Legislative Select Committee on Juvenile Detention Facilities hearing on 10/8/03 on the campus of St. Petersburg College in Clearwater, Florida.
 | Public testimony |
| Committee comments |
| Union representative (Miami testimony) |
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Diana Matthews addresses the committee. |
| "Our kids are not just dying physically; they are dying mentally. When they come out of this system, there is nothing left to them; they don't know who to turn to. Something has to be done at school and at JDC. These children are not getting the proper medical help." ~Diana Matthews |
| "The citizens review board is absolutely necessary and somebody needs to monitor your funds. You're giving this money to abusers." ~ E.D. |
| "I hope that by listening to all of these parents today that something comes
out of this for the betterment of our children, and not just for our children,
but for us, for our future, because that's where it lies, with our children." ~ R.D. |
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| Terri Mestre speaks to the committee. |
Rep. Gustavo "Gus" Barreiro (R) Miami 305.643.7324
"I assure you, for the folks who have come up, and you're still here, your voices and concerns are being heard. We will be requesting much more information from the Dept of Juvenile Justice. We will be asking other law enforcement agencies to see what might be happening. Our main goal at the end of the day is to come up with some concrete suggestions to the DJJ that assures the safety and well-being of each kid. We're not going to rest until that's done.
I assure you. This committee will go about it's mission; the Speaker of the House is very adamant about the fact that we proceed with the inquiry. and we will come up with solid recommendations.
I received about a dozen anonymous letters from Department workers who have given me suggestions. I see a lot of people here working for the Department of Juvenile Justice. You don't have to put your name on a paper. Give me some suggestions. We're here to serve. We want to find out what the heck is going on and we want to get to the bottom of this.
We're starting to find out, I think, through the committee, that maybe the money that we do provide is not being put where we think it should be put, that we gave the Department; if we have to put more into provisional language, that means defining where the money should be going; that's something that we need to take a look at.
For the folks that we said we will get back to them, I assure you we will get back to you."
Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R) Palm Harbor 727.669.1911
"We are not having these meetings to grandstand. We want to get information from you and feel free to contact our office at any time. We are not just going to recommend; we're going to put forth a piece of legislation So, we're serious about this issue and I appreciate all of the input."
Rep. Wilbert "Tee" Holloway (D) Miami 305.628.7077
"Each individuals concerns that is being presented to us is going to be investigated fully, and we will be getting back to you fully."
Select Committee on Juvenile Detention Facilities Public hearing testimony in Miami 9/10/03
Elizabeth Judd - Union representative - AFSCME Council 79, Staff Representative of the Collective Bargaining Unit for the JDO's at the Miami-Dade JDC
Points made by Elizabeth Judd to the legislative committee on behalf of guards:
| Deplorable work system |
| Cliques |
| Administration is non-supportive of those who would want to do a good job and follow procedure and policy |
| Guards fear going outside the chain of command |
| Analytical critical thinking not allowed |
| Guards suffer at the hands of the administration as the youth suffer |
"They suffered equally well; they suffered with Omar (Paisley); they tried their best to get attention to get medical care for Omar, and they were denied.
That even today they are still suffering as a result of the Department not providing mental health to help support them having gone through such a traumatic experience.
Mr. Lumpee came in from Tallahassee and they had a group session with them but there was no discussion about what they could do in supporting the youth offenders; that the major discussion was rah! rah! we support the administration here; we're standing behind you; that they were insulted by that particular staff meeting in terms of dealing with that issue in a sensitive meaningful way on behalf of that youth; that it was more a rah! rah! let's stand behind the administration here at the juvenile detention center.
I would characterize the department's report as being intellectually dishonest. Intellectual dishonesty is really quite fair and is the best thing I can say publicly about the characterization of the pathology that is ongoing in that institution."
Q&A between Elizabeth Judd and Legislative Representative Gus Barreiro.
Barreiro: Do you feel that the guards that you represent have had the ability to call 911 if they feel that a kid's life is in danger?
Judd: Absolutely not
Barreiro: Do you feel more comfortable now that the Secretary of Juvenile Justice has agreed to put that policy (to be able to call 911) in place?
Judd: Absolutely not.
Barreiro: Why?
Judd: They have plenty of polices. They have plenty of procedures. Implementation and the pathology of the people implementing them is another story.
