Hillsborough County, Florida



CAPTIONING

MARCH 21, 2014

JUVENILE JUSTICE BOARD

***This is not an official, verbatim transcript of the ***following meeting. It should be used for informational ***purposes only. This document has not been edited; ***therefore, there may be additions, deletions, or words ***that did not translate.

>>RALPH STODDARD: GOOD MORNING, AND WELCOME TO THE MARCH EDITION OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE BOARD HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, CIRCUIT 13.

I'M RALPH STODDARD, AND I'M THE CHAIR.

AS OUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS, LET US STAND AND SAY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]

ALL RIGHT.

AS OUR NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS, I'LL DO INTRODUCTIONS.

A PRIVILEGE TO BE SEATED AMONGST LAW ENFORCEMENT.

I'LL START WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

>>SEAN PETERS: SERGEANT SEAN PETERS, SCHOOL RESOURCE SECTION, SQUAD 563.

WE RECENTLY IMPLEMENTED A THIRD SQUAD IN OUR SCHOOL RESOURCE SECTION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND WE NOW HAVE THREE AREAS.

I HAVE THE CENTRAL SQUAD, AND THERE ARE TWO OTHERS, WEST SIDE AND THE -- AND THE EAST SIDE, WHICH OCCUPY THE SOUTH -- SOUTHEAST PORTION OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.

IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE.

>>RALPH STODDARD: ALL RIGHT.

>>ROB PARKINSON: I'M ROB PARKINSON WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY STRATEGIC PLANNING GRANTS MANAGEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE.

>>FERNANDO CRESPO: GOOD MORNING.

MR. FERNANDO CRESPO, HILLSBOROUGH WEST DETENTION CENTER.

I'M THE SUPERINTENDENT -- NEW SUPERINTENDENT AS OF

JANUARY 31st, 2014.

THANK YOU.

WELCOME.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

>>FERNANDO CRESPO: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>MEGAN NEWCOMB: MEGAN NEWCOMB.

I'M HERE FROM THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

I'M THE JUVENILE DIVISION CHIEF.

>>JULIE EDISON: GOOD MORNING.

JULIE EDISON, ACTING GENERAL MANAGER, CHILDREN'S SERVICES.

>>TINA LEVENE: GOOD MORNING.

TINA LEVENE, DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE, PREVENTION.

>>CHRISSY DORION: CHRISSY DORION, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS, JUVENILE JUSTICE TRANSITION DEPARTMENT.

>>DAVID DENSON: AND I'M DAVID DENSON, NAACP.

>>SANDRA PINKNEY: SANDRA PINKNEY, DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE, PROBATION AND COMMUNITY INTERVENTION.

>>JENNIFER CZAJA: JENNIFER CZAJA WITH ACTS.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: KEVIN BECKNER, HILLSBOROUGH BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, DISTRICT 6, COUNTYWIDE.

>>KURT ROJKA: SERGEANT KURT ROJKA, TAMPA, POLICE.

CURRENT VICE CHAIRMAN OF JUVENILE JUSTICE BOARD.

>>RALPH STODDARD: AND THE NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS, PLEASE REVIEW THE MINUTES.

>>CHRISSY DORION: I HAVE A CHANGE --

>>RALPH STODDARD: YES.

>>CHRISSY DORION: -- A CORRECTION.

ON THE JANUARY 24th --

>>RALPH STODDARD: -- YES.

>>CHRISSY DORION: -- ON THE THIRD PAGE.

UNDER ANNOUNCEMENTS WHERE IT SAYS, CHRISSY D., CROSS OUT THOSE TWO LINES, CHRISSY DORION GAVE BRIEF UPDATE OF THE DJJ GED VOUCHER PROGRAM WITH MORE INFO TO COME AT OUR NEXT MAY MEETING OR -- AT OUR MAY MEETING IT SHOULD SAY, AND THEN CHRISSY THANKED COMMISSIONER BECKNER, ROB PARKINSON, AND SUCCESS 4 KIDS & FAMILIES.

>>RALPH STODDARD: ALL RIGHT.

SO NOTED.

DID EVERYONE NOTE THAT?

>> YES.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: MOVE TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES.

>>RALPH STODDARD: ALL RIGHT.

MOTION TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES AS AMENDED.

>> SECOND.

>>RALPH STODDARD: ANY DISCUSSION?

ALL RIGHT.

ALL IN FAVOR.

[CHORUS OF AYES]

ANY OPPOSED?

ALL RIGHT.

THE MINUTES AS AMENDED ARE ACCEPTED.

DETECTIVE TILLER.

I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF HEARING DETECTIVE TILLER'S PRESENTATION AT THE TRAINING FOR THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, AND IT IS -- IT IS SOMETHING ELSE FOR YOU ALL OUT THERE PERHAPS WATCHING THIS ON TELEVISION.

MANY OF YOU ARE NOT AWARE OF THE ISSUE OF YOUTH GANGS, AND IT IS INTERESTING AND OF A CONCERN, AND DETECTIVE TILLER, WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.

>> THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.

I APPRECIATE THE TIME.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO TRY TO DO IS UTILIZE THE BOARD TO FURTHER MY INTERESTS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT IN HELPING WITH PREVENTION AND REENTRY OF GANG MEMBERS FROM INCARCERATION FROM THE TIME THEY ENTER INTO THE GANGS TO THE TIME THAT THEY BECOME INCARCERATED FOR COMMITTING GANG-RELATED ACTS AND THEN RETURN BACK OUT TO THE STREETS.

THAT'S, TO ME, A CRITICAL TIME TO TRY TO CATCH THEM AND BRING THEM BACK INTO A NORMAL SOCIETY, NORMAL ROLES IN THE COMMUNITY VERSUS REENTERING THE GANG, REESTABLISHING THEIR CONNECTIONS, AND DOING MORE CRIMES AND JUST KEEPING THE RECIDIVISM RATE HIGHER.

NO, THAT WASN'T MINE.

THE PROBLEM OUR COMMUNITY'S FACING RIGHT NOW AS IT RELATES TO CRIMINAL STREET GANGS IS WE HAVE PARENTAL SYSTEMS WHERE THE PARENTS GO TO WORK, ONE-PARENT, TWO-PARENT FAMILY MODELS, AND THEY SPEND EIGHT, TEN, 12 HOURS A DAY THERE.

YOU HAVE YOUTH CRIMINAL STREET GANG MEMBERS THAT THEIR SOLE PURPOSE IN LIFE IS MAKING MONEY THROUGH THE SALES OF ILLEGAL NARCOTICS AND COMMITTING CRIMINAL ACTS ON OTHER STREET GANGS.

THEY SPEND MORE TIME WITH OUR CHILDREN THAN WE DO.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, WHEN YOU GET HOME, FROM THE TIME YOU PICK UP THE KIDS AFTER SCHOOL UNTIL THE TIME THEY GO TO SLEEP, YOU HAVE THREE TO FOUR HOURS.

THESE INDIVIDUALS WILL SPEND EIGHT TO TEN HOURS A DAY, WEEKENDS, HOLIDAYS WITH THESE GANG MEMBERS, AND IT'S OUR JOB TO TRY TO PREVENT THE RECIDIVISM FROM OCCURRING AND TO TRY TO PREVENT THEM FROM REENTERING THE GANGS.

WHY DO WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT?

IF YOU LOOK UP ON THE BOARD, THESE ARE OPERATIONS THAT WE'VE CONDUCTED BETWEEN THE CITY AND COUNTY, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF AUTOMATIC WEAPONS, GANG PARAPHERNALIA, DRUGS, AND EVEN BODY ARMOR AS IT'S SEEN UP HERE, THIS IS WHAT THE LIFESTYLE IS FOR THESE GANG MEMBERS.

THIS IS WHAT THESE CHILDREN ARE LOOKING AT.

THEY WATCH TV PROGRAMS WHERE THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR IS GLORIFIED AND IS RAISED UP, AND THEN HOW CAN WE AS PARENTS AND CITIZENS COMPETE AND TELL THEM DON'T DO DRUGS, DON'T GET INVOLVED IN A SITUATION WHEN THEY'RE GETTING TO LIVE OUT THE VIDEO GAMES THAT THEY'RE PLAYING ON TV.

IT'S A SALES PITCH BEING UTILIZED BY THE GANG MEMBERS THEMSELVES.

GANG ACTIVITY INCLUDES HOMICIDES, ROBBERIES, RAPE, DRUG SALES, LEADING PROSTITUTION RINGS, TAX FRAUD, AND THEN WHEN IT'S PACKAGED TO THE OTHER KIDS, IT'S PACKAGED IN THIS FORMAT, CUTE LITTLE CARTOONS PUT OUT THERE, AND THE KIDS LOOK AT IT AND SAY, WELL, THAT DOESN'T LOOK BAD, THAT ACTUALLY LOOKS PRETTY COOL, SO THE GANG MEMBERS HAVE A WAY TO ALSO ENTICE THE CHILDREN IN.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT LOOKS RELATIVELY INNOCENT.

IT LOOKS LIKE A DOODLE TO A PARENT ON A PIECE OF PAPER, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN GET A CHILD SHOT IN SCHOOL, CAN GET THEM BEAT UP ON THE STREETS LATER ON.

WHAT ARE GANGS?

AND I WILL DO THIS VERY QUICKLY.

IT'S AN ORGANIZATION, ASSOCIATION, OR GROUP THAT'S PRIMARY ACTS IS THE COMMISSION OF CRIME.

NOW, WE HAVE UNIFORMED TAMPA POLICE, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENTS, DJJ FOLKS THAT WEAR UNIFORMS EVERY DAY.

THEY HAVE THE SAME SIGNS, THEY HAVE SYMBOLS AND THINGS THAT THEY HAVE IN COMMON, BUT IT'S THE COMMISSION OF CRIMES WITH THE STREET GANGS THAT MAKE THEM SPECIAL.

THERE'S THREE OR MORE PEOPLE.

TWO PEOPLE ARE NOT A CRIMINAL STREET GANG.

THIS HAS BEEN WELL ARGUED OUT.

TWO KIDS SAYING WE'RE THIS OR THAT ON THE STREETS DOESN'T MAKE THEM A STREET GANG.

THEY HAVE COMMON SIGNS, IDENTIFYING SIGNS, OR COLORS OR SYMBOLS.

IF YOU SEE FIVE OR SIX KIDS WALKING AROUND TOGETHER WEARING A LIGHT BLUE SHIRT, WEARING A SIX POINT STAR OF DAVID THROUGH THE MALL AND THROWING UP HAND SIGNS, I WOULD LOVE TO SAY THAT THERE'S A SURGE OF JUDAISM WITHIN THAT MALL, BUT IT'S PROBABLY NOT THAT SITUATION, IT'S PROBABLY MORE OF A CRIMINAL STREET GANG OPERATING THERE, AND THERE'S CHILDREN PRESENT THAT ARE MEMBERS OF THAT GANG, SO THINGS TO PAY ATTENTION TO.

