Is Florida's Juvenile Justice System Broken?
Join Council Member Wengay Newton on Friday, March 1 as he leads a discussion targeting juvenile incarceration in Florida. Do you think children are becoming victims of a broken system? Join the conversation with local leaders.
St. Petersburg City Council Member Wengay Newton is hosting an urgent community meeting on Friday, March 1 to discuss what he describes as a broken juvenile justice system in Florida.
"Across the state of Florida, children continue to be pushed out from their local schools, arrested for minor infractions, and sent away to Florida's Juvenile Prisons. This practice does not make our communities safer; instead our children become victims of a broken system," stated Council Member Newton as the topic of discussion for the meeting.
In a press release, Newton is urging area residents join him and take a stand against the injustices that he declares are being launched against area youth. The desire is to not only address these issues locally but also bring them to the state level, according to Newton.
The Community Meeting is on Friday, March 1, at 7:00 p.m. at the Pinellas County Job Corp Center, 500 22nd Street South, St. Petersburg, Florida.
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Christian H.
11:51 am on Friday, March 1, 2013
Thank you Newt. Our system is broken. Profits are being made off of non violent offenders. One minor drug charge will prohibit you from accessing student loans, effectively barring many in the minority community from access to the same opportunities, since enforcement is so grossly tilted to the south side of our city.
I appreciate your honesty!
UT
3:26 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013
Newt, you are so right about a broken juvenile system here in Pinellas county. I have sat through many hours listening to our judges just piss and moan about the case loads regarding juvenile's . Wow, there seems to be no compassion . State Attorneys ( and assistants ) overzealous to push charges to the maximum on youth. Without any bonfide investigations taking place 96% of the time. Judges basing sentencing on a broken point system. Admitted by Judge's ? So they just set them up for failure, that's the systems plan. To unfairly taint juveniles records for life is unconscionable for a productive and happy life.