Dear Secretary Walters,We take this opportunity, as detailed in this letter, to express support for many of the provisions in the 2014 legislative proposals to rewrite Chapter 985, Florida Statutes, but also provide you our vision for additional reform in Florida that is consistent with the momentum that has started under your leadership.The current effort to rewrite the juvenile justice code continues to move Florida in the right direction.The coalition encourages Florida’s leaders not only to acknowledge the positive aspects of pending legislation, including SB 700 and its House counterpart, but also to recognize that more will need to be done to further increase public safety, have a positive impact on Florida’s children and families, and utilize taxpayer dollars more wisely. In addition to making changes in the statutory framework of DJJ, the coalition stands beside you as a partner to ensure that Florida leaders increasingly conform the budgetary structure of the Department to reflect the goals in your Roadmap.Our coalition includes the following non-partisan stakeholders: Children’s Campaign, FSU Project on Accountable Justice, The James Madison Institute, Southern Poverty Law Center, Texas Public Policy Foundation, and Voices for Florida. We are united in our commitment to reforming Florida’s juvenile justice system through sound policies based on research and data.Sincerely, on behalf of our juvenile justice reform coalition,Deborrah Brodsky
Director
FSU Project on Accountable Justice
850/566-8944
dbrodsky@fsu.edu
iog.fsu.edu/paj/Read Letter of Full Recommendations to DJJ (Sept. 2013) here. Read Letter to DJJ In Support of Code Rewrite Efforts (Feb. 2014) here.
