The 16th JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
JUVENILE JUSTICE BOARD
June 8, 2009
SCHOOL BOARD – TRUMBO ROAD
CONFERENCE ROOM
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER
Ms. Catherine Vogel called the meeting to order at 2:00 pm.
ATTENDANCE
Attendance was as follows:
Teri Beers Joe Laino
Kathy Tuell Jane Muir-Isherwood
Maureen Kempa Pastor Magby
LaWanna Tynes Sherwood Hanford
Clare Shaw Rosemary Enright
Carol Eisenman Janine Gedmin
RaiEtte Avael Amy Baldree
Kathy Kirkland Catherine Vogel
Larry Prescott Nancy Bunch
Cynthia Rubenstein Elwood York
Alexsa Leto Steve Torrence
Sue Kunas, note taker
INTRODUCTIONS
Self-introductions were made around the room.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
The March and May 2009 minutes were approved as presented.
REPORT FROM THE CHAIR
Ms. Vogel reported on a conference call earlier today; the purpose was to have
representatives from the North, Central and South regions of Florida from the Circuit
Boards to work on LBR Priority session for next year. Three people on the call
volunteered – they are as follows: North Region, Curt Jenkins, Central Region, Cathy
Trammel and South region, Francine Klauber. The three of them will be having an ad hoc
meeting on June 15 to form a proposal for the 2009/10 Legislative Board
recommendations. On June 16th, Mrs. Vogel expects to receive a copy of their proposals
for review. She will send this out to our board membership. On June 19th another
conference call will be held; Kathy Kirkland will cover that call in Ms. Vogel’s absence.
Tomorrow, June 9th, there will be a Juvenile Justice Sub-Committee meeting. We will
start writing our 3-Year Plan outlining what our priorities are for the next 3 years. Ms.
Elaine Bryant from E.W. Bryant Associates will be facilitating this special session to help
develop our priorities. Everyone is welcome to attend; this will be held at the Monroe
Regional Juvenile Detention Center at the first floor conference room 1:00-4:00 PM. The
previous 3-Year plan was previously sent to everyone for review.
June 4th a Circuit Board Chair Conference Call was held; this was to inform the
Circuit Boards know what is taking place in Tallahassee with the Legislature.
The two percent salary cut was vetoed by the Governor.
We were also informed of several JAC centers that were closed. The St. John’s
Detention Center was also closing; they are attempting to place those 52 workers in other
state positions to fill current vacancies.
Conditional Release and Aftercare Programming lost 2.9 million dollars out of an 18
million dollar appropriation. This affects our provider, A Positive Step. They need to cut
their budget by 8½ %. This is on top of other cuts last year. With this cut, APS will have
received approximately a sixteen percent budget cut in the past two years.
o A Positive Step is exploring partnering with “Evidence Based Associates.” They
run re-direction programs around the state. These re-direction programs are
targeted for high-risk kids to prevent them from going on into commitment
programs. This is an intensive community based program. The Evidence Based
Associates management staff will be here next week to meet with RaiEtte Avael,
Billy Davis and his staff.
o Other Programs will be taking severe cuts as well. The C16 Probation Office lost
two positions that were vacant.
o It was proposed that the Board write a letter outlining their concerns that further
budget cuts would eliminate the APS program and the impact this will have.
Larger metropolitan areas have other programs, this is the only contract service
Day Treatment program we have in Monroe County.
Legislative Update and Wrap Up:
o Zero Tolerance - This new policy makes the School District define minor issues
and make the decision on when law enforcement should be brought in.
Juvenile Justice Chaplain – Andy Hindman has asked all circuits to identify a Circuit
Chaplain. Reverend Magby has been performing in that capacity, visiting the Juvenile
Detention center and offering all denominations to our youth as well as chairing a faith-
based group. Catherine Vogel will provide this information to Mr. Hindman.
Composition of the Board: We need to update the members of the Board and determine
if everyone who is supposed to be sitting on the Board is actually represented (according
to Florida Statute). Clayton Lopez is listed as a member but has only attended one
meeting. . The State’s Attorney office is mandated to have someone here; Don Barrett is
the designated representative but he has only attended one meeting. Catherine Vogel
who used to be that designee is now an “At large private member of the community.”
She offered to step down from Chairperson but was asked to stay on. Ms. Vogel’s offer
to step down is on going. RaiEtte Avael will contact Dennis Ward.
REPORT FROM DJJ :
The Public Defender’s office was recognized for all their contributions to the
Department of Juvenile Justice Monroe Juvenile Detention Education Program.
Probation – Lost two Juvenile Probation officers, including the Senior position. Our
Acting Regional Director has told us that when she has a JPO vacancy she will return one
of these positions to us.
Youth Mentoring Update – We have not heard anything new regarding our application
for youth mentoring. RaiEtte will follow up with contract management to see if they have
an update.
Probation Staffing - The caseload in the Upper Keys has become much more active than
in the Lower Keys. The numbers support that area needing both a Juvenile Probation
Officer and a Senior JPO position. The arrests in Key West have been incredibly low,
civil citations are almost non-existent. The Middle and the Upper Keys have been much
more active recently and we only have two Probation Officers covering all that area.
Detention Staffing - There are 12 full time officers. Detention lost a supervisor position;
it has been put it on hold for 60 days. We currently have 1 youth in the center; last week
we had 14.
REPORT ON NEIGHBORHOOD ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD
Reverend Magby reported that she was short one participant in her program. She is
seeing wonderful results but would like to see more referrals.
Half of the scores are in; all of that group passed.
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION
Carol Eisenman thanked everyone who attended the Keys Center graduation and for
helping to make that a huge success.
Nancy Bunch announced that this will be her last meeting. Florida Keys Community
College did not renew her contract.
Clare Shaw wanted to thank Jane Muir-Isherwood for her perseverance in bringing that
Reactive Attachment Disorder conference to Key West. It’s not often that you have
someone of that caliber present to us and it was very affordable also.
NEXT MEETING:
Summer Recess – The next Regular Board Meeting will be on September 14th.
There will be a special Circuit Board Planning Meeting on June 9th from 1:00-4:00 PM at
the Monroe Detention Center 1st floor conference room.
ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting was adjourned at 3:00 PM.