Palm Beach County Criminal Justice Commission to Present Study Examining the Juvenile Justice System

For immediate release: March 18, 2008
Contact: Rosalind Murray 561-355-2332.

The Palm Beach County Criminal Justice Commission, the Department of Juvenile Justice and the Blueprint Commission will present a study regarding the juvenile justice system in Florida during a public meeting on Thursday, March 27 in the 6th floor commission chambers of the Palm Beach County Governmental Center, 301 N. Olive Ave. in West Palm Beach. The meeting will take place from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

The Blueprint Commission was developed in response to several key concerns including juvenile recidivism, the overrepresentation of minority youths and alarming growth trends involving girls. Comprised of community leaders, juvenile justice stakeholders and policy experts and chaired by Florida Atlantic University President and former Lieutenant Governor Frank Brogan, the Blueprint Commission conducted public hearings throughout the state inviting input from stakeholders from all aspects of juvenile justice programs and services, as well as interested citizens.

Blue Print Commission members Barbara Cheives and Lynn Powell will discuss the findings of this important study and its impact on the juvenile justice system in Palm Beach County. The study is titled Getting Smart About Juvenile Justice in Florida. These findings will be appropriately highlighted during State of Florida Juvenile Justice Week, which runs from March 22 to March 29, 2008.

The Blueprint Commission identified 52 specific recommendations for change based on 12 guiding principles, which are compiled in the report. These recommendations are to be implemented over multiple years and are intended to guide and support DJJ in their commitment to focusing on children and families while reducing juvenile delinquency and improving public safety.

Among the report’s key findings:

• The State of Florida needs to invest in a continuum of services that can provide the right services at the right time in the least-restrictive environment, while continuing to provide serious sanctions for youth involved in serious and violent crime, where appropriate.
• Florida should invest in community-based programs that help keep kids out of trouble.
• Florida should develop alternative programs and interventions at the community level to prevent youth who do not pose a public safety or flight risk from placement in secure detention.

And at every point, Florida should implement only those programs and strategies that are evidence-based and that have proven to be effective in protecting public safety while at the same time providing an optimum future for our youth. For more information about this public meeting, contact Rosalind Murray at 561-355-2332.