17th Judicial Circuit
Juvenile Justice
Circuit Advisory
Board Meeting
Meeting called by:
Marsha Ellison, Chair
Facilitator:
Marsha Ellison
08/13/2014
3:00 PM
Broward Governmental Center
115 S. Andrews Avenue
4th Floor-Room 430
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301
Type of meeting:
17th Judicial Circuit
Juvenile Justice Circuit
Advisory Board
Note taker:
Alicia Borders,
Secretary Specialist
Meeting Opened @ 3:15pm
MINUTES
Board Member Attendees:
Marsha Ellison – Chair, NAACP
Commissioner Lois Wexler – County Commissioner
Gordon Weekes – Chief Public Defender’s Designee
Captain Scott Russell for Colonel Alvin Pollock – Broward County Sherriff’s Office
Roosevelt Walters – Community At Large
Ella Phillips – Vice Chair, Legislative Aide (via telephone)
Judge Elijah Williams – Judiciary, Broward County
David Watkins – Whiddon-Rogers Education Center
Elder Mathes Guice – Community At Large
Robin Bartleman - School Board of Broward County Representative (via telephone)
Desmond Blackburn – Superintendent of Broward County Schools Designee (via telephone)
Maria Schneider – State Attorney’s Designee
Tamru Phillips for Mark Holsapfel – Department of Children and Families
Yolanda Brown – Court Administration Assistant Representative
Absent Board Members:
Alan Levy – Business Community
Mason Jackson – Career Source Broward
Dr. Joel Kaufman – Behavioral Healthcare Consultant – (Excused)
Assistant Chief Anthony Williams – Fort Lauderdale Police Department
DJJ Staff in Attendance:
Lois Salton – Residential
Joseph Seeber – Broward Regional Juvenile Detention Center Superintendent
Michelle Green
Alicia Borders – Secretary Specialist (via telephone)
Guest in Attendance:
Joel Smith – ChildNet
Agenda
CALL TO ORDER
Marsha Ellison
Roll Call & Guest Introductions
Marie Boswell
Meeting Minutes could not be approved, there
was no quorum.
Chair's Report:
Marsha Ellison
REMINDER OF NORMS - No Discussion
Report:
BROWARD CAB 3 YEAR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Ms. Ellison reported that Commissioner Wexler has agreed to provide resources to assist and assure that the Strategic Plan
captures what is best for Broward. Commissioner Wexler reported that during the CAB DMC/Zero Tolerance Committee
Meeting she volunteered the County’s resources by way of finances in efforts to develop a Strategic Plan for the CAB that
is due on December 31, 2014. Commissioner Wexler reported that the CAB previously agreed that the report that derived
from that committee would be the CAB’s Roadmap however Statute 985was rewritten the Strategic Plan has to have
certain components embedded within it. Commissioner Wexler reported that she received several applications and the
candidate chosen is Mr. Joel Smith. Commissioner Wexler reported that Mr. Smith has previously served on this CAB as a
member for years and has worked for the Department as well as the School System and is also familiar with the issues of
Broward County. (Mr. Walters advised that a quorum is not present.)
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Mr. Smith reported that he wanted to share where he is so far in his efforts and seeks guidance in relation
to the direction of board.
Mr. Smith provided the board with information on—the Comprehensive Plan, Circuit Advisory Boards, an
overview on collective impact, and the Department’s Mission, Vison and Guiding Principles.
Has read and studied the DMC document and pulled out the areas of interest to the board.
Needs time to determine if the list of interest is unified to prioritize and target what the board wants to
accomplish.
Suggested a 1/2 Retreat or Workshop to get a common direction.
County is willing to underwrite a leadership activity and facilitate capturing the information.
Mr. Smith added that in relation to the board’s concerns in secure detention the JDAI Initiative in collaboration with the
Casey Foundation and the State of Florida has a component that includes a regular series of evaluative visits to the
detention center and suggested it be included in the plan as well. Ms. Ellison polled the body on the idea of attending a ½
day Retreat and on the inclusion of JDAI into the Strategic Plan. Ms. Ellison asked that DCF participate and provide
feedback.
