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Warning to Parents: Get EVERYTHING in writing!

July 30, 2003

My son is at the Manatee Wilderness Program. He said that nothing is consistent there. They let some kids do things and not others. It depends on which staff member is on duty and which counselor you have. One of the (what my son said was "nice") staff members is no longer there because she was arrested at a bar for battery. I did not get a chance to ask him how he knows but this place is it's own little world. It is like the outside only smaller. They still have their little clicks and, of course, the Director of the program admitted to me that she dislikes my son. I said it was because of my emails to her asking for information on the program because I did not have any. And I would question her on things. She said that she felt like I was questioning her integrity and she does not like that. I asked her if she disliked him because of me and she said no. She said that he acts like he should not be there. And that since it is a drop out program and he has his GED that he does not have to go to classes from 9-5. She said that they can not make him do school work but he should do something.

I know for a fact the only reason he goes to classes is to be in air conditioning. I told her that the Manager of DJJ's programs should have not referred him there in the first place since he did have his GED. I said that since the Manager said in the Staffing we had that he would only be there for 45 to 90 days (that he would have no problem getting out) we did not think it would be a big deal. But since the Manager did not tell the Judge the same thing she told us, he is stuck there for 120 days. SO EVERYONE READING THIS, PLEASE GET SOMETHING IN WRITING WHEN YOU GO TO A STAFFING AND MAKE SURE IT IS SIGNED AND TAKE IT WITH YOU WHEN YOU GO BEFORE THE JUDGE. We still did not know that my son's time would be longer until after he got there.

The Director also tried to intimidate me by saying that, for what my son did wrong, he would spend X amount of time in jail; that I should be grateful that he is there. Believe me, and I know, because my son told me this: HE WOULD RATHER BE IN COUNTY JAIL! Now that is sad....
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"...kids are being systematically abused..."

April 16, 2003

Hello, I am Chairman of ISAC Corporation. ISAC stands for International Survivors Action Committee. Based in Largo FL, we have launched a campaign against abusive treatment programs of all types. I am not sure if you are familiar with STRAIGHT, INC, but kids are being systematically abused everyday in programs like this one that had several branches in FL and the US. Boot camps, same thing.

Please go to www.straightincorporated.com and see what we are doing and if anything we have done may be of use to you and your mission. I believe we may be able to work together to achieve each others' goals.

Thank you,
WFESR
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"The scary part is I have no faith at all in the system..."

March 3, 2003

Name: 
Email:
Tel:  
Topic: I am frustrated and discouraged

I am a teacher with the School District of Palm Beach County in the Alternative Education department.  I am in and out of DJJ and therapeutic facilities all the time.  My son got in with the wrong crowd when I began high school.  Despite the fact that I am a hyper aware and informed parent, due largely to my job, I could do little to stop the downward slide.  After running away a few times I sent him to live with his biological father in rural Georgia for a semester.  Backfired.  He felt abandoned and now hates his dad.  He is back with me and I am trying to help my depressed and now possibly drug addicted son.  He is on every restriction I can feasibly do--is not belligerent, but there are so many opportunities for drugs at his school that  he can't seem to get away from it.  He was diagnosed as depressed, has been Baker Acted twice and I have a court hearing on Thurs for the Marchman Act I filed.  The scary part is I have no faith at all in the system and am only doing this because I don't want him to hurt himself and wish I had done more.  I am thoroughly scared. ~ Linda L.
 

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... a good kid that just got into a regular school fight...

December 15, 2002

Name:  NM
Email:
Tel:   407-
Topic: DJJ

Comments:
To whom this May Concern

My son Andrew, age 17, student in Cypress Creek High School, had a fight 12-11-2003 at 10:00AM. In the fight he chipped a young man's tooth. My son was arrested for aggravated Battery and Great Bodily Harm. The officer told me that he would be processed and released to me the same day. I called JDC and they told me he would be seeing the judge the following day.