IT ALSO INCLUDES HATE GROUPS AND TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS.

UNFORTUNATELY, FLORIDA HAS THE DISTINCTION OF BEING NUMBER TWO IN THE NATION FOR HATE GROUPS, TERROR ORGANIZATIONS, ANTIGOVERNMENT MILITIAS, AND THINGS OF THIS NATURE.

THE INTELLIGENCE REPORT PUT OUT BY THE SOUTHERN LAW POVERTY CENTER SAYS THAT WE'RE NUMBER TWO, AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT SIZE AND POPULATION, WE SHOULDN'T BE THAT HIGH.

WHO'S A GANG MEMBER?

HOW DO WE IDENTIFY THESE KIDS?

IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN GETTING TATTOOED, IF THEY IDENTIFY AND ADOPT HAND SIGNS USED BY A GANG, DRESS, YOU GO INTO A CHILD'S CLOSET, YOU'RE STARTING TO NOTICE WHEN YOU'RE IN A CONFINED ENVIRONMENT OR A SITUATION WHERE THE CHILDREN ARE INCARCERATED BUT ARE STILL DRAWING ON THEIR HANDS AND ARE STILL UTILIZING SYMBOLS AND RAGS, THEY TAKE CLOTHING AND APPAREL AND PUT IT IN A MANNER WHICH IT'S NOT MEANT TO BE, THEY MAKE BANDANAS AND HANG THEM FROM THE SIDE POCKETS, THINGS LIKE THIS, STUFF TO PAY ATTENTION TO.

WE'VE HAD PARENTS COME FORWARD AND SAY, MY CHILD IS A GANG MEMBER, WHAT DO I DO, HOW DO I STOP THIS?

IF ANOTHER CHILD IS INCARCERATED, THEY MAY IDENTIFY A RIVAL GANG MEMBER TO THE GROUP JUST FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY.

RIGHT NOW THE BIGGEST WAY THAT WE HAVE OF IDENTIFYING THESE CHILDREN IS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA SITES.

WE CALL EACH OTHER ON THE PHONE STILL.

WE TEXT -- WE TEXT.

THESE CHILDREN UTILIZE FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, AND APPLICATIONS AND PROGRAMS SUCH AS KIK, K-I-K, ON THE INTERNET TO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER.

THEY DON'T STAND OUT ON A STREET CORNER AND DEAL DRUGS ANYMORE, THEY DO IT ON FACEBOOK.

WE'VE DONE MULTIPLE INVESTIGATIONS OF FACEBOOK ACCOUNTS AND HAVE FOUND THAT THESE CHILDREN ARE CONDUCTING THEIR BUSINESS ON-LINE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THEM AND YOU SAY, WELL, I'VE TAKEN AWAY MY CHILD'S CELL PHONE OR WE DON'T ALLOW CELL PHONES IN AN INCARCERATION ENVIRONMENT -- IF THEY HAVE INTERNET ACCESS, THEY CAN QUICKLY DOWNLOAD A PROGRAM CALLED K-I-K, KIK.

IT'S A WAY TO CHAT UTILIZING TEXT MESSAGING THROUGH THE INTERNET, AND AS LONG AS THERE'S A DESIRE FOR IT, SOMEONE WILL CREATE A PROGRAM FOR IT.

THE ONLY WAY THESE CHILDREN GET ANY KIND OF ATTENTION IS BY PUTTING THEMSELVES OUT THERE PUBLICLY, BY GOING OUT AND SAYING, I'M A GANG MEMBER.

IT'S THE WAY THE GANG -- THE WAY THE GANG GAINS NOTORIETY, IT'S A WAY THEY GET CREDIT FOR WHAT THEY'RE DOING, AND IT'S ALL ABOUT THE CREDIT FOR WHAT THEY'RE DOING, IT'S ALL ABOUT IMAGE AND LIFESTYLE.

MY PARTNER, DETECTIVE SANDERSON, WILL ELABORATE.

>> THERE ARE FOUR PICTURES THAT YOU GUYS MAY SEE ON THE SCREEN.

THEY'RE DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT ARE SEEN BY THESE KIDS AS HEROES.

WHEN YOU'RE -- AS YOU CAN SEE, ONE THE PICTURES IS ACTUALLY SHOWING AFTER ESPN.

HOW DO YOU BLOCK ESPN?

YOU CAN'T.

YOU REALLY CAN'T.

AND SO WHEN THEY'RE IN FRONT OF THESE CAMERAS DOING PARTICULAR GANG SIGNS OR SAYING I'M A PART OF THIS OR I'M A PART OF THAT, IT'S KIND OF HARD FOR A HARDWORKING MOTHER WHO MAKES MAYBE $10 AN HOUR AT HER BEST DAY TO SAY, HEY, DO LIKE ME AND GO TO SCHOOL OR DO LIKE SOME OF OUR GREAT LEADERS IN AMERICA AS OPPOSED TO SOMEBODY THAT'S MAKING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS STANDING IN FRONT OF A MICROPHONE OR STANDING ON A BASKETBALL COURT OR SOME OF OUR FOOTBALL FIELDS THROWING UP A GANG SIGN AND SAY, I CAN MAKE MONEY DOING THIS AS WELL.

THE FIRST GUY THAT YOU MAY SEE ON THE TOP LEFT-HAND CORNER IS JOHN WALL.

HE NOW PLAYS FOR THE WASHINGTON WIZARDS, WHICH USED TO BE THE BULLETS.

THE SECOND GUY THAT YOU SEE ON THE RIGHT CORNER IS GOING TO BE PAUL PIERCE.

HE NOW PLAYS FOR THE BROOKLYN NETS.

HE DOESN'T PLAY FOR THE CELTICS ANYMORE.

BUT THESE ARE GUYS THAT PLAY VERY WELL.

HE'S WON CHAMPIONSHIPS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

THE BOTTOM LEFT CORNER, THE GUY IN THE WHITE T-SHIRT IS NONE OTHER THAN LITTLE WAYNE.

HE MAKES A LOT OF MONEY SELLING HIS RECORDS, AND HE HAS NO -- NO DOUBTS ABOUT WHAT HE IS.

HE LETS YOU KNOW STRAIGHT UP I AM A GANG MEMBER.

HE SAYS HE IS A BLOOD GANG MEMBER, AND HE USES WAYS TO SHOW THAT, AND MY PARTNER HERE WILL SHOW YOU LATER ON HOW THEY DO THAT VERY SUBTLE WAYS OF HE EVEN TALKS ABOUT A BREITLING WATCH.

THE REASON WHY THE BREITLING WATCH IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HIM IS BECAUSE IT HAS A "B" ON THE WATCH IF YOU LOOK AT THE DIAL OF THE WATCH, AND THAT'S "B" STANDING FOR BLOOD, OKAY.

RIGHT THERE HE'S SHOWING YOU A BLOOD SIGN THAT HE'S PUTTING UP RIGHT THERE.

AND NEXT TO HIM IS DRAKE.

DRAKE IS ONE OF THE NEW RAPPERS THAT ARE OUT THERE NOW, AND HE STANDS UP ON YOUR SPRITE COMMERCIALS.

KIDS SEE THE SPRITE COMMERCIALS, THEY SEE DRAKE OUT THERE RAPPING IN THE SPRITE COMMERCIALS, AND GUESS WHAT, I WANT TO BE LIKE WHO?

BUT HE'S STANDING RIGHT NEXT TO ANOTHER GANG MEMBER THROWING THE SIGNS UP.

AND THEN YOU'VE GOT LITTLE WAYNE, HE WAS ON THE MOUNTAIN DEW COMMERCIALS AT ONE PERIOD OF TIME SAYING, DEW YOU, DEW ME, AND DEW ALL THIS AND WHATEVER, AND HE WAS SELLING MOUNTAIN DEW.

AND THEN YOU GOT THE GUY ON THE BOTTOM SCREEN WHO IS NONE OTHER THAN SNOOP DOGG AND EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT HIM, AND HE PORTRAYS THIS NICE-GUY ATTITUDE TO WHERE HE HAS DONE SOME THINGS IN THE COMMUNITY TO ACTUALLY HAVE HIS OWN FOOTBALL LEAGUE IN CALIFORNIA AND STUFF FOR THE LITTLE KIDS, BUT HE'S NOT GOING TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH HE DOES WITHIN THE GANG COMMUNITY AS WELL, WHO HE'S A KNOWN CRIP, AND SO THIS GUY'S SELLING, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER IT IS ON COMMERCIALS, AND THEN HE'S ALSO MAKING MOVIES.

THAT TURBO MOVIE, THE LITTLE CARTOON MOVIE THAT THEY HAVE WITH THE LITTLE SNAIL AND THEY RACE AROUND, GUESS WHAT, HE WAS ONE OF THE VOICEOVERS FOR ONE OF THE SNAILS THAT WERE ON THE MOVIE.

SO THESE ARE THE GUYS SELLING TO THESE KIDS, AND IT'S VERY HARD TO TELL THEM, NO, YOU CAN'T DO THAT WHEN THEY'RE SEEING THIS ALL DAY EVERY DAY IN FRONT OF THEIR FACE.

>> THE GLOOM AND DOOM THAT WE'RE SEEING FROM WHAT THESE KIDS ARE LOOKING AT CAN BE STOPPED.

GANG ASSOCIATES, THESE ARE HOW THESE CHILDREN GET BROUGHT IN.

A LOT OF THE INDIVIDUALS WE'VE CONDUCTED HUNDREDS OF INTERVIEWS WITH, A LOT OF THE INDIVIDUALS HAVE SAID, I WAS RECRUITED IN PRISON, I WAS RECRUITED IN THE JUVENILE SYSTEM, I WAS RECRUITED BY MY OLDER BROTHER OR MY OLDER SISTER.

THIS IS THE TYPE OF STUFF WE HAVE TO STOP.

THESE ARE THE KIDS THAT ARE 12 TO 14 THAT ARE TOLD, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, YOU'RE GOING TO GET A SLAP ON THE WRIST.

I CAN GO TO PRISON FOR THIS, YOU TAKE THE CRIME.

I HAVE ONE INDIVIDUAL THAT I'M WORKING WITH NOW THAT TOOK A SEVEN-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE FOR A GUY WHO WAS GOING TO DO 20.

THEY BELIEVE IT, AND THEY'LL TAKE THESE SENTENCES.

THEY'RE ALSO THE MOST DANGEROUS BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO PROVE THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO DO ANYTHING FOR THESE OLDER GANG MEMBERS.

IS IT ILLEGAL TO BE A GANG MEMBER?

NO, BUT WE GET TO ENHANCE THEIR CHARGES.

WHEN WE GO TO COURT AND WE SHOW THAT THIS CHILD IS, IN FACT -- OR THIS ADULT IS, IN FACT, A GANG MEMBER, WE GET TO ENHANCE THAT SENTENCE ONE LEVEL UP, SO THERE IS A PENALTY TO THESE CHILDREN FOR BEING PART OF A GANG.

THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND IT UNTIL THEY GET TO COURT.

THEIR BELIEF IS I'M IN A CLICK, I'M IN A NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP.

FLORIDA STATE STATUTE AND THE COURT SYSTEM DECIDES WHETHER THEY'RE A GANG MEMBER, NOT THE KIDS WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP.

IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT DRUGS, GUNS, MONEY, AND THE INTERNET.

GO ON YOU TUBE AND GOOGLE STREET GANGS OR GANG VIDEOS.

THIS IS THE PART EVERYBODY LIKES.

YOU GET TO SEE THE COLD HARD NUMBERS THAT COME OUT.

THE FBI PUTS OUT STATS EVERY TWO YEARS.

33,000 ACTIVE GANGS WITH OVER 1,400,000 MEMBERS WERE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN 2011.

THERE WAS ONLY 706,800 COPS AT THAT TIME.

WE'RE ALREADY OUTNUMBERED TWO TO ONE.

A THOUSAND ACTIVE GANGS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA -- IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA WITH 65,000 MEMBERS.

IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WE CURRENTLY HAVE 19 ACTIVE GANGS WITHIN THE COUNTY AND CITY, GROUPS THAT STRAP IT ON EVERY DAY, AND THEIR PRIMARY ACTIVITY ISN'T DOING GOOD IN THE COMMUNITY, IT'S GANG ACTIVITY, AND THERE'S 3500 KNOWN MEMBERS.

THAT'S APPROXIMATELY CLOSE TO THE AMOUNT OF PERSONS WORKING WITHIN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

85% OF THEM ARE MALE AND 15% ARE FEMALE.

2% ARE PRIMARILY FEMALE.

AND THE FASTEST-GROWING MEMBERSHIP SEGMENT IS WHITE FEMALES 14 TO 16 YEARS OF AGE.

IT'S NOT A RACE PROBLEM, IT'S EVERYBODY'S PROBLEM.

THE CHILDREN HAVE CHANGED THE DYNAMICS.

THEY HAVE INTEGRATED, BUT IT'S NOT FOR POSITIVE BEHAVIOR, IT'S FOR BAD BEHAVIOR.

THE DRUG TRADE HAS FUELED EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON, AND IF YOU GO ON FACEBOOK AND LOOK AT THE BACKSIDE OF THE CHATS THAT THEY'RE HAVING, EVERYTHING REVOLVES AROUND STEALING TO GET MONEY TO GET DRUGS OR SELLING DRUGS TO PEOPLE WHO THEN STEAL TO GET MORE DRUGS.

WE'RE NUMBER TWO IN THE NATION IN DRIVE-BY SHOOTINGS.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NEW YORK, CALIFORNIA, AND TEXAS, AND WE'RE STILL NUMBER TWO.

SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT THEY COMMIT.

OKAY.

HOW DO WE STOP THEM?

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE STATS, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE GANG MEMBERS HERE, HOW DO WE STOP THEM?

IT'S GOING TO TAKE A COMBINED EFFORT.

DISASSOCIATION IS STILL THE BEST METHOD FOR GETTING KIDS OUT OF GANGS.

IF YOU DO INTERVIEWS, ABOUT 60% SAY THEY WOULD LIKE TO GET OUT, BUT WHEN THEY GO BACK TO THE STREET, THEY GO TO THE SAME HOME, TO THE SAME NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THEY'LL TELL YOU, 20 MINUTES AFTER THE POLICE LEAVE, I STILL LIVE HERE, WHAT DO I DO?

DISASSOCIATION IS THE BEST WAY, WHETHER IT'S WITHIN THE FACILITIES, WHETHER IT'S OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE.

I CAN'T MAKE IT -- I CAN'T GO TO THIS TONIGHT, I CAN'T GO HANG WITH YOU-ALL TONIGHT, BECAUSE I'VE NOTICED EVEN THROUGH THEIR BACKSIDE FACEBOOK CHATS AS WE DO THIS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT MEANS THAT WE DO INVESTIGATIONS THAT, NO, HE DOESN'T HANG WITH US LIKE THAT ANYMORE, HE'S REALLY NOT THAT COOL, I MEAN, HE'S DOWN BUT HE'S NOT WITH US.

IT MEANS THIS CHILD IS SLOWLY NOT BEING ONE OF THEIR FAVORITE PEOPLE, AND THE GOOD NEWS IS THEY TRY TO FIND SOMEBODY ELSE.

WHEN THAT PERSON ISN'T HANGING AROUND, THEY'LL GO SOMEWHERE ELSE FOR A FRIEND.

WE CAN HELP THEM WITH THE DISASSOCIATION.

IF THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET, THEY HAVE ACCESS TO FIND WAYS TO TALK TO EACH OTHER.

WE HAVE TO STOP THAT.

WE HAVE TO WATCH THEM WHEN THEY'RE INCARCERATED IN GROUPS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO OUR BEST TO BREAK UP THOSE GROUPS.

WE CAN'T PUT THEM WITH OPPOSITE GANG MEMBERS WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO GET HURT, BUT WE DO TRY TO CURTAIL THE AMOUNT OF ACTIVITY AND TIME THEY SPEND TOGETHER INTERACTING.

IF THAT LITTLE CLICK IS HANGING OUT TOGETHER, WE NEED TO TRY TO BREAK THAT UP BECAUSE THEY'RE STILL CONTINUING ON THOSE ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE FACILITY THAT THEY'RE OPERATING IN.

ANOTHER THING WE CAN DO TO WORK WITH THIS IS ADD CONDITIONS TO THEIR PROBATION AND THEIR PAROLE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT OFFENDERS AND THEY COME OUT, IF THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO POSSESS GANG PARAPHERNALIA, IF THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO ASSOCIATE WITH GANG MEMBERS, TWO SIMPLE CONDITIONS THAT HELP US AND HELP THE KIDS -- BECAUSE IF WE WALK INTO THAT HOUSE WITH A DOC MEMBER FOR A PROBATION CHECK AND THERE'S GANG PARAPHERNALIA HANGING ON THE WALL, IT'S A VIOLATION AND A CHARGE.

IT ALSO ALLOWS THAT CHILD TO SAY, I CAN'T PUT THIS STUFF UP, I CAN'T BE AROUND THIS.

THAT'S ALSO VERIFIED THROUGH FACEBOOK.

HEY, WE CANNOT BE PART OF THIS BECAUSE EVERY TIME THEY COME OVER, THEY FIND STUFF IN MY HOUSE.

I CAN'T BE LIKE THAT NO MORE.

SO CONDITIONS THAT DON'T ALLOW THEM TO HANG WITH GANG MEMBERS, CONDITIONS THAT PREVENT THEM FROM HAVING PARAPHERNALIA IS ANOTHER HUGE STEP.

IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM, IF WE CAN, BUT I KNOW WE'RE SHORT ON TIME TODAY, BUT IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME, I'D BE GLAD TO ANSWER THEM.

>> I -- OH.

>>RALPH STODDARD: GO AHEAD.

>> I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.

GANG AFFILIATION AND GANG ASSOCIATION, WILL YOU TELL ME HOW YOU DEFINE THOSE TWO.

>> A GANG MEMBER MEETS TWO OF THE CRITERIA FOR CONSIDERATION AS A -- AS A GANG MEMBER PART OF A GROUP.

FOR INSTANCE, IF HE ADMITS HE'S A GANG MEMBER AND HE'S WEARING PARAPHERNALIA, WE WILL CERTIFY HIM AS A GANG MEMBER IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

A GANG ASSOCIATE MAY ONLY MEET ONE.

HE MAY BE THAT NEIGHBORHOOD BOY THAT'S JUST GETTING TO HANG OUT WITH THEM, HE'S NOT WEARING THEIR COLORS YET, HE'S JUST RIDING AROUND IN THE CAR WITH THEM.

THAT'S HOW WE WOULD IDENTIFY THEM.

OR HE'S TALKING TO THEM A LOT ON FACEBOOK OR SEEN WITH THEM.

YES, SIR.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: HAVE WE LOOKED AT COMMON DENOMINATORS TO FIGURE OUT WHY -- WHAT DRAWS A CHILD INTO A GANG TO BEGIN WITH, BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF WE CAN GET TO THE ROOT OF THE ISSUE OF WHY A CHILD IS MORE APT TO JOIN A GANG, THEN THAT MIGHT BE ONE OF OUR BEST WAYS TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF GANG ACTIVITY IS BY PREVENTING A CHILD FROM GETTING INVOLVED IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> IT IS, AND THE PROBLEM WE HAVE WITH GETTING TO THE ROOT OF IT IS, WHERE THESE KIDS ARE BEING APPROACHED.

THEY'RE NOT BEING APPROACHED IN HIGH SCHOOL, HEY, COME JOIN THE GANG, WE'LL MAKE MONEY, THEY'RE BEING APPROACHED IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS ARE MEMBERS OF CRIMINAL STREET GANGS, AND IT'S ONLY NATURAL FOR THESE CHILDREN TO FOLLOW THROUGH.

THEY'RE APPROACHED BY FRIENDS AT MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR PROTECTION.

THEY ALSO ARE EXPOSED TO MORE GANG-RELATED MATERIALS THAN THEY HAVE TIME WITH THE PARENTS.

THE FAMILY UNIT IS THE BEST DEFENSE AGAINST THE GANG.

HUG YOUR KIDS.

I LOVE THEM.

IT SOUNDS CLICHE, BUT IT'S VERY TRUE.

THE MORE TIME YOU SPEND WITH YOUR CHILD, THE LESS TIME THEY HAVE TO SPEND WITH THAT GROUP AND THE LESS BELIEVABILITY THERE IS.

WE ALSO NEED TO BE MORE OPEN ABOUT COMMUNICATING THE NEGATIVITY OF BEING A GANG.

IF WE COULD GET GANG MEMBERS INVOLVED TO DO MORE SPEAKING, TO COME OUT TO THE CHILDREN AND SAY, I WAS JUST LOCKED UP FOR TEN YEARS FOR GANG-RELATED CRIMES; WHILE I WAS THERE, NOBODY HELPED ME, NOBODY PUT MONEY IN MY CANTEEN, MY HOME BOYS DID NOTHING FOR ME, THEY DIDN'T HELP MY MOTHER.

THAT'S THE TYPE OF STUFF THAT WE NEED.

IF WE COULD FOCUS SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES, I FEEL THAT WOULD BE A MUCH STRONGER APPROACH TO PREVENTING THE ENTRY-LEVEL KIDS FROM JOINING.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: SO WHAT YOU'RE FINDING IS THAT THE KIDS THAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, COME FROM A VERY BROKEN ENVIRONMENT OR AN ABSENT PARENT OR GUARDIAN IS NOT PRESENT THERE, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE --

>> IT CAN BE ALONG THOSE LINES.

