TALLAHASSEE — With Martin Lee
Anderson's parents by his side, Gov. Jeb Bush officially put an
end to the state's military-style juvenile training camps on
Wednesday, signing into law reforms named after the 14-year-old
boy whose death spurred lawmakers to do away with the programs.
The changes would not have
happened "were it not for your advocacy and for your passionate
love for your child who was killed," Bush told Anderson's
parents, Robert Anderson and Gina Jones, whose son died in
January after a beating by Bay County Sheriff's Boot Camp
guards, captured on videotape.
"Your son won't come back," Bush
said, "but you're going to be part of something bigger than
yourself."
Anderson's death is under
investigation by a special prosecutor appointed by Bush after an
initial autopsy report by the Bay County medical examiner found
that the youth died on Jan. 6 as a result of complications from
sickle cell anemia trait.
A second autopsy, conducted by
the Hillsborough County medical examiner after Anderson's body
was exhumed at his family's request, concluded that the cause of
death was suffocation.
No charges have been filed.
After the bill-signing in Bush's
inner office, Jones thanked the governor and held up a
photograph of her son on a basketball court with a ball beneath
his foot.
"I would still like the guards to
be accountable," Jones said.
The law replaces the boot camps,
which used military-style techniques including humiliation and
threats, with "sheriff's training and respect," or STAR,
programs. It also requires that guards be trained and prohibits
them from using "harmful psychological intimidation techniques."
The new law also requires that
youngsters between the ages of 14 and 18 who are assigned to the
programs undergo a physical examination by a doctor when they
enter and when they leave the facilities, that they be informed
in writing of their right not to be abused and that a
child-abuse hot line number be posted conspicuously on the
premises.
Also barred from the programs are
certain types of restraints and the use of ammonia tablets such
as those inserted into Anderson's nose, which the Hillsborough
medical examiner said contributed to his death.
The STAR program is based on
Martin County Sheriff Bob Crowder's boot camp, which includes
counseling and aftercare and has one of the lowest recidivism
rates in the state. Crowder has said he intends to close the
camp because of inadequate state money.
Asked if the revamped camps are
underfinanced, Bush said they are getting an increase of from
$80 to $100 per day per child, plus aftercare costs.
"The other sheriffs... believe
that it's more than adequate. If they (Martin) don't want to,
then there will be other programs.... We're not going to hurt
Martin County for not participating. The monies will be used for
other programs," he said.
Bush, Anderson's parents and
their lawyers, and black lawmakers have expressed frustration
that the investigation has taken so long.
"I'm kind of upset, too. It's
just a long road ahead," Jones said as the family left the
Capitol. "I'm aware of that."
