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Promise Kept - New DJJ Mission

Promise Made.  Promise Kept.  When former Tallahassee Police Chief Walt McNeil accepted the offer from Governor Charlie Crist to lead the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, McNeil pledged to take the department in a new direction.  Addressing the House Committee on Juvenile Justice recently, Secretary McNeil made good on that promise by saying, “in large part what we at DJJ will be doing is ... going back to the future.”

He was referring to the 1994 mission statement and original intent of DJJ:  “a balanced approach that increases public safety, provides department and offender accountability, and affords opportunities for youth to develop into responsible citizens.”  

Today, McNeil is releasing for citizen and stakeholder comment draft language of a new mission, vision, and guiding principles for DJJ.  

Unlike the current mission statement that focuses only on public protection, the new version reflects a balanced approach of strong prevention, effective intervention, reliable treatment, and appropriate punishment. To read the draft language on the new Children’s Campaign juvenile justice website, click here.

This auspicious development follows the groundwork laid by a broad range of juvenile justice stakeholders and advocates at a facilitated summit in 2005 co-sponsored by the Eckerd Family Foundation and the Jessie Ball duPont Fund where several of the guiding principles of the new mission originated.  To read the 2005 Vision Document click here.  This was followed in 2006 by an Eckerd Family Foundation sponsored statewide public opinion poll and roundtables facilitated by Children’s Campaign, Inc. that generated a proposed mission, vision and core principles for consideration by DJJ and other policy-makers.

Today’s request for public comment is consistent also with the pledge made by McNeil in his letter sent to DJJ staff when he came on board.  He said that success would occur if only we “…work cooperatively with providers, parents, advocacy groups, citizens, local and state agencies, and the legislators.”

The Department of Juvenile Justice has asked the Children’s Campaign to encourage your participation in shaping the future of the system.  Comments about the revised mission, vision and guiding principles will be accepted through April 6th. The staff at DJJ will take your comments into consideration when drafting the final language. To send your comments directly to Secretary McNeil, click here.

Rep. Needleman (R-Melbourne), Chair of the House Juvenile Justice Committee, recently opened a meeting by reading selections from Secretary McNeil’s introduction letter.  Needleman said in response, “Thank you Mr. Secretary.  You have my commitment, you have the commitment of this committee and I will do my best to make sure that we will build the agency you envision.”  To watch Secretary McNeil’s comments on the new Children’s Campaign juvenile justice website, click here.

Secretary McNeil is clear that his vision includes a continuously improving Department of Juvenile Justice that is balanced, accountable, fair, and that represents the will of the people of Florida. Click here to leave your comments, and help build that future.