THE ABSENCE ISN'T ALSO BECAUSE OF A LACK OF CARING FROM THE PARENT, IT COULD BE SIMPLY A TIME FACTOR.

IF YOU HAVE A SINGLE PARENT THAT'S WORKING TEN HOURS A DAY OR A NIGHT SHIFT, THAT CHILD'S IN SURVIVAL MODE.

THEY'RE EASY PREY FOR A GANG.

SO THAT'S OUR BIGGEST APPROACH IS TO SHOW THE NEGATIVE SIDES OF THE GANG, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE VIDEO GAMES LIKE GRAND THEFT AUTO, YOU CAN PURCHASE A PROSTITUTE, KILL A POLICE OFFICER, BUY DRUGS, AND STEAL A CAR AND THEN HIT RESET ON THE BUTTON.

THEY'RE ALREADY BECOMING PROGRAMMED.

MOVIES OF GLORIFYING GANG MEMBERSHIP, WE HAVE TO PUT THE GANG MEMBERS OUT THERE TO SAY, JUST LIKE CSI ISN'T REAL -- AND I HATE TO BE THE SPOILER ALERT ON THAT ONE --

[LAUGHTER]

-- BUT JUST LIKE THAT, WE HAVE TO BE THE ONES TO SAY -- TO HAVE THE GANG MEMBERS SAY, THIS ISN'T REAL.

YOU DO TIME, BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO YOU, AND THIS IS WHAT OCCURS.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU.

>> I'D JUST LIKE TO ADD TO THAT.

THERE ARE ACTUALLY A COUPLE GROUPS THAT ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA, NAMELY THE COMMUNITY ANTIGANG INITIATIVE, WHICH IS CHAIRED BY THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA, AND THE DETECTIVE AND US ARE A PART OF THAT, AND FOR ABOUT EIGHT YEARS, I BELIEVE, WE'VE BEEN MEETING, DISCUSSING THE ISSUES, EVALUATING THE ISSUES.

A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, ABOUT SEVEN YEARS AGO, WE ACTUALLY GOT A PROJECT SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD ANTIGANG GRANT TO ADDRESS GANG ACTIVITIES HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND WE TOOK A MULTIPRONGED APPROACH FOCUSING ON YOUTH PREVENTION BUT ALSO ON REENTRY SERVICES FOR GANG MEMBERS COMING OUT OF PRISON, JAIL, ET CETERA.

I MEAN, EVERY -- IT WAS EVERYTHING SOUP TO NUTS FROM PREVENTION SERVICES TO TATTOO REMOVAL FOR INDIVIDUALS COMING OUT OF PRISON THAT NO LONGER WANTED TO BE PART OF THE GANG.

WHEN WE DID OUR COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT PURSUING THAT GRANT, WE FOUND THAT ALL THOSE CRIMINOGENIC RISK FACTORS THAT WE TALK ABOUT IN THIS MEETING WERE THE SAME AS WITH THOSE FOLKS THAT WERE AT RISK FOR GANG INVOLVEMENT.

WE FOUND THAT THOSE SAME RISK AND PROTECTIVE FACTORS THAT YOUR VIOLENCE PREVENTION TASK FORCE IS IDENTIFYING WERE THE SAME FOR THIS TARGET POPULATION AS WELL, SO THERE'S A LOT OF CROSSOVER.

I THINK AT THIS JUNCTURE WE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS.

YOU KNOW, OVERALL HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY CRIME IS GOING DOWN, BUT GANGS CHANGE SO RAPIDLY, IT'S DIFFICULT TO KEEP UP WITH THEM, AND I'M ALWAYS IMPRESSED WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND TPD AT HOW INNOVATIVE THEY ARE AT KEEPING UP WITH THE EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES.

TEN YEARS AGO, YOU KNOW, THEY COULD DRIVE DOWN THE STREET AND SEE SIGNS -- STACKING, HAND SIGNS, ET CETERA, THEY KNEW THEY WERE GANG MEMBERS.

NOW THEY'VE BECOME SO INNOVATIVE WITH THE USE OF THINGS LIKE SNAPCHAT AND EVEN FACEBOOK THAT THEY'VE HAD TO KEEP UP WITH THEM, AND THEY HAVE SOME OF THE BEST ANALYSTS THAT I'VE

SEEN -- AND I GO TO A LOT OF CONFERENCES NATIONWIDE -- AT IDENTIFYING THOSE KIDS AND THOSE GANGS HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.

NOT ONLY THAT, BUT I'VE USED SOME OF THE TECHNIQUES THEY'VE TAUGHT ME TO RAISE MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER BECAUSE THEY'RE THAT GOOD.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE DOES A LOT OF PREVENTION ACTIVITIES IN CONJUNCTION WITH US.

ONE OF THE THINGS THEY'VE DONE OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS IS THEY WORKED WITH A VENDOR TO DEVELOP A SOFTWARE SYSTEM CALLED COMPUTER COP, AND BASICALLY, IT'S A DISK WHERE IF YOU HAVE -- YOU TALKED ABOUT ABSENTEE PARENTISM.

IT ALWAYS -- IT ISN'T ALWAYS BECAUSE THE PARENT DOESN'T CARE, IT'S JUST IN THIS SOCIETY MANY TIMES WE HAVE TWO PARENTS WORKING, WORKING TWO JOBS, THREE JOBS JUST TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO BE THERE, AND THEIR KIDS ARE LOOKING FOR SOCIAL STRUCTURE AND THEY'RE OUT ENGAGING IN -- IN LESS-THAN-IDEAL BEHAVIOR.

COMPUTER COP ALLOWS THAT PARENT TO JUST -- A PARENT WITH NO TECH SAVVINESS WHATSOEVER CAN TAKE THAT DISK, STICK IT IN THEIR CHILD'S COMPUTER, AND IT WILL THEM EXACTLY WHAT THAT CHILD HAS BEEN UP TO.

IT KEYS IN ON CERTAIN KEY WORDS, BUT YOU CAN ALSO TAILOR IT.

FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU SUSPECT YOUR CHILD IS INVOLVED IN A CERTAIN GANG, DOVER LOCOS, FOR INSTANCE, YOU CAN PUT THAT IN THERE, ALTHOUGH I THINK WE HAVE THAT PROGRAMMED AS A KEY WORD ALREADY.

IF YOU THINK THEY'RE INVOLVED IN A CERTAIN DRUG, A PRESCRIPTION DRUG, YOU KNOW, OXY, YOU CAN PROGRAM THAT IN THERE SPECIFICALLY, BUT IT'S VERY SIMPLE, IT'S POINT BY POINT, AND IT'S JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS WORKED WITH THE COMMUNITY TO TRY AND PREVENT THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR.

>> CONTACT INFORMATION.

>> OH, I'LL GIVE YOU MINE.

IT'S DETECTIVE TILLER, T-I-L-L-E-R, AND, AGAIN, I'M WITH THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE GANG UNIT, AND I'LL GIVE YOU MY CELL PHONE NUMBER.

813 -- OH, NO.

>>KURT ROJKA: THIS IS TELEVISED.

>> OKAY.

LET'S TRY FOR THE OFFICE NUMBER THEN.

[LAUGHTER]

>> THAT MIGHT BE A BETTER CHOICE.

>> IF YOU WOULD LIKE MY CELL PHONE NUMBER, YOU CAN APPROACH ME LATER AND I WILL GIVE IT TO YOU.

[LAUGHTER]

>> SMART MAN.

>> THANKS TO MY BROTHERS IN BLUE.

[LAUGHTER]

THAT'S NOT A GANG SIGN, THAT'S HALF OF A HEART.

I JUST LEARNED THAT FROM A KID.

IT'S AMAZING WHAT YOU LEARN WHEN YOU ASK.

813 -- OR I'M SORRY -- 813-247-8710 IS THE SECRETARY.

MY DIRECT NUMBER'S 8720.

>>RALPH STODDARD: VERY GRATEFUL.

AND AS SERGEANT ROJKA POINTED OUT, THIS IS TELEVISED.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WATCHING, AND I HOPE THAT MAYBE SOME PEOPLE WILL KIND OF SOBER UP AND REALIZE ALTHOUGH JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND CRIME IN GENERAL IS DECLINING AT A PRETTY STEADY STATE, THE LEVEL OF VIOLENT CRIMES AND THE LEVEL OF WEAPONS CRIMES DOES NOT SEEM TO BE SIMILARLY DECLINING, AND I CAN TELL YOU FROM WHERE I SIT AS A JUVENILE DELINQUENCY JUDGE, I MEAN, JUST YESTERDAY I DEALT WITH A COUPLE OF KIDS THAT HAD DONE THREE ARMED ROBBERIES, AND THEY'D NEVER REALLY EVEN BEEN IN TROUBLE BEFORE.

AND I COULD TELL THE PARENTS OUT THERE THAT -- AND I DON'T MEAN TO BE CRITICAL, BUT I'VE BEEN A PARENT AND I'VE HAD THE SAME PHENOMENON -- SOMETIMES YOU'RE JUST IN DENIAL.

YOU KNOW, IF YOUR CHILD IS WEARING A LOT OF RED AND YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY AND THEY GOT A NEW TATTOO AND THEY SEEM TO BE ACTING DIFFERENTLY AND THEY SEEM TO EXHIBIT SOME OF THESE SIGNS, DON'T STICK YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND.

IT IS A VERY, VERY SHORT JUMP FROM BEING A WANNABE TO ACTUALLY BEING CAUGHT CARRYING SOMEBODY ELSE'S GUNS OR DRUGS IN YOUR BACKPACK AT SCHOOL AND BEING IN BIG TROUBLE, SO PARENTS, YOU'RE THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE.

TAKE THE DETECTIVE'S WORDS TO HEART.

>> THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE]

>>RALPH STODDARD: AND ON THAT HAPPY NOTE.

[LAUGHTER]

MS. PINKNEY, HAVE YOU GOT OUR DJJ PROBATION UPDATE?

>>SANDRA PINKNEY: YES, YOUR HONOR.

THIS MORNING I'LL BE VERY BRIEF.

I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE ONE OF OUR PROBATION SUPERVISORS, BRENDA HARDAWAY, WHO WILL BE RETIRING ON MARCH THE 31st WITH 36.5 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE STATE OF FLORIDA, SO WE WOULD LIKE TO WISH HER A HAPPY RETIREMENT.

ALSO, WE HAVE TWO NEW SUPERVISORS, JESUS SOSA, WHO STARTED FEBRUARY 28th, AND WE WILL HAVE RYAN EGG, WHO WILL START APRIL 4th AS OUR TWO NEW SUPERVISORS.

RYAN EGG WILL BE REPLACING BRENDA HARDAWAY'S POSITION.

ALSO, THE ONLY THING I HAVE TODAY IS JUST AN UPDATE ON OUR SNAP PROGRAM, WHICH -- STOP NOW AND PLAN.

WE HAVE HAD -- ALL THE STAFF HAS BEEN TRAINED INTENSIVELY WITH THIS PROGRAM.

