Posted on 05/13/2002 10:36:43 AM PDT by summer
Sunday, May 12, 2002
Daytona Beach News-Journal
Letter to the Editor
Opinion: Juvenile system is better now
By Bill Bankhead
The contentions in the News-Journal's four-part series on juvenile justice are wrong. We are safer today from juvenile crime than at any time in the last 30 years. Juvenile crime in Florida is down 8 percent in just the past five years alone -- and 19 percent in Volusia County.
Murders at the hands of juveniles declined 58 percent since 1999. Youth are leaving the juvenile system and returning less often than ever before. The so-called "get help" approach to juvenile delinquency of the last decade was a documented failure.
There are approximately 1.7 million children in our state between the ages of 10-17. Only 5.8 percent of all juveniles in this age group are arrested and only 11 percent of all juveniles arrested are committed to a residential facility.
Under Gov. Jeb Bush's leadership, we have increased the state's ability to provide needed juvenile services. Fewer youth who have broken the law are sitting at home waiting for placement in a treatment program.
The reports of abuse recounted in your series are troubling. Any incident such as the one recounted from Stewart-Marchman should never happen. When this incident occurred, two other staff members quickly responded by moving the youth away from the situation. A report was immediately made to the abuse hotline, was investigated and found no injuries. The staff person responsible was fired, and he will never be allowed to work for any of the department's programs in the future.
No system is perfect. That is why I have put into place quick and decisive responses to situations like this. The threshold for reporting any incident is low for a reason. I want reports made so they can be investigated and appropriate action taken.
Tough love is working. Young people know that if they break the law there will be consequences for their actions.
Contrary to what your story suggested, violent kids are not typically housed with non-violent kids. Judges commit youth to one of four commitment levels -- low, moderate, high and maximum -- consistent with the risk they pose to themselves and others.
My administration has implemented strong certification and professional standards for our employees. Employees must clear a background check and a drug test and must complete a six-week training academy. We hire degreed and licensed clinical professionals for specialized services to address mental health, drug, and sex-offender issues. We contract with local school districts to provide certified educators.
Your series correctly cited low pay and high turnover as important issues, particularly as they affect our private providers. As the economy improves, I hope we will see rate increases to reward effective providers and their employees.
Public safety is our highest priority and our means of achieving it is through prevention, education, training, sanctions and treatment -- through "tough love".
Thank you.
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