Andrew saw the Judge and the state attorney said he had 12 points. I did not understand what they meant by 12 points. But then they said my son had to remain incarcerated. I understand that my son was wrong and he understands that, to but there having him stay in there till January 14, 2003.

I went to visit my son on Saturday December 14, 2003 he did not look well: he was crying and very afraid. I fear for my son's life. I tried getting a hold of his public defender but no one has got in contact with me. His case number is CJ02008150. Please contact me and let me know the procedures on helping me get my son out of there before it is too late. My son is very remorse and if you were to meet Andrew you would understand what I mean. PLEASE HELP ANDREW HE IS A GOOD KID THAT JUST GOT INTO A REGULAR SCHOOL FIGHT AND NOW IS BEING TREATED LIKE A CRIMINAL. He has a loving home, two parents that love him dearly, two little sisters that miss him a lot, and are also suffering.

PLEASE HELP ME...

N. M.
Orlando, FL 32824
YOU CAN REACH ME AT ANYTIME

P.S. IF HE IS RELEASED TO ME HE WILL BE SUPERVISED AND HE WILL APPEAR IN COURT ON JANUARY 14, 2003. LIKE I SAID, HE'S A GOOD KID, JUST CAUGHT IN THE SYSTEM.

THANK YOU

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"...an opportunity here to create a role mode..."

November 14, 2002

Name:  rob pritchard
Email: flarfree5@comcast.net
dear sirs ms. have relocated to florida after 18 years as a nyc corrections officer, and am now employed at a level 6 jj facility. i am struck by two extremes in policy and procedure.  n.y. has a clear cut and workable policy in regards to use of force, medical guidelines, response protocol, etc. the guidelines help to insure the health and safety of the population and staff. what lacks is the common sense in regards to long term training and rehabilitation policies that exist here in florida. my experience here leads me to believe that there is an opportunity here to create a role model that this nation sorely needs. florida i believe has solved the difficult part of the equation but needs to come to grips with the foundations of the facilities. the clients  family may sue for injuries he received during an altercation, it happens. but one must gauge the general order of the institution to wit so many suffer, as they follow the negative and often illegal actions of there peers. your front line  staff [I believe] need in-depth training in law, when is necessary force authorized. when does force become excessive, and yes, when is it mandatory. 20 years in this line of work, to see so much inbred destruction is disheartening. i maintain hope that the common sense so prevalent in this state's people will prevail

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"I believe… corrective treatment...is more important than punitive actions."

From: "Tim"
To: <cathy@justice4kids.org>
Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2002
Subject: Your website

Hi Cathy,

My name is Tim and I have been a State employee in the past and will be again in the future serving the youth of DJJ. I took the last 2 years off to take care of my baby with diabetes and looking forward to helping troubled youth again. I am concerned about the way you attack the Department as a whole because of the actions of a few individuals.

As with any organization with thousands of employees, poor decisions will be made during the course of duty. Your generalization lacks merit and I can assure that the State of Florida takes steps reviewing its policies and programs on a yearly basis. It is called QA (Quality Assurance). I have been through 2 and they do not give any slack. Thousands of juveniles will test the professionals within DJJ on a daily basis, and yet your focus is on the few who make the wrong decision on how to react.

Have you ever taken the time to research the positive impact of the Department: Maybe the Front Porch initiative, community service within the Tampa Bay area, or interactions with local law enforcement to prevent crimes? We, as employees of DJJ, try to provide the resources to keep youth out of trouble and to lead a productive lifestyle.

Problems with prosecution should be with the State Attorney's Office, not DJJ.

Have you had any experience working with the youth in the system on a regular basis? How about the number of batteries committed on staff while in custody? Even though they are juveniles, they have the ability to commit crimes and hurt innocent victims within the community. Our system provides youth with legal avenues to address injustices but most of the time, it is the victim that receives the injustice.

I believe that the corrective treatment of a youth is more important that punitive actions. However, the youth and their family have to be willing and at times this is not the case. We do try to re-direct the behavior but only the youth can make the decision to make the right choice.