THEY'RE NOW LOOKING FOR A SITE TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM.

OUR COURT DIVERSION HAS PARTNERED WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY CHILDREN'S SERVICES, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING THIS GROUP TOGETHER, AND IT'S FOR AGES 11 AND UNDER.

>>RALPH STODDARD: VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU.

ANY QUESTIONS?

AND NOW FURTHER WITH DJJ DETENTION SERVICES.

SUPERINTENDENT CRESPO, MAJOR CRESPO, WELCOME.

>>FERNANDO CRESPO: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

HELLO.

MAJOR CRESPO, HILLSBOROUGH WEST.

RIGHT NOW AT THE FACILITY WE HAVE A COUNT OF 59 POPULATION.

WE HAVE 52 MALES AND A TOTAL OF SIX -- SEVEN -- SORRY, SIX -- SEVEN FEMALES, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THE POPULATION FROM JANUARY AS PRESENT AS WE SPEAK IS 1,021 SINCE -- IN POPULATION, SO THAT'S THREE MONTHS.

>>RALPH STODDARD: THAT'S A THOUSAND KIDS?

>>FERNANDO CRESPO: 1,021 CHILDREN, YES.

>>RALPH STODDARD: BEEN THERE AT LEAST ONE DAY?

>>FERNANDO CRESPO: AT LEAST ONE DAY.

>>RALPH STODDARD: ALL RIGHT.

ANY QUESTIONS?

>>FERNANDO CRESPO: NO, SIR.

[LAUGHTER]

>>RALPH STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE MAJOR?

ALL RIGHT.

MS. LEVENE.

>>TINA LEVENE: GOOD MORNING.

>>RALPH STODDARD: DJJ PREVENTION.

>>TINA LEVENE: WE ACTUALLY HAVE TWO REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS THAT ARE OUT FOR THE PREVENTION DIVISION OF DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE.

THE ONE THAT WAS RELEASED ON FEBRUARY 21st, IT'S AN AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMS REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, AND IT'S GOING TO BE SERVING AGES FIVE TO 17 YEARS OLD, AND THOSE ARE YOUTH AT RISK OF DELINQUENCY.

AND THE SECOND REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL THAT WAS ACTUALLY RELEASED WAS MARCH 12th, AND IT'S GENDER-SPECIFIC AT-RISK AND DELINQUENT GIRLS.

SO THOSE ARE THE TWO REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS THAT ARE OUT RIGHT NOW.

IF ANYONE'S INTERESTED, YOU CAN HAVE MY HANDOUTS, OR I CAN E-MAIL YOU THE INFORMATION.

>>RALPH STODDARD: ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. LEVENE?

AS FOR MYSELF, BOARD UPDATES, THERE ARE REALLY NO BOARD UPDATES.

OUR STRUCTURE IS FIXED PRETTY MUCH BY STATUTE.

THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE HAS INITIATED INSTITUTING THESE JUVENILE JUSTICE BOARDS IN EVERY COUNTY.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HAS ONE OF THE OLDER, MORE ESTABLISHED BOARDS, AND SO WE -- WE CONTINUE SO FAR AS IS.

COMMISSIONER BECKNER.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR AND YOUR HONOR.

AS YOU'RE AWARE, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON PUTTING TOGETHER AND REINSTITUTING THE CIVIL CITATION WORKGROUP.

I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND PASS AROUND WHAT WE HAVE COMPILED AND PRESENTED LAST MONTH TO THE EXECUTIVE BOARD AS THE PROPOSED CIVIL CITATION WORKGROUP, SO I'M GOING TO PASS IT OUT, AND THEN I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT FOR JUST A MOMENT, SO IF YOU WOULD JUST TAKE ONE AND THEN PASS IT AROUND, AND I'LL START SOME DOWN THIS WAY AS WELL TOO.

AND IF THERE'S ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE ONE, THERE'LL BE SOME AVAILABLE OUT THERE.

ALL RIGHT.

SO THE VISION THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO -- WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO ACCOMPLISH IS TO GET TOGETHER A WORKGROUP THAT CAN ADDRESS THE STRUCTURE OF THE CIVIL CITATION PROGRAM, LOOK AT INTERNALLY AS FAR AS HOW THAT SHOULD LIVE OR CONTINUE TO LIVE, FUNCTION, ALSO, HOW TO INTEGRATE SERVICE PROVIDERS, AS WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING BEFORE THE PROVISION OF SERVICES TO KIDS AND FAMILIES THAT ARE IN NEED ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, SO WE HAVE A CIVIL CITATION PROCESS THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE AND IS OPERATING UNDER THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS, SO THE PROCESS IS IN PLACE.

SO NOW WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO GET IN PLACE IS ALSO THE SERVICE PROVIDER FUNCTION AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE APPROPRIATE SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

THERE HAS BEEN AN EVALUATION THAT'S BEEN DONE ON THAT, SO THAT WILL BE REVIEWED AND VISITED BY THE GROUP, AND THEN WHAT THEY WILL BE DOING IS WILL PUT TOGETHER A WORK PLAN AS WELL AS THINGS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED WITHINSIDE THE PROGRAM AND STRUCTURE, AND THEN ON A MONTHLY BASIS, WHEN WE MEET, THERE'LL BE A REPORT THAT WILL BE GIVEN FROM THE GROUP AS FAR AS THE WORK IN PROGRESS.

SO TODAY'S WHOLE PURPOSE IS JUST TO GET THE STRUCTURE TOGETHER.

ONCE THE STRUCTURE HAS BEEN APPROVED, WHICH HOPEFULLY WILL HAPPEN TODAY BY THIS BOARD, THEN THROUGH MY OFFICE WE WILL GO AHEAD AND ELECTRONICALLY POLL EVERYBODY THAT HAS SIGNED UP TO BE ON THE GROUP FOR AVAILABILITY OF THE FIRST MEETING.

WE ANTICIPATE IT STILL MIGHT BE JUST A LITTLE BIT BEFORE WE HAVE OUR FIRST MEETING BECAUSE WE WANT TO GET EVERYBODY'S SCHEDULE COORDINATED.

WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT HOW THE MEETINGS CAN BE MOST EFFICIENTLY FACILITATED AND HOW -- AND HOW THAT WILL WORK.

SO WITH THAT, I WILL PAUSE AND ASK IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS OR IF THERE ARE ANY -- ANY TYPES OF CHANGES THAT YOU SEE THAT NEED TO BE DONE WITH THE WORKGROUP.

>> IF YOU ARE NEEDING A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS, THEN I WOULD GLADLY MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THIS BOARD -- OR THIS WORKGROUP TO SERVE AS A FUNCTION OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE BOARD SO WE CAN START WORKING ON THE CIVIL CITATION.

>> AND I SECOND.

>> SECOND.

>>RALPH STODDARD: AND LET ME JUST FOR A MOMENT EXPLAIN TO THE -- TO THE AUDIENCE, PEOPLE THAT MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE FAMILIAR WITH THIS, IS THAT THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A STATUTE JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHICH AUTHORIZES EACH COUNTY TO ISSUE TO THE KIDS ON A FIRST-TIME MINOR OFFENSE A CITATION, VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT ADULTS WOULD GET FOR A FIRST-TIME MISDEMEANOR, AND THEY'RE LIMITED TO THINGS LIKE PETIT THEFT, BATTERIES, A NUMBER OF OTHER OFFENSES.

THE REASON FOR DOING THIS IS KIND OF TWOFOLD.

NUMBER ONE IS THAT THE WAY THE PROCESS WORKS NOW OR BEFORE CIVIL CITATION IS THAT WHEN A CHILD, FOR INSTANCE, WAS CAUGHT SHOPLIFTING, A LAW ENFORCEMENT UNIT WAS TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE, ARRESTED THE CHILD, BOOKED THE CHILD, TOOK THE CHILD TO THE JUVENILE ASSESSMENT CENTER, THE CHILD WENT THROUGH THE JUVENILE ASSESSMENT CENTER, MAY HAVE SPENT THE NIGHT OVER AT THE DETENTION CENTER AT THE COST OF $280, AND THEN BY THE TIME THEY GOT TO COURT, THEY WERE GOING TO BE DIVERTED ANYWAY.

IT IS -- IT IS PRETTY MUCH A KNOWN FACT THAT AN ARREST IS A VERY DAMAGING THING TO A PERSON'S PERMANENT RECORD, AND NOW THESE KIDS THAT HAVE DONE SOMETHING FAIRLY MINOR FOR THE FIRST TIME ARE GOING TO AVOID THE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES, PLUS IT'S MUCH MORE EFFICIENT USE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON THE MORE SERIOUS THINGS RATHER THAN THESE, SO THIS CIVIL CITATION PROCESS HAS BEEN ADOPTED WIDELY NATIONWIDE, AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WAS ONE OF THE FIRST IN THIS STATE TO DO IT, AND SO WE WANT TO CONTINUE THAT PROCESS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE DO IT JUST AS -- AS WELL AS WE CAN.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: WELL SAID.

>>RALPH STODDARD: OKAY.

SO DOES EVERYBODY APPROVE THE COMMITTEE?

ALL IN FAVOR.

[CHORUS OF AYES]

ALL RIGHT.

GOOD.

THANK YOU.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU.

>>RALPH STODDARD: ALL RIGHT.

JDAI IS THE ANNIE E. CASEY GRANT THAT WAS GIVEN TO THE STATE, AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS ONE OF FOUR PILOT SITES, AND IN THAT WE HAVE ADOPTED A NUMBER OF EFFICIENCY TECHNIQUES IN ORDER TO, FOR INSTANCE, KEEP OUR JUVENILE DETENTION POPULATION DOWN.

THERE WAS A TIME IN THIS COUNTY WHEN WE HAD TO HAVE TWO DETENTION CENTERS WITH A TOTAL BED SPACE OF ALMOST 150 BEDS, AND FROM TIME TO TIME THEY HAD KIDS SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR.

OUR AVERAGE DAILY POPULATION NOW IS RIGHT AROUND 50 OR 60.

KEEP IN MIND THAT IT COSTS $280 A DAY TO KEEP A CHILD THERE SO THAT THESE TECHNIQUES FOR MAINTAINING PUBLIC SAFETY BY, FOR INSTANCE, PUTTING KIDS ON ANKLE MONITORS OR HAVING ADDITIONAL JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICERS OVERSEE THEIR HOME DETENTION HAS AMOUNTED TO A REDUCTION IN -- IN BED SPACES THERE.

AMONG OTHER THINGS, WE HAVE SOME EDUCATION INITIATIVES, THE SNAP INITIATIVE.

ALL OF THIS CAME FROM THE DJJ GRANT WITH THE ANNIE E. CASEY FOUNDATION, AND WE MEET REGULARLY RIGHT AFTER THIS MEETING, AND WE CAN TALK FURTHER, BUT FOR NOW IT'S ON BALANCE AND PROGRESSING AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO.

ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT JDAI?

ALL RIGHT.

AND CINS/FINS.

>>JULIE EDISON: THANK YOU, JUDGE STODDARD.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS JULIE EDISON.

I AM THE ACTING GENERAL MANAGER OF THE CINS/FINS AND RESIDENTIAL GROUP CARE PROGRAM WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY CHILDREN'S SERVICES.

CINS/FINS STANDS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN NEED OF SERVICES.

WE HAVE CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW OPEN BEDS IN OUR PROGRAM.

I WOULD LIKE TO RELAY THAT OUT THERE TO ALL THE VIEWERS.

THIS IS SERVICES THAT INCLUDE RESPITE FOR THOSE YOUTH THAT ARE HAVING PROBLEMS AT HOME, PROBLEMS IN SCHOOL, TRUANCY, RUNAWAYS.

WE HAVE A RESPITE PROGRAM.

AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY IS ABOUT 14 DAYS.

WE WRAP SERVICES AROUND THE YOUTH AND THE FAMILIES, AND WE ALSO PROVIDE AFTERCARE SERVICES.

WE ALSO HAVE THE OUTPATIENT COUNSELING PART OF THAT PROGRAM AS WELL, AND WE DO HAVE BEDS, SO IF YOU KNOW A FAMILY OUT THERE THAT IS HAVING SOME PROBLEMS OR FOR THE VIEWERS AT HOME THAT ARE HAVING SOME CONCERNS AT HOME, PLEASE GIVE US A CALL AT 272-6606 OR 264-53 -- I'M SORRY, 264 -- OH, MY GOODNESS -- 264-3807, EXTENSION 53163.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT OUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAM IS GOING VERY WELL.

WE HAVE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BEDS THAT WE CONTRACT THROUGH THE FLORIDA NETWORK AND THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE, AND THAT PROGRAM IS GOING VERY WELL.

THAT PROGRAM IS ALSO DESIGNED TO -- FOR THOSE YOUTH THAT ARE CHARGED WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CHARGES.

WE TRY TO GET THOSE YOUTH BEFORE THEY GO INTO DETENTION AND WE BRING THEM INTO OUR PROGRAM AND WE PROVIDE, AGAIN, THOSE WRAP-AROUND SERVICES.

AND SO THAT PROGRAM IS GOING VERY WELL.

I BELIEVE WE PROCESSED ABOUT 56 YOUTH SINCE JUNE OF 2013, SO WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THAT PROGRAM.

AND ALSO, JUST EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THE SNAP PROGRAM AS WELL, WHICH IS A PROGRAM EFFECTIVELY STRIVING TO TEACH CHILDREN HOW TO STOP AND THINK AND KEEPING THEM IN SCHOOL AND OUT OF TROUBLE, SO WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THAT.

I DO HAVE BROCHURES AND CARDS OVER HERE AT THE TABLE IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION, AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO ME AFTERWARDS, I AM AVAILABLE.

THANK YOU.

>>RALPH STODDARD: EVERY MONTH I NEVER TIRE OF SAYING CINS/FINS STANDS FOR CHILDREN IN NEED OF SERVICES/FAMILY IN NEED OF SERVICES, AND IT IS AN INTERVENTION/PREVENTION PROGRAM WITH A LITTLE BIT OF TEETH.

THE LAW ALLOWS PARENTS TO BRING THEIR CHILDREN TO THE CINS/FINS PROCESS WHEN THEY ARE AT RISK BUT NOT YET HAVING COMMITTED A CRIME.

CHILDREN THAT ARE VERY DEFIANT, CHILDREN THAT MAY BE TRUANT, CHILDREN THAT MAY BE GANG WANNABES BUT HAVEN'T REALLY GOTTEN IN TOO DEEP YET.

YOU CAN BRING THEM TO THE CINS/FINS PROGRAM WHERE THEY HAVE EXCELLENT COUNSELING, EXCELLENT INTERVENTION.

I HAVE, WITH MY OWN EYES, SEEN SOME KIDS TURN AROUND AFTER ABOUT SIX OR EIGHT MONTHS IN THE PROGRAM.

IT IS AN OLD PROGRAM.

>> YES.

>>RALPH STODDARD: THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE INITIATED CINS/FINS I WANT TO SAY MAYBE 20 YEARS AGO OR MORE.

IT IS VERY EFFECTIVE, SO THOSE OF YOU OUT THERE, PARENTS THAT MIGHT BE AT YOUR WHIT'S END, CONSIDER CINS/FINS.

IT MAY BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUR CHILD BEING MERELY DEFIANT AND GETTING IN SOME REAL TROUBLE.

AND THAT NUMBER AGAIN WAS?

>>JULIE EDISON: THANK YOU, JUDGE STODDARD.

THAT IS 272-6606 OR 264-3807, EXTENSION 53163.

>>RALPH STODDARD: ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NOW, MR. PARKINSON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR --

>> JUDGE.

REAL QUICK.

>>RALPH STODDARD: OH, SORRY.

>> CAN YOU ALSO JUST -- SO EVERYBODY KNOWS, CAN YOU TELL EVERYBODY WHERE YOUR FACILITY'S LOCATED IN CASE SOMEBODY WANTS TO DRIVE OUT TO YOUR FACILITY?

>>JULIE EDISON: YES.

THIS IS THE TEMPLE TERRACE AREA.

THIS IS LAKE MAG BOULEVARD, WHICH IS OFF OF FLETCHER.

THE ADDRESS I CAN PROVIDE ALSO.

LET ME SEE HERE.

3191 CLAY MANGUM LANE, M-A-N-G-U-M LANE, AND THAT'S AREA CODE -- I'M SORRY, ZIP CODE 33618.

>>RALPH STODDARD: AND IT'S ACTUALLY LAKE MAGDALENE.

WE ALL CALL IT LAKE MAG, RIGHT.

LAKE MAG IS KNOWN AFFECTIONATELY LAKE --

>> LAKE MAGDALENE BOULEVARD.

>>RALPH STODDARD: IT'S A BIG MULTIPURPOSE FACILITY.

IN A LOT OF WAYS IT'S LIKE A SUMMER CAMP, BUT IT DOES HAVE A PLACE FOR KIDS THAT COULD REALLY USE A BREAK AND FOR KIDS WHOSE PARENTS COULD REALLY USE A BREAK.

>>JULIE EDISON: THANK YOU, JUDGE STODDARD.

>>RALPH STODDARD: ALL RIGHT.

>>JULIE EDISON: THAT'S A BAD HABIT, LAKE MAG.

>>RALPH STODDARD: NARCOTICS OVERDOSE PREVENTION EDUCATION.

INTRODUCE THEM, IF YOU WOULD, MR. PARKINSON.

>>ROB PARKINSON: THANK YOU, JUDGE.

ONE OF THE CONSTANT CONCERNS FOR THIS GROUP IS THE EFFECTS OF PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE FOR OUR YOUTH POPULATION THAT ALL OF US SERVE AND ARE CONCERNED WITH, AND FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW, THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAS BEEN TAKING DIRECT ACTION TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IN THE COUNTY, INCLUDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PILL MILL ORDINANCE.

JUST LAST YEAR WE FUNDED A DRUG TAKE-BACK PROGRAM WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CITY OF TAMPA, WE NOW HAVE FIVE PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE-BACK BOXES LOCATED THROUGHOUT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY THAT WILL TAKE BACK PRESCRIPTION DRUGS NO QUESTIONS ASKED.

PEOPLE CAN DROP THEM OFF AT THE -- IN THE BOX AND WALK AWAY.

LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL NOT PURSUE YOU, THEY WILL NOT TACKLE YOU, AND IT'S BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING REDUCE PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.

AT CURRENT, IT'S PULLING IN AROUND 340 POUNDS OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS EVERY MONTH, SO WE'RE PROFILED TO PULL IN 4,000 OFF THE STREETS IN A YEAR, AND THAT'S IN ADDITION TO THE DEA TAKE-BACK PROJECTS THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND TPD PARTNER ON EVERY YEAR, SO WE'RE MAKING TONS AND TONS OF HEADWAY ON THAT ISSUE.

A COUPLE YEARS AGO WE REALIZED THAT WE REALLY NEEDED TO FOCUS ON YOUTH POPULATIONS.

THERE WAS A COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION, GRASS-ROOTS AT THE TIME, THAT HAD ALREADY TAKEN IT UNDER THEIR WING AND WERE PURSUING THE ISSUE, AND THE GROUP WAS LARGELY MADE UP OF FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, CONCERNED LOVED ONES WHO HAD DEALT WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD SIGNIFICANT PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE ISSUES AND, IN MANY CASES, OVERDOSE ISSUES, AND THEY CAME TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE IN FORMING A NARCOTICS OVERDOSE PREVENTION AND EDUCATION TASK FORCE HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS REALLY TOOK THAT AND RAN WITH IT, AND THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGREED TO FUND NARCOTICS OVERDOSE PREVENTION AND EDUCATION TO DEVELOP THAT TASK FORCE HERE, AND SINCE THEN, THEY'VE BEEN DOING A WONDERFUL JOB.

JUST IN THE TWO YEARS THAT THEY'VE BEEN OPERATIONAL -- AND IT'S TECHNICALLY NOT EVEN TWO YEARS, IT'S ONE AND THREE-QUARTERS -- THEY HAVE REACHED OVER 10,000 YOUTH IN HILLSBOROUGH MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL, SO I'VE ASKED THEM TO COME AND TPD ASKED THEM TO COME AND GIVE YOU A LITTLE UPDATE ON WHO THEY ARE, WHAT THEY DO, AND LET YOU KNOW THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO COME IN TO ANY SCHOOL THAT ASKS THEM TO COME.

SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADIEU.

>> THANK YOU.

ALL ACROSS OUR COUNTRY, ALL ACROSS OUR STATE, AND EVEN OUR COUNTY CHILDREN ARE DYING FROM ACCIDENTAL DRUG OVERDOSE, AND WITH THE AVERAGE AGE OF FIRST-TIME USE FOR ADDICTS BEING 12.5 YEARS OLD, THERE IS A REASON WHY WE WERE FUNDED BY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO INSTRUMENTALLY ATTACK THIS EPIDEMIC, AND SO THE NOPE HILLSBOROUGH TASK FORCE IS AGGRESSIVELY GOING INTO THE SCHOOLS, MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS RIGHT HERE IN OUR COUNTY, AND WE'RE CHANGING LIVES.

SO WHAT I WANT TO DO THIS MORNING IS I WANT TO COVER WHO WE ARE, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE DO, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT OUR GOALS ARE, BUT MAINLY, I'M HERE TO ASK FOR YOUR HELP FOR THE NOPE HILLSBOROUGH TASK FORCE, AND I'LL GET TO THAT IN JUST A MOMENT.

