Mission Statement
We support Juvenile Justice programs that value children’s’ basic needs including their mental health and promote fairness and racial equity. We focus on delinquency prevention and the expanded use of rehabilitative and restorative programs.
Program Plan for 2023-2024
Goal 1: Educate and increase awareness of Juvenile Justice Committee (JJC) goals and priorities among League of Women Voters Collier County (LWVCC) general membership, JJC members and general public.
Specific Objectives
- Organize four education programs for JJC and other interested LWVCC members.Organize one General Meeting and one Hot Topic for all LWVCC members and invited guests.
- Write letters to the editor, guest editorials and press releases to support the mission and goals of the JJC. Note: letters to the editor on behalf of the committee are to be approved by the LWVCC president.
Goal 2: Continue Restorative Practices Study concerning proven school programs that reduce suspension rates, keep children out of the school to prison pipeline, and reduce kids’ mental health issues, while increasing educational attainment, school safety and contribute to a positive school environment.
Specific Objectives
- Gather details and data from Restorative programs in other jurisdictions. Compare to Collier County Public Schools program.
- Develop a position paper for presentation to the LWVCC Board and evaluation for advocacy
Goal 3: Educate and Increase awareness of Civil Citation diversion program for low-level juvenile crimes in lieu of arrest / direct file.
Specific Objectives
- Update existing LWVFL Civil Citation PowerPoint presentation with recent State of Florida and Collier County data by June 30, 2023.
- Identify target community groups for in-person or virtual presentations by trained JJC members. Increase impact of in-person presentations with relevant leave behind material, and virtual presentations with online follow-up.
- Study factors that affect use of civil citations and account for monthly discrepancies.
- Monthly, review results from a racial disparity perspective, use of civil citation and direct file, and recidivism rates.
- Explore creating video with real life examples to supplement civil citation presentations
Goal 4: Other issues that JJC may research alone or in collaboration with other LWVCC committees in 2023-2024 include mental health, use of solitary confinement for juveniles, caseworker turnover in Juvenile Justice system, lack of qualified foster parents, Stand Up for Public Schools campaign, Neighborhood Accountability Board.
Goal:5 Continue to monitor pending / passed Florida legislation. This includes direct file to adult court, Civil Citation, the Baker Act, minimum arrest age and rehabilitative and restorative programs. In addition, the JJC regularly monitors the following programs, agencies, and organizations -to remain apprised of their work, and to act when appropriate.
- The Juvenile Justice System (emphasis on rehabilitation, alternatives to incarceration and diversion programs)
- CCSO Youth and Delinquency Prevention Services
- Collier County Youth Resource Center
- Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center
- Florida Department of Juvenile Justice
- Friends of Foster Children Forever, Naples
- PACE Center for Girls
- Trinity Life Foundation
- Unified Family Court