In the early 1990s, Jacksonville was one of the first cities in the U.S. that began focusing on issues related to juveniles who were committing crimes and entering the justice system.
Over the following 25 years, the 4th Judicial Circuit developed programs designed to guide young offenders away from the courts and incarceration and into diversion programs.
On Friday, the circuit began an initiative to further improve outcomes in juvenile justice, when State Attorney Melissa Nelson welcomed the 23-member Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee to its first meeting.
“We’re taking a holistic approach. We think alternatives to incarceration are better for all of us. We’re doing it, but can we do it better,” Nelson said.
The committee comprises attorneys, educators, executives from social service organizations, mental health professionals, state juvenile justice and law enforcement officials, three judges and a pastor.
Nelson said she contacted each member of the committee and asked for assistance and a one-year commitment to the project.
“These were not political appointments. These were requests,” she said.
Over the next 12 months, the committee will evaluate the circuit’s current programs and study what other municipalities are doing to help young first offenders who commit minor crimes end their experience in the justice system before they become adults.
“I want you to listen, absorb, discuss, debate and create,” Nelson said. “This is an opportunity for us to change lives.”
Elder Lee Harris, pastor of Mount Olive Primitive Baptist Church, said he agreed to join the advisory group even though he has previously served on similar committees that yielded little or no result.
“I was reluctant about meeting again and seeing a report put on a shelf,” he said.
Nelson assured the committee that is not the intent of the year-long study.
“What you produce, we will make sure we implement. This is not a dog-and-pony show,” she said.
The committee will conduct its business according to the state open government laws. Meetings will be noticed to the public in advance.
They will be held in a place accessible to the public and minutes will be recorded and made available.
Committee members may not discuss with other members any business that is before the committee or that may come before the committee outside of a properly noticed meeting.
“We have begun our adventure. We have some hard work to do,” said committee Chair Buddy Schulz, a partner at Holland & Knight.
The next meeting is 9 a.m. Oct. 27 at the Holland & Knight law firm on the 39th floor of Bank of America Tower Downtown.
Meeting notices and minutes as well as information presented to the committee will be posted online at http://bit.ly/2xyFqiu.