Board Member Jane Gallucci added, “Dr. Wilcox has told me that until the environment is much more conducive to helping children he won’t send anybody from the school district whether it’s in the daytime or the nighttime.” The Board Chair said the Council should hold meetings on a business day so the professionals could attend. I said I would mention this to the Council. I invited all of the Board members to attend this Council meeting. Next Council meeting: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, August 24, 2006 at the Seminole Community Library, 9200 113th Street N., Seminole, FL 33772. This report is submitted for the record by PCJJC Chair Dave Plyer 7/27/06. |
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