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BLUEPRINT COMMISSION SELECTED TO COLLABORATE ON REFORM OF FLORIDA'S
JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 31, 2007
CONTACT Bonnie Rogers
(850) 921-0745
Terrie Glover Ard Moore Consulting Group
(850) 224-0174
TALLAHASSEE - Secretary Walter
McNeil of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) announced
today the appointment of a 25-member "Blueprint Commission" to
develop a plan that will reform Florida's juvenile justice system.
The Commission, comprised of community leaders, juvenile justice
stakeholders and policy experts, has been developed in response to
several key concerns. Juvenile recidivism, the overrepresentation of
minority youths, and alarming trends involving girls-who comprise
the fastest-growing segment of the juvenile justice population-are
some of the issues Florida's juvenile justice system currently
faces. The Commission is chaired by Florida Atlantic University
President and former Lieutenant Governor Frank Brogan. State and
national juvenile justice expert and author Dr. LaWanda Ravoira is
commission vice chair.
"Together with the Blueprint
Commission, the Department of Juvenile Justice is taking an
important step forward in reforming our juvenile justice system. The
members of the Commission are committed to providing the groundwork
necessary to make improvements to our system that will have a direct
and positive impact on youths," said Secretary McNeil. "We recognize
that the success of our efforts depends upon public input and the
participation of stakeholders from the local community who can best
identify areas for change."
The Blueprint Commission on
Juvenile Justice will conduct public hearings throughout the state
and invite input from stakeholders from all aspects of juvenile
justice programs and services, and from citizens. The meetings will
feature state and national research experts on juvenile justice
trends and best practices; seek presentations from local community
leaders, groups and other stakeholders; and include an evening town
hall meeting format where citizens can also provide comment.
The following dates and cities are
set for the Blueprint Commission's public hearings: September 4-5,
Ft. Lauderdale; September 25-26, Jacksonville; October 4-5, Orlando;
October 17-18, Ft. Myers; October 29-30, Tampa; November 6-7,
Pensacola. Meeting locations for those cities will be announced soon
and will be easily accessible to the public.
At the conclusion of the meetings,
the Commission will provide a full report of recommendations to
Governor Charlie Crist and the Florida Legislature. This report will
drive future decisions on systemic improvements to the juvenile
justice system.
"Every child in this state is an
opportunity," said Chairman Brogan. "With the formation of the
Blueprint Commission, Florida is voicing the need for greater
accountability in providing these youths the chance to make
meaningful contributions to our society and communities."
The department is partnering with
several prominent philanthropic foundations that are committed to
systemic reform in juvenile justice. The JEHT Foundation, a national
philanthropic organization based in New York, NY, has joined with
the Jessie Ball duPont Fund (Jacksonville, FL) and the Eckerd Family
Foundation (Clearwater, FL) to support the Blueprint initiative.
This effort is JEHT's groundbreaking entry into juvenile justice
reform in Florida. All three foundations have a long history of
supporting programs that balance public safety with successful
intervention and treatment focused on turning around the lives of
troubled youth.
Three other key partners of the
Blueprint Commission and DJJ are the Children's Campaign, Inc., the
Florida Network of Youth and Family Services and the Florida
Juvenile Justice Association (FJJA). The Network and FJJA
collectively represent the largest number of the Department's
contract service providers. The Children's Campaign is a
non-partisan, statewide children's advocacy organization that does
not accept government funding. Its president, Roy Miller, is serving
as a strategic advisor to the Blueprint Commission.
"These organizations have offered
their assistance with the belief that improvements to Florida's
juvenile justice system will not only improve the lives of all
Floridians, but also ensure the state's continued economic
development," said Secretary McNeil. "The Children's Campaign has
demonstrated both vision and dedication as an advocacy leader, and
we are pleased to have Roy Miller's involvement in this
groundbreaking initiative."
Members of the Blueprint Commission
include leaders in community, faith, diversity and business
organizations; law enforcement and criminal justice officials;
educators; and former youths in Florida's juvenile justice system.
Blueprint Commission Members:
Frank T. Brogan (Chair) -
President, Florida Atlantic University and former lieutenant
governor of Florida
LaWanda Ravoira (Vice-Chair) -
State and national expert on juvenile justice issues, former
president and chief executive officer of PACE Center for Girls, Inc.
Alex Arnold - DHL employee, youth
representative
Marlon Brown - Gadsden County
Manager
Donna Callaway - Retired principal
and member of the state Board of Education
Carol H. Carlan - President of
Wachovia Bank in Pensacola
Barbara Cheives - President of
Converge and Associates Consulting, specializing in race and ethnic
relations and cultural competency training
Sheriff Robert L. "Bob" Crowder -
Martin County Sheriff
Richard D. Danford Jr., Ph.D. -
President of the Jacksonville Urban League
Julio Fuentes - Founder, President
and CEO of the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Chief G. Matthew Immler - Chief of
Police for the City of Boynton Beach
Barry E. Krischer - State Attorney
for Florida's 15th Judicial Circuit
Dale Landry - Chair, Criminal and
Juvenile Committee of the Florida Conference of the NAACP
Judge Lester Langer - Associate
Administrative Judge, Juvenile Division, 11th Judicial Circuit
Carlos J. Martinez - Chief
Assistant Public Defender, 11th Judicial Circuit
Sidney W. Morgan - West Florida
Region Market President, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida
Danielle Morron - Tax Accountant,
Wealth and Tax Advisory Services of West Palm Beach; youth
representative
Mary Sue Neves - Superintendent of
the Calhoun County School District
Leon Russell - Director of the
Office of Human Rights for Pinellas County
Bill Sublette - Orlando attorney,
former member of the Florida House of Representatives and key
architect of the creation of the Department of Juvenile Justice in
1994
Judge Irene Sullivan - Unified
Family Court Judge, 6th Judicial Circuit
Dr. Rajiv Tandon, MD - Chief of
Psychiatry in the Program of Mental Health, Florida Department of
Children and Families
Dr. David L. Thomas, MD, JD - Chair
of the Department of Surgery, Nova Southeastern University
Steven Thompson - City Manager for
the City of Deltona
Rev. John F. White - Senior Pastor,
Mount Hermon African Methodist Episcopal Church in Ft. Lauderdale
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