[Gov. Rick Scott stands withDept. of Juvenile Justice Secretary Wansley Waters, left. Karl Etters photo]
Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday signed a bill rewriting laws that govern the state Department of Juvenile Justice, reinforcing an emphasis on prevention, intervention and the rehabilitation of youthful offenders.
The measure (HB 7055) formalizes the department’s strategy of shifting funds to prevention programs, with the aim of keeping kids out of the juvenile system in the first place. It creates criminal penalties for abusing or neglecting teens of all ages in the department’s custody and requires DJJ to provide the Legislature with annual reports on the outcomes for all its programs.
....Also Tuesday, Scott named the department’s deputy secretary, Christy Daly, as interim secretary to replace Secretary Wansley Walters, who will retire at the end of June.
The rewrite is likely to ensure that the department’s approach to juvenile justice will not depart when Walters does.
DJJ’s shift in philosophy is based on her premise that many children in the system --- and their families --- are dealing with ongoing abuse and violence, so that a punitive approach to their behavior problems is likely to be counter-productive.
“Trust me, if they’re a really serious offender in this state, they’re going to the adult system,” Walters said Monday on a visit to juvenile-detention facilities. “So any child that’s in our care is one that a judge and a state attorney felt could be rehabilitated. Why, when we get these children, would you think that beating them down, taking away their identity, stripping their spirit down --- and think that when they come out, they’re going to do just great with that? It’s ridiculous.”
Scott signs DJJ overhaul reflecting new approach (Florida)
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