Resolution 023-2010
Mayor Pro T em Carruthers
RESOLUTION NO. 023 - 2010
A RESOLTUION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA RECOMMENDING THE STATE OF
FLORIDA CONTINUE mE LEVEL OF FUNDING NECESSARY TO
MAINTAIN EXISTING JUVENILE DETENTION BED CAPACITY AND
EXISTING LEVEL OF JUVENILE SERVICES AND TREATMENT AT
mE MONROE REGIONAL JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITY
LOCATED IN KEY WEST, MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA AND
RECOMMENDING THE PROPOSED DETENTION BED CAPACITY
FUNDING REDUCTIONS PROPOSED BY mE GOVERNOR FOR
FISCAL YEAR 2010-2011 FOR mE MONROE REGIONAL JUVENILE
DETENTION FACILITY NOT BE PURSUED.
WHEREAS, in 1999 Monroe County entered into a Land Lease Agreement with the State of
Florida, Department of Juvenile Justice (hereafter "DJ}"), for a period of fIfty (50) years
commencing 7/8/1999 for the establishment and operation of a Juvenile Justice Facility in Monroe
County, Florida; and
WHEREAS, on November 21, 2001, Monroe County entered into a Construction and
Occupation Agreement with DJJ, to run concurrent with the 50-year term of the existing Land
Lease Agreement, for the construction and operation of a residential juvenile facility in Monroe
County, Florida; and
WHEREAS, Article III - OCCUPANCY AND USE, Section 2. of the Construction and
Occupation Agreement specifically states '7he First Floor shall be occupied by DJJ for the
operation of a 45-bed residential juvenile facility. Said residential facility may contain both a
secure detention facility and a residential program", and
WHEREAS, in good faith, Monroe County has made substantial financial contributions both
initially and throughout the subsequent years, in partnership with DJJ, for the construction and
operation of the Monroe Regional Juvenile Detention Center; and
WHEREAS, the citizens of Monroe County have a right to expect their youth remain in their
community to ensure continuity of services such as education, mental health and substance abuse
assessment and treatment and family support; and
WHEREAS, Monroe County is unique logistically in comparison to other counties throughout
the state of Florida in that we are a string of islands connected by bridges requiring our youth to be
transported a minimum of four (4) hours away to the next closest facility if a local juvenile facility
is not available; and
WHEREAS, detaining the youth of Monroe County at a facility that is 150 miles from their
community; separated from their families, and community partners who will find it difficult if not
impossible to visit their sons and daughters due to the distance will not contribute to their
rehabilitation; and
WHEREAS, detainment in a different and distant facility will introduce the youth of Monroe
County to a more broad based juvenile offender pool; and
Page 1 of 3
Mayor Pro T em Carruthers
WHEREAS, holding local youth in a detention center outside of Monroe County places them
at an extreme disadvantage making them ineligible for critical overlay services and lack of access
to legal services and the required transportation back and forth increasingly more hazardous with
the portion of U.S. 1 connecting the Florida Keys to the mainland having one of the highest fatality
rates; and
WHEREAS, Monroe County is concerned about the proposed reduction in funding for
detention bed capacity for the Monroe Regional Juvenile Detention Center due to a misconception
that it is an "underutilized facility" due to its lower "numbers" when compared with other ti1cilities
around the State; and
WHEREAS, utilization numbers are based only on check-ins directly at DJJ when many
juveniles are actually checked in at the adjacent adult facility, thereby underreporting actual youth
usage of the DJJ; and
WHEREAS, the demographics and logistics of Monroe County are significantly unique and
basing utilization on a standard formula used throughout the State of Florida a false indicator; and
WHEREAS, the proposed reduction in funds will negate the success realized in Monroe
County since 1999 as a direct result of the united commitment and efforts of both Monroe County
and DJJ toward strengthening our families and protecting our youth and our community; and
WHEREAS, prior analyses have determined that it is less expensive to serve Keys youth at the
JCC in Monroe County than transport them to and serve them in Dade County;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA:
Section 1: The Board recommends the State of Florida continue the level of funding
necessary to maintain existing juvenile detention bed capacity and existing level of
juvenile series and treatment of the Monroe Regional Detention Facility located in Key
West, Florida.
Section 2: The board further recommends the detention bed capacity funding
reduction proposed by the Governor for Fiscal year 2010-2011 for the Monroe Regional
Detention Facility located in Key West, Florida not be pursued.
Section 3: That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this Resolution to
the Governor of the state of Florida, Representative Ron Saunders and Senator Larcenia
J. Bullard and Frank Peterman, Jr, Secretary Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, 2737
Centerview Drive, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3100.
Page 2 of 3
Mayor Pro Tern Carruthers
Section 4:
This Resolution shall become effective on the date written below.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the 'Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
Florida, at a meeting of said Board held on the 20th day of January A.D. 2010.
Mayor Sylvia Murphy
"v.~.~M!yor Pro Tem Heather Carruthers
"d~;~~s~oner Mario DiGennaro
......~.<'>:.:~........<. /~~!>>~..... '. . ."'. ner George Neugent
.,.'> .; \{)~ner Kim Wigington
.. f . '.... \'i~~':,~:~:....~: ,Ii; ~. '.;} .
e'sBAi' . "~'.' ,.,. .v.,~
(' , . . .?t './;:'~' :.~I~
. '~;-~r'~~'~' "~?--I~;~~;.i~:>~'~ / j.':i4l/
"~~_i2/" v'~ :;;' L K
\. ...:':'..,~\_-::~,.;~,'.',7~> ,? Y . 0
';~~<;.: ;;S.'.;.'.~.'~~...,~. ;' :(~( #
.,,'~,:,.~.-:::::::~ ~
erk
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
::M~
Mayor I Chairman
Page 3 of 3
3: 0
!;nl>
~r-z
o rlj ;;z
111;:0-<
c-) A f-
t-! c; ~
~;:; :.ti o.
odt._ . r-
;n:I:
:...., :-f):>
" C")
r- ,..."
ail -r"J
-- --
CD r--
ii: ,...,
z 0
N "
0\ 0
;0
211 :0
:z fT1
as M
.. 0
'" ::c
en co