I respect your position as I do not want to see any person being treated unfairly. But, place yourself in the position of a DJJ employee and the tasks that they have to face everyday. We are expected to treat these kids as youth even though they commit crimes against society. Our laws and policies change on a yearly basis providing no conformity.

Next time you are at JDC, please take the time to thank the staff as they are under a lot of pressure protecting the children of the community.

I wish the best for you and your family. Thank you for taking the time to hear me out.

Sincerely,
Tim

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"The passion to make a difference..."

August 21, 2002

Name: 
Email:
Tel:  
Topic: Here is a part of the system that works
Comments: We had a wonderful probation officer that took the job to do the right thing and make a difference in the lives of these children.  The officer did bed checks at night and was successful in driving home to my son the seriousness of a curfew and the lesson of following the rules.  The officer was told to stop due to the fact it created too much paperwork! The passion to make a difference was refreshing and admirable.

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Gov. Bush, think before you cut...

November 18, 2001

Read this letter to Gov. Bush. Then, voice your comments by e-mailing any or all of the officials who received this urgent plea to think carefully how they cut the youth care budget.

Sunday, November 18, 2001

Governor Jeb Bush
PL 05 The Capital
400 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, Fl 32399-0001

RE: Proposed Budget Cuts Senate Bill 2B

Dear Governor Bush,

I am writing to you concerning the proposed budget cuts that will greatly effect Juvenile Residential Aftercare Programs. I am vehemently opposed to any budget cuts that will negatively impact these programs and the children and families that are desperately in need of their services.

My main concern is for the Boot Camp Programs scattered throughout the state and specifically for The Pinellas County Boot Camp. I had many reservations concerning the approach of Boot Camps in general, and was very concerned for my son when he entered Pinellas County Boot Camp in August of this year.

My son, Justin, had been through several of Florida's Juvenile Justice Systems programs. All of these programs were completely ineffective. The staff at these programs are easily manipulated by the teens in their care. Their approach for changing behavior is made totally ineffective by the lack of follow through, insufficient consequences for inappropriate actions, and a lack of dedication of the employees. Although I had many reservations concerning the Boot Camp, I asked the judge to sentence my son to the Pinellas County Boot Camp. I was desperate to find a program that would help my child.

My fears and reservations quickly diminished when I saw the positive impact the program was having on my child. I watched my son change from a rebellious, disrespectful, sullen teenager who had not achieved a grade from school in 4 years, to an individual with self pride and respect, respect for others, who is now an Honor Roll student. The changes in him are remarkable. The Pinellas County Boot Camp, and the sincere dedication of it's staff, is totally responsible for finally providing my son, and many others, with the approach needed to turn their lives around.

The Pinellas County Boot Camp program, as well as other JJD youth oriented programs, are now in danger of losing funding for, at a minimum, the aftercare programs, due to the proposed tax cuts of Senate Bill 2B. I am at a loss to understand how our state can justify cuts for programs that we are obviously in need of.  The State of Florida seems to continually make decisions that will ultimately increase juvenile delinquencies, not reduce or eliminate them. Common sense, as well as statistics, confirms that uneducated children are more likely to commit crimes, yet we (the state) continually take money from education to build more prisons.  It does not require a master's degree to understand that these actions will perpetuate the problem, not alleviate it.  Less education = more juvenile delinquents = more adult criminals = more prisons. Now we (the state) are considering cutting funding for the only programs we have that actually help Florida's children to become law-abiding citizens. These actions are forcing thinking Floridians to wonder what exactly the goals of our state government are.

There is no justification to cut funding for any part of these desperately needed programs. I implore you, Governor Bush, to refuse to sign into effect the proposed budget cuts in Senate Bill 2B. It is impossible for the youths of our state to receive all services to successfully complete their treatment programs, as you promised, without the budget necessary to continue them intact. Vote against these budget cuts, and for the youths of Florida, by continuing to support, in total, The Pinellas County Boot Camp and other Boot Camp programs throughout this state.