NOPE IS A NATIONAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT WAS FORMED IN 2002 DOWN IN SOUTH FLORIDA, AND THE MISSION IS TO EDUCATE PEOPLE, TO DO PREVENTIVE THINGS, AND TO DO A LOT OF ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES.

THERE ARE CURRENTLY 13 NOPE CHAPTERS.

12 -- I'M SORRY -- 11 ARE IN FLORIDA AND THERE ARE TWO IN OTHER STATES.

WHAT WE DO IS WE GO INTO THE SCHOOL AND WE PRESENT A VERY DRAMATIC IN-SCHOOL ONE-HOUR PRESENTATION.

IT INCLUDES A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER SHARING A STORY OF A MOM FINDING HER TEENAGE SON DEAD IN THE HOME FROM AN ACCIDENTAL DRUG OVERDOSE, AND IT INCLUDES TWO FAMILY SPEAKERS WHO SHARE THE HEART-WRENCHING STORIES OF LOSING A LOVED ONE TO ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSE DEATH, AND I CAN TELL YOU THERE ARE TEARS SHED, AND GUIDANCE COUNSELORS ARE PRESENT AT EVERY ASSEMBLY BECAUSE IT DOES MOVE THESE CHILDREN.

WHAT WE DO AND HOW MANY PEOPLE WE'VE REACHED -- AND WHAT ROB MENTIONED HAS ONLY BEEN ONE FULL SCHOOL YEAR AND NOW THIS SCHOOL YEAR -- WE HAVE REACHED LAST YEAR 5,420 STUDENTS.

THIS YEAR, AFTER YESTERDAY'S PRESENTATION THAT WE DID OVER AT -- WHERE WERE WE?

>> WHARTON.

>> -- WHARTON HIGH SCHOOL, THANK YOU, WE'RE NOW AT 7,146, AND WE STILL HAVE EIGHT TO TEN SCHOOLS TO GO.

WE'RE GOING TO REACH ABOUT 12,000 STUDENTS THIS YEAR.

OUR GOAL: WE NEED TO GROW OUR CORE GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS, AND WE ARE WORKING ON THAT, AND THAT INCLUDES MODERATORS WHO HELP SHARE THE STATISTICS AS WELL AS FAMILY SPEAKERS.

WE WANT TO REACH 50% MORE STUDENTS NEXT YEAR, BRINGING US TO ABOUT 20,000 NEXT YEAR, AND HERE'S WHY I'M HERE.

WE WANT TO INCREASE THE DIVERSITY THAT WE SHOW ON OUR NOPE PRESENTATION BOARDS.

WHEN WE GO INTO SCHOOLS, WE SET UP EASELS WITH ABOUT 24 PICTURES OF STUDENTS, CHILDREN JUST THEIR AGE WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY, AND, UNFORTUNATELY, AS YOU'LL SEE, IT'S NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR COMMUNITY.

THERE IS ONLY ONE LATINO ON OUR BOARDS.

EVERY OTHER BOY, EVERY OTHER GIRL IS ONLY CAUCASIAN, AND WE KNOW THAT IS NOT OUR COMMUNITY.

OUR COMMUNITY IS MADE UP OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS, INDIANS, ASIANS, AND WE NEED LATINOS ON OUR BOARDS, AND I'M NOT LOOKING FOR FAMILIES TO DIVULGE EVERY FAMILY'S SECRET, BUT WE'RE LOOKING FOR HELP WHERE YOU WOULD COME FORWARD IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND WHERE YOU WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, EVEN THOUGH I DON'T WANT TO, QUOTE, UNQUOTE, AIR MY DIRTY LAUNDRY, I NEED TO SHARE MY SON'S STORY BECAUSE HE'S OF COLOR, AND WHEN I KNOW THAT THEY'RE SPEAKING AT BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL OR AT HILLSBOROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, WHEN THEY'RE GOING INTO SCHOOLS WITH A DIVERSE POPULATION OF STUDENTS, MY SON'S PICTURE OR MY DAUGHTER'S PICTURE, BECAUSE SHE'S AN ASIAN GIRL, IS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

WE NEED YOU ALSO TO HELP US OPEN UP THE HEARTS AND THE DOORS OF THESE ADMINISTRATORS OF EVERY SCHOOL.

I'M SURE ALL OF YOU KNOW PRINCIPALS, ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, AND EVEN GUIDANCE COUNSELORS AND SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, AND OFTENTIMES WE'RE BEING TOLD, I CAN'T FIT ANOTHER ASSEMBLY IN.

COME ON.

I REALLY WANT TO ASK FOR EACH OF YOU TO SAY THIS IS NOT JUST ANOTHER PRESENTATION.

THIS ONE HOUR THAT YOU LET YOUR SENIORS SEE OR YOUR EIGHTH-GRADERS SEE MIGHT CHANGE THE COURSE OF THE DIRECTION OF THEIR LIFE, AND THEY MAY NOT TAKE THAT HALF A XANAX THAT MY OWN SON TOOK AND LED HIM DOWN THE ROAD OF ADDICTION.

SO I IMPLORE YOU, PLEASE, TO HELP US WITH THE DIVERSITY ISSUE, AND I WANT TO OPEN IT UP FOR ANY IDEAS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE OF HOW WE CAN GET AFRICAN-AMERICAN PEOPLE, LATINOS, SOME OTHER ETHNICITIES TO SHARE THEIR STORIES, BE A FAMILY SPEAKER, AND SHARE THEIR CHILD'S PICTURE TO HELP THESE STUDENTS FEEL ENGAGED WHEN THEY GO TO THESE SCHOOLS AROUND OUR COUNTY.

>> BETH, THANK YOU.

AND TAMPA POLICE AND SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, WE PARTNERED WITH YOU A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST PRESENTATIONS THAT WE CAN SHOW OUR KIDS IN OUR HIGH SCHOOLS, IN OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS.

AS A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER FORMERLY FOR MANY YEARS AND BEING INVOLVED IN THE SCHOOLS FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS, ONE OF MY GREATEST CONCERNS AS LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS DRUG OVERDOSE IN THE SCHOOLS.

I WOULD SEE IT ON A REGULAR BASIS, JUVENILES TAKING PILLS.

WE'D HAVE TO CALL PARAMEDICS ON A REGULAR BASIS TO OUR HIGH SCHOOL FOR JUST THAT ISSUE, SO I ENCOURAGE YOU -- I ENCOURAGE ANYBODY HERE WHO CAN HELP WITH CONTACTS WITH FAMILY MEMBERS -- WHILE WE NEED DIVERSE FAMILY MEMBERS AS WELL, WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT, WHICH IS ONE REASON WHY I WANTED YOU TO COME THIS MORNING, THEY NEED HELP ALSO, THOUGH, WITH JUST ANYBODY WHO'S WILLING TO COME FORWARD AND SHARE THEIR STORY.

WE NEED MORE MODERATORS, WE NEED PEOPLE TO COME ALONGSIDE AND PARTNER WITH THEM SO WE CAN GET INTO MORE SCHOOLS.

THEY'RE LIMITED BY THE NUMBER OF STAFF THEY HAVE.

IT'S NOT A FUNDING ISSUE AT THIS POINT, I BELIEVE IT'S A MANPOWER ISSUE AT THIS POINT OR MAN-WOMAN ISSUE OR WOMAN POWER, WHATEVER WE'VE GOT THERE.

>>RALPH STODDARD: PERSONNEL.

>> PERSONNEL.

THERE WE GO.

[LAUGHTER]

>> IT'S ALL GOOD.

IT'S ALL GOOD.

>> BUT WE REALLY NEED THE SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY ON THIS ISSUE.

I BELIEVE IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE UNHEARD PROBLEMS OR UNSEEN PROBLEMS THAT WE FACE AT OUR SCHOOLS.

THIS IS NOT A BLACK EYE ON THE SCHOOL BECAUSE THE SCHOOLS A LOT OF TIMES DON'T EVEN KNOW IT'S TAKING PLACE.

IT'S HAPPENING BEFORE THEY GET TO SCHOOL, THEY'RE GETTING IT FROM THEIR PARENTS' MEDICINE CABINETS.

WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO PUT THIS -- FIND AN END TO THIS PROBLEM, SO BETH, THANK YOU FOR COMING THIS MORNING.

I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> JERRY, YOU'RE SITTING THERE AS WELL.

JERRY'S A MEMBER OF THE NOPE BOARD AS WELL, SO THANK YOU FOR COMING THIS MORNING.

APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> ON OUR WEB SITE, I JUST WILL MENTION, WE HAVE EVERY PRESENTATION THAT'S COMING UP IN OUR COUNTY, AND I WILL LEAVE THE PAMPHLETS THAT WE ACTUALLY GIVE THE STUDENTS AS THEY WALK IN.

IF YOU HAVE AN INTEREST OR IF YOU WANT TO SHARE MY BUSINESS CARD WITH A PRINCIPAL OR AN AP IN YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY, I REALLY -- WE WOULD ALL APPRECIATE YOU SHARING THAT INFORMATION, AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE WE'LL BE, SO YOU CAN COME AND SEE THAT PRESENTATION.

>> THE LADY BEHIND YOU HAS A QUESTION.

>> HI.

[INAUDIBLE]

>> CAN YOU PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.

>> HI.

GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS VERLINDA DAVIS.

I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF BIG BROTHER/BIG SISTERS ORGANIZATION, BUT I'M ALSO A CONCERNED PARENT OF THE COMMUNITY AS WELL, AND MY QUESTION TO YOU IS DO YOU HAVE ANY STATISTICAL INFORMATION BASED ON, LIKE, THE ETHNIC GROUPS AND WHICH -- LIKE WHAT GROUPS ARE MOST LIKELY TO ENGAGE IN PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, EVEN IF THEY'RE -- AND THEN WE'RE ABLE TO SEE, LIKE, A VAST DIFFERENCE, IF THERE IS ONE, TO SEE WHAT GROUPS NEED TO BE MOST TARGETED, SO TO SPEAK?

DO YOU HAVE THAT INFORMATION?

>> ACTUALLY, THAT INFORMATION, I'VE SEEN IT ON-LINE, AND I KNOW A YOUNG LADY BACK HERE IS SAYING SHE HAS THAT INFORMATION.

I PERSONALLY DON'T HAVE IT IN MY HEAD, BUT I'VE SEEN THOSE STATISTICS, AND I DON'T RECALL, BUT I THINK SOMEONE CAN SHARE THAT IF WE NEED TO, BUT I KNOW THAT WE'RE A LITTLE LOW ON TIME, BUT I KNOW IT'S AVAILABLE.

>> OKAY.

>> [INAUDIBLE]

>>RALPH STODDARD: YES.

COME ON UP IF YOU'VE GOT THE INFORMATION.

>> WELL, I DON'T HAVE IT WITH ME.

>>RALPH STODDARD: OKAY.

[LAUGHTER]

>> I'M WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ANTIDRUG ALLIANCE.

>>RALPH STODDARD: OKAY.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ANTIDRUG ALLIANCE.