Mr. Weekes expressed that the Retreat should include every vested body that deals with DJJ
 DJJ Detention/Probation
 JDAI
 DMC
 Community Service Providers
 Program Providers—Civil Citation/Diversion
 DJJ Data Integrity
 DJJ
 County
 BSO
 Fort-Lauderdale Police Department
 School Board
Ms. Ellison advised that Mr. Smith has been requesting information from providers. Mr. Walters sought clarity with Mr.
Weekes as to whether or not the DMC Plan in its entirety is needed. Mr. Weekes responded that he was with
understanding that the DMC Plan and that any other Plan would build on to the Strategic Plan and that some of
the issues from the DMC Plan would be adopted to develop a Strategic Plan. Mr. Smith concluded that this should be
a facilitated effort and that his intent is to ensure that whatever the board’s vision and mission is creates a buy-in from the
group to move forward.
Conclusion:
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Commissioner Wexler provided financial resources to hire
Joel Smith to assist with the Strategic Plan.
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Mr. Smith shared where he is in his efforts and sought
guidance in relation to the direction of the board.
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Body was polled on having a ½ day Retreat or Workshop and
on the inclusion of JDAI into the Strategic Plan.
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Mr. Weekes wants to ensure that every vested body that deals
with DJJ is invited to the Retreat/Workshop including
extending an invitation to all Delinquency Judges and the
Dependency Chair from the Delinquency Division.
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All Board Members agreed to having a ½ day Retreat or
Workshop to be held on Wednesday September 17, 2014 @
2pm-5pm.
DJJ CHAIRS’ MEETING IN ORLANDO
FLORIDA
Marsha Ellison
Report:
 Meeting to be held in Orlando for CAB Chairs or their designee to discuss the Strategic Plan on Monday
August 25, 2014 @9am-3pm
 Ms. Ellison asked for a volunteer to represent the body. (discussion took place)
 Commissioner Wexler advised that she will let the body know if she can attend.
DETENTION FACILITY TOUR/
UNANNOUCED/ANNOUNCED VISITS TO
THE DETENTION CENTER/DJJ
DETENTION FACILITY SOP
Superintendent Joseph
Seeber
Report:
 In follow-up to the request for the policy in relation to unannounced detention visits, clarity was provided
for the board on procedure.
 Superintendent Seeber advised the body that after identification, staff in central control will contact him
after their arrival and a tour will take place. (as long as there is operational availability)
 Mr. Weekes and Judge Williams advised that they recently participated in an unannounced tour of the
facility and Superintendent Seeber and staff were very accommodating. Mr. Weekes reported that he
has previously visited the facility however he experienced a more in-depth view during this visit and
continued that the detention facility is consistent with a prison and is poorly designed. Mr. Weekes did
commend the Nurse’s Station and the kitchen area. He encouraged the body to tour the facility to decide
as a community if this is what they want for their children. Judge Williams commented that based upon
the design of the building for the safety of youth on Special Precaution youth has to be placed on the floor
on the boat bunks. He suggested considering a new building.
 Mr. Watkins advised that since the arrival of Superintendent Seeber there has been a shift for the better
within the facility and agreed that extensive work is needed. He advised the body that the conditions of
the facility has to be maintained and suggested that the body remain vigilant in keeping visual as to how
the facility is being maintained.
Ms. Ellison asked is there any indication that the needs will be addressed at that facility? Superintendent Seeber responded
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The facility is currently in the middle of a $500,000 dollar plus roof renovation project.
Representative from Tallahassee looked through the building and looked at the list of needs.
Department is currently in the process of prioritizing where the funding will be placed statewide.
There is a commitment to address some of the facility needs however he cannot provide a specific
timeline.
In terms of the coloring on the walls, staff has been assisting with painting to help the facility resemble a
school and not a detention facility.