Thanking you in advance for you attention to this urgent matter.

Sincerely,

Theresa Mangelsdorf
727-533-2227

cc:
Department of Juvenile Justice
Bill Bankhead, DJJ Secretary
Timothy Niermann, DJJ Probation
Bill Gandy – DJJ Residential Programs
Don Lewis
Kurt Friednauer
Charles Chervanik
Representatives:
Gus Bilirakis
Frank Farkas
Frank Peterman
Senators
Jack Latvala
Jim Sebesta
Don Sullivan

Curtis Krueger, Reporter, St. Petersburg Times

Read, too, Curtis Krueger's article on the proposed budget cuts in the St. Pete Times. Click here.

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A Judge Who Cares

To Curtis Krueger - St. Petersburg Times 8/8/01

...please call Judge Ramsberger. Yesterday [8/7/01], he said that media attention should be given concerning a girl that has been at JDC for over 6 months. She is in DESPERATE need of mental health services, and has not even been assigned a placement facility.

From Catherine Arnold (Tallahassee DJJ):

As of July 10, 2001, the largest number of days for a juvenile awaiting placement to be held at the Pinellas detention center is 231. Regarding the maximum number of days a juvenile offender whom the judge determines poses a high-risk to public safety can be detained: THERE IS NO STATUTORY LIMIT. The Department generally has jurisdiction until the individual is 19 years of age, and in some cases 21 years of age. Based on the level of risk the youth could pose to public safety, the Department will insure that the individual is in a setting appropriate to that level of risk -- secure detention, home detention or electronic monitoring until appropriate placement in a program can be made.

Thank you, Cathy
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The Blame Game...a reply

July 16, 2001

We certainly don't intend to blame.  We are an informative resource for parents.  So many of us have spent years attempting to keep our children on the "right track".  We want guidance regarding available resources.

We can understand the viewpoint of "poor parenting skills".  There are many, many irresponsible parents.  My visits to the detention center are confirmation of that.  With a regular population of between 100 to 120 juveniles, only about 20 to 30 of these children are represented at visitation times.  That is sad for the children, and very wrong of the parents!

We (the responsible parents) are possibly in the minority, but we are REAL.  And, it better serves our society if we ALL attempt to make things better for ALL of these children. My son was a model son for 15 years.  I was an "at home" parent (business-person primarily working out of my home)  I was ALWAYS available when my son came home from school.  My son was NEVER in daycare or aftercare.  He was always involved in extracurricular activities: scouts, ice hockey, baseball, soccer, martial arts,  BMX bicycle racing.  I made it my mission to instill in him "honorable behavior".

I went the DJJ route after my son's behavior took a major "wrong turn". At about age 15, my son became verbally and physically abusive, began using drugs, dropped out of school and ran away from home.  In an effort to get him professional help, I turned to the Department of Juvenile Justice and its "wide array" of programs to help troubled youth.  My expectation was that I would be dealing with thorough, trained, caring professionals. What I found, and also learned from other parents, were people who often didn't know the laws they were upholding, didn't enforce existing laws, didn't communicate with one another, and were sometimes disrespectful to me and to my son.

So, my intent now is to bring to the attention of the staff and management throughout DJJ different problem areas; areas where my expectations and those of other parents, grandparents and youth, too, are not being met. The result, I hope, would be a DJJ that I, as a parent and citizen, could take pride in; and those employed by the DJJ could also be proud.

Thank you so much for your comments and please keep sending them.

Sincerely,
Cathy Corry
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The Blame Game

July 15, 2001 

THE BEST WAY TO AVOID DJJ IS TO KEEP YOUR YOUTH OUT OF THE SYSTEM, DON'T BLAME DJJ FOR POOR PARENTING SKILLS, NO ONE ASK[ED] FOR YOUTHS TO ENTER DJJ, THEY MADE THE CHOICE, LOOK IN THE MIRROR, THAT'S DJJ

[Signed] realreality4u
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Revised 11/19/2005

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