>> YEAH.

AND WE HAVE A YOUTH SURVEY THAT WE'VE DONE, SO --

>>RALPH STODDARD: IS IT ON THE COUNTY WEB PAGE?

>> I'M NOT SURE.

>>RALPH STODDARD: OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, I PROMISE EVERYBODY WE'LL HAVE IT FOR NEXT MONTH.

ANY -- ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CONGREGATION?

>>KEVIN BECKNER: NO.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE ONE COMMENT TO BETH AND TO JERRY, TO JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY AND TO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT NOPE HAS DONE.

I JUST CAN'T EXPRESS HOW IMPRESSED I'VE BEEN WITH YOUR GROUP TO WATCH YOU ALL BLOSSOM AND GROW.

I REMEMBER WHEN WE FIRST GOT TOGETHER AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS CONCEPT, YOUR LARGER CONCERN WAS THAT YOU-ALL HAD NEVER RUN A NON-FOR-PROFIT BEFORE, BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT -- IT TURNED OUT THAT THAT REALLY DIDN'T MATTER AS MUCH AS THE COMMITMENT AND THE BELIEF THAT YOU-ALL HAD ABOUT THE NEED FOR THIS TYPE OF SERVICE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND I HAVE TO SAY LOOKING FROM ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE HAVE FUNDED, ESPECIALLY THE NON-FOR-PROFITS, THAT I THINK THAT WE HAVE MADE THE BEST INVESTMENT IN YOU-ALL SIMPLY BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO DATE, AND AS WAS MENTIONED, WE'RE ONLY A YEAR AND THREE-QUARTERS INTO THIS, SO YOU'RE GREAT STEWARDS OF THE TAXPAYER DOLLARS, AND WE JUST THANK YOU WHAT YOU'RE DOING ON BEHALF OF OUR COMMUNITY AND ALL OF OUR KIDS OUT THERE, SO THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE]

>>RALPH STODDARD: ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS?

>>TINA LEVENE: YEAH.

JUDGE --

>>RALPH STODDARD: YES.

>>TINA LEVENE: I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY, BECAUSE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE CAME IN LATE, IF YOU COULD PLEASE REMEMBER TO SIGN IN THE ATTENDANCE SHEET, I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.

THANKS.

>>RALPH STODDARD: AND PUBLIC COMMENT.

THIS IS AN OPEN PUBLICLY NOTICED MEETING.

ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THERE HAVE ANY COMMENT?

YES, MA'AM.

>> I'M JUST GOING TO PUT THESE HERE FOR A SECOND.

MY NAME IS VERLINDA DAVIS, LIKE I SAID.

I AM HERE -- I WORK FOR BIG BROTHER/BIG SISTER ORGANIZATION AS A CHILD ENROLLMENT SPECIALIST; HOWEVER, I'M ALSO A BOARD MEMBER OF THE GROUP CHIPS, WHICH STANDS FOR A COLLABORATIVE OF CHILDREN IN HILLSBOROUGH WITH INCARCERATED PARENTS, AND BASICALLY I WAS HERE BECAUSE I WANTED TO GIVE YOU-ALL A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WHAT CHIPS IS ABOUT AND WHAT OUR MAIN GOAL IS, AND WHAT CHIPS IS IS A -- IT'S A COLLABORATIVE OF INDIVIDUAL AGENCIES AND NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS WHO WORK TOGETHER ON BEHALF OF CHILDREN WITH INCARCERATED PARENTS, AND WHAT I ACTUALLY HAVE HERE ARE -- WE PARTNER WITH SESAME STREET -- SESAME STREET HEADQUARTERS IN NEW YORK.

THEY SENT US SOME -- THEY ACTUALLY BEGAN AN INITIATIVE WHICH DISCUSSES INCARCERATION TO CHILDREN.

IT BASICALLY ALLOWS CHILDREN TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS WHEN A PARENT IS INCARCERATED.

IT KIND OF HELPS THEM TO NOT HAVE THAT STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH HAVING A PARENT THAT'S INCARCERATED, ALONG WITH LETTING THEM KNOW THAT IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT BECAUSE BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE REVIEWED, IT WAS SAYING THAT A LOT OF CHILDREN HAVE BEHAVIORAL ISSUES AND THEY HAVE THAT STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH HAVING A CHILD -- OR A PARENT THAT'S INCARCERATED, SO WHAT I'VE DONE IS I ACTUALLY BROUGHT SOME OF THE KITS, IF YOU COULD TAKE ONE AND PASS IT AROUND, AND I'LL GET IT ON THIS SIDE.

HERE YOU GO.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND THE PURPOSE OF THE INITIATIVE IS TO BASICALLY ALLOW CHILDREN TO UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY'RE IN A NEW HOME AND THEY'RE BEING RAISED BY THEIR CAREGIVERS AND THEY'RE GOING TO A NEW SCHOOL, CHILDREN, ONCE -- THEY OFTEN WONDER WHAT'S HAPPENING, WHERE THEIR PARENT IS, AND HOW -- AND BASICALLY WHAT SESAME STREET HAS DONE IS IT TALKS TO THE CAREGIVERS ABOUT FACILITATING A COHESIVE RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE INCARCERATED PARENT, THE CHILD, AND THE CAREGIVER IN ORDER THAT UPON THE RELEASE OF THE INCARCERATED PARENT, IT CAN FACILITATE A COHESION BETWEEN THE FAMILY BECAUSE WE'VE NOTICED THAT THE CHILDREN'S LIVES HAVE BEEN INTERRUPTED ONCE THE PARENT IS RELEASED FROM INCARCERATION, SO IT'S KIND OF A WAY TO -- TO FACILITATE A RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE PARENT, THE CAREGIVER, AND THE CHILD, AND IT ALSO -- IT COMES WITH A DVD, IT'S IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH, AND IT COMES WITH A BOOKLET AS WELL KIND OF ELABORATING, BUT, AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO COME HERE AND SPEAK WITH YOU AND KIND OF LIKE GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT CHIPS.

THEY HAVE A MEETING.

IT IS THE FOURTH THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH BETWEEN 12:00 AND 1:30, AND THEY'RE HELD AT THE HILLSBOROUGH REENTRY CENTER AT 1800 ORIENT ROAD, TAMPA, FLORIDA 33619.

AND FOR MORE INFORMATION, THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHIPS ORGANIZATION IS -- HIS NAME IS CHRIS HARWELL, AND HE CAN BE REACHED AT CHIPSPARTNERSHIP@.

AND AGAIN, I JUST -- WE RECENTLY -- FEBRUARY 14th WE HAD A SYMPOSIUM WHERE -- SESAME STREET IS -- BASICALLY, WITH THIS NEW INITIATIVE, THEY WANT TO SEE HOW WE'RE ABLE TO GET THE WORD OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, SO WE HAD A SYMPOSIUM OF ABOUT 150 PEOPLE ON FEBRUARY 14th WHERE A LOT OF SOCIAL WORKERS FROM THE SCHOOLS CAME OUT, A LOT OF PARENTS, AND A LOT OF CAREGIVERS AS WELL, AND THE REASON WHY WE FEEL LIKE THIS IS IMPORTANT AS WELL IS BECAUSE IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, A LOT OF CHILDREN ARE BEING MISDIAGNOSED WITH ADHD, AND REALLY, WE WANT TO MAKE THE SOCIAL WORKERS AWARE THAT THERE MAY BE OTHER EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES IN THAT CHILD'S LIFE THAT INEVITABLY HAS THEM ACTING OUT, AND THAT WAS -- THAT WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT WE DEFINITELY WANT TO ENFORCE IN THE -- IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO I'M HERE TO BASICALLY ASK IF THERE'S ANYONE THAT'S INTERESTED IN THE CHIPS BOARD MEETING, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO COME TO OUR MEETING BECAUSE, LIKE I SAID, THEY'RE ON THE FOURTH THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH BETWEEN 12:00 AND 1:00 ON ORIENT ROAD, 1800 -- 1800 ORIENT ROAD, TAMPA 33619.

>>RALPH STODDARD: ALL RIGHT.

DO YOU HAVE A CONTACT PHONE NUMBER OR E-MAIL ADDRESS?

>> YES, SIR.

I AM VERLINDA.DAVIS -- VERLINDA IS V-, AS IN VICTOR, E-R-L-I-N-D-A.DAVIS AT .

AND THAT'S "B" AS IN BRAVO, AND THAT'S FOR -- THAT STANDS FOR BIG BROTHER/BIG SISTER ORGANIZATION.

IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS?

>>RALPH STODDARD: YES.

COMMISSIONER.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: MS. DAVIS, I NOTICED THAT YOU HAD -- YOU WERE PARTNERING WITH ABE BROWN -- ONE OF OUR PARTNERS, ABE BROWN MINISTRIES.

>> YES.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: ARE YOU RUNNING -- IS -- YOUR VIDEO VISITATION PROGRAM -- IS THAT DIRECTLY -- YOU-ALL ARE WORKING ON THAT TOGETHER OR YOU'RE ALL -- DO YOU-ALL DO THAT TOGETHER BECAUSE I KNOW THE CHILDREN'S BOARD, WE DIRECTLY FUNDED THEM FOR THAT, AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM.

>> YES, WE ARE WORKING WITH THEM, ACCORDING TO ONE OF MY OTHER MEMBERS.

DO YOU WANT TO STAND UP AND SAY HI?

>> [INAUDIBLE]

[LAUGHTER]

>> OKAY.

BUT, YES, SIR, ACCORDING TO ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER, WE ARE WORKING WITH THEM WITH THE VIDEO VISITATIONS, AND IN THE PACKET ON THE DVD I KNOW THEY ALSO DISCUSS THAT ALSO AS KIND OF LIKE A WAY TO -- THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT -- NOT -- BEING HONEST -- AS HONEST AS POSSIBLE WHEN YOU'RE TALKING TO YOUR CHILD ABOUT WHERE THEIR PARENT IS, DON'T LIE AND SAY THEY'RE OFF TO COLLEGE BECAUSE THEN THE CHILD IS GOING TO WONDER WHEN THEIR PARENT IS COMING BACK, SO I KNOW ON THE DVD THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT FACILITATING A RELATIONSHIP THROUGH LETTER WRITING, THROUGH PICTURES, THROUGH VIDEO CHATS, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, AND LIKE I SAID, ACCORDING TO ONE OF MY BOARD MEMBERS, WE ARE WORKING IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH ABE BROWN MINISTRIES FOR THE -- FOR THAT.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: OKAY.

THANK YOU.

>> MM-HMM.

>>RALPH STODDARD: ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> NO PROBLEM.

THANK YOU, SIR.

>>RALPH STODDARD: ALL RIGHT.

ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT?

ALL RIGHT, THEN.

NEXT MEETING IS -- WOULD BE THE THIRD FRIDAY OF MAY, SO I WILL SEE YOU ALL THEN.

THANK YOU.

WE STAND ADJOURNED.

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