Our Mission

Our mission is to influence legislation and policies that promote a compassionate and effective juvenile justice process in Collier County.  We do this through education, advocacy and monitoring activities. We believe that the Juvenile Justice system should:

• Promote the prevention of juvenile delinquency
• Rehabilitate, rather than punish
• Provide alternatives to incarceration for low-level crimes
• Treat youth as youth, who do not have a fully matured brain

We advocate for:

• Increased the use of civil citation for first time, low level offense
• a reduction in the number of direct file cases that try juveniles as adults

We work toward this vision through education of the membership and public, advocacy to government and monitoring of programs and institutions.  We make ourselves heard!

Program Description, 2020-2021

Goal

Support and influence policies and decisions to promote delinquency prevention and assure justice for all Collier residents.

Education

Organize educational programs relative to the goals for the committee and the general membership.

Juvenile Justice – Monitor and observe these programs, agencies, and organizations in Collier County:

1. Juvenile criminal justice system with emphasis on rehabilitation, alternatives to incarceration and diversion programs for youth
2. Youth and Delinquency Services Division of the Collier County Sheriff’s Office
3. Unified Family Court
4. Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ)
5. PACE (Practical Academic Cultural Education) Center for Girls, Immokalee, by attending any invited and/or annual meetings, and visiting the school.

Criminal Justice – Learn more about the state of the Florida Justice System and the Judiciary including the role of the State Attorney and assistant attorneys.

Action and Advocacy

Participate in the work of the following groups, provide Committee updates, and enlist member support as needed:

1. Collier County Youth Resource Center (YRC)
2. Southwest Florida Human Trafficking Coalition
3. LWV Florida Juvenile Justice Committee
4. Collier Citizens Alliance

Continue to monitor Florida legislation relative to the Justice System, including Rights Restoration of former felons, direct file of juveniles to adult court, and civil citation and take appropriate action.

Schedule meetings with community, school, and service organizations and present the Civil Citation PowerPoint to further educate the county about its use and its benefits.

Schedule meetings with various local organizations and present the Direct File PowerPoint to educate the County about its use and the harm done to our children and to the community.

Learn about direct file, promote the use of alternatives when appropriate, and present the resolution to local governments.

Review juvenile Civil Citations (diversion from arrest programs) and delinquency data relative to any disparities in arrest and other consequences by race or gender.