Ms. Ellison inquired if it is Dr. Negron who would have submitted the board’s needs assessment that would have
sequenced the priority list. Superintendent Seeber responded he is unsure. He continued that Larry Olsten is in
charge of overseeing all the facility’s maintenance improvement projects.
(Consideration)
It was suggested that the county replace the facility and clarified that the detention facility is a Department of Juvenile
Justice building where the County pays for the pre-adjudicated youth. There was an inquiry relative to the existence of
Coding and Rules Administratively that the County can/cannot run a detention center and bill the State accordingly. It
was clarified that this issue is about a State Agency and fiscally constrained Counties. There was also suggestion that
if some of the larger counties pull out since the larger counties are the donor counties to the fiscally constrained Counties
the system will implode. It was added that Legislatively the secured detention system would have to be revamped. It was
also clarified that the suggestion is not a threat or a viable solution however in discussion about detention center issues all
constraints should be listed so that DJJ and the Board could think about the reality of Broward County possibly overseeing
a facility. There was suggestion to do a Public Campaign to shame the department and a reminder that there are
organizations within the community that are interested in the welfare of children. It was expressed that a new detention
center would not be considered. It was added that this body understands the problem however the community is unaware
because it is a hidden problem. Also advised was the importance in proceeding forward that there is also a commitment to
have their children remain in Broward County and the reasons why.
Conclusion:
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Mr. Seeber advised that the board has a planned tour scheduled
to take place on August 21, 2014 @ 2:00pm and asked that the
body arrive approximately 15 minutes prior to the visit for
security purposes.
Mr. Watkins shared that he recently had conversation with Dr.
Negron and expressed concerns on her lack of communication
with the 17th Judicial Circuit Advisory Board and suggested
that she attend and support Superintendent Seeber on how to
move forward with the detention issues.
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Facility’s SOP requested by the CAB was e-mailed to the board
prior to this meeting
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Judge Williams will meet with Superintendent Seeber to figure
out who the body needs to contact in relation to the structure of
the facility.
BY-LAWS COMMITTEE UPDATE
Roosevelt Walters
Discussion: Mr. Walters advised that he is in need of volunteers to join the committee. Ms. Ellison advised that Ms.
Phillips, Ms. Schneider, and Mr. Weekes joined the Committee during a previous meeting. Mr. Walters advised that he
will contact Ms. Borders with a meeting date
DMC/ZERO TOLERANCE COMMITTEE
Gordon Weekes
Discussion: Mr. Weekes advised that the committee is in hiatus until the later part of the year because of the work that is
taking place with writing the Strategic Plan. He continued that he circulates articles to the members to show what is taking
place on a national level that trickles down to what this body should be aware of on a local level.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Commissioner Lois Wexler
Report:
 Commissioner Wexler provided the body with a letter that went to Interim Secretary, Christy. Daly and
the Director of Administration for DJJ in relation to County Cost Share.
 some of the counties have decided to withhold funds, others are paying what they prevailed in the lawsuit,
however Broward has cut checks that represent what they should be paying and not what the State is
billing so there is the potential that at some point and time the department is going to say that they don’t
have enough monies to run the detention centers around the state.
 County is back in litigation with the State.
Commissioner Wexler advised that when a county is fiscally constrained the donor counties come to their rescue. Mr.
Weekes inquired about the timeframe the department will begin dispersing the 2014-2015 budgets. Commissioner
Wexler responded that the payments are monthly and that the Department’s fiscal year began July 1, 2014. Ms.
Ellison advised that the DJJ 2014 Legislative Report was provided via e-mail.
PROBATION AND COMMUNITY INTERVENTION
It was advised that Aquila Lovell would provide Ms. Borders with the Probation and Community Intervention Update via
e-mail.
There was discussion in relation to designees voting. It was advised that official letters has to be provided to the board to
appoint designees.
Meeting Adjourned 4:46 PM