Item Q07
Board of County Commissioners
Agenda Item Summary
Meeting Date: June 16, 2004
Bulk Item: Yes CJ No &(
Division: Board of County Commissioners
Department: George R. Neugent
AGENDA ITEM WORDING:
Discussion by the Board of County Commissioners and necessary action to be taken to
preserve and protect Teen Court from dissolution.
ITEM BACKGROUND:
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
CONTRACT I AGREEMENT CHANGES:
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
TOTAL COST:
BUDGETED: YES CJ NO CJ
COST TO COUNTY: $
tJ-A
Source of Funds:
REVENUE PRODUCING: YES [] NO [] AMT PER MONTH: YEAR:
APPROVED BY: COUNlY ATTY CJ OMB/PURCHASING CJ RISK MANAGEMENT CJ
APPROVAL: Jm c/rn- ~
Commissioner GroR~ R. NEUGENT
DISTRICf II
DOCUMENTATION: INCLUDED ~ TO FOLLOW CJ NOT REQUIRED CJ
DISPosmON:
AGENDA ITEM # ~
Kirk C. Zuelch
3742 Donald Avenue
Key West, FL 33040
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May 26, 2004
Commissioner George Neugent
25 Ships Way.
Big Pine Key, FL 33043
Dear Commissioner Neugent;
I was recently advised that our Teen Court diversion program will be closed on
October 1, of this year due to lack of funding. I am shocked at the lack of foresight that
our State Legislature has demonstrated by not supporting this program As State
Attorney, I started this program in 1998. It was saved by Sheriff Roth in 2001, when our
current State Attorney abandoned existing juvenile programs that were established to
help our kids. The Teen Court and Civil Citation programs have helped hundreds of
children, and their families, who are actively involved with their children in the Teen
Court process.
I implore the Commission to do what is necessary to save this program. I understand
that the State Legislature enacted F.S. 939.185 which allows some court fees to be
utilized for Juvenile programs if local Ordinances are enacted. I question whether only a
portion of this fee will generate sufficient funding. I ask that you adopt the appropriate
Ordinance and provide additional County funding, if necessary, to keep this program
serving our children.
This program works! It works for the kids charged with their ftrst criminal offense, by
providing consequences without labeling these kids with the stigma of a juvenile
conviction. It works for their families by involving them in the process, working together
with dedicated counselors, their child and a teen peer group, all doing their best to have
this fIrst offense the child's last. It works for the teen volunteers who act as attorneys,
clerks, bailiffs and jurors. These kids that serve as jurors actually give their peer hislher
sentence. It works for adult volunteers who can participate in a program that touches kids
today and most importantly preserves their future. It works for the Courts, the prosecutors
and defense lawyers, the clerks and everyone involved in our justice system by diverting
these cases to a program that is less costly and far more effective. It allows our formal
court system to deal with the more severe cases.
I know you can find the money to support this program! It takes only some
imagination and the will to make it happen. Please do it for our kids.
Sincerely,
"t ~~C)~C\'"
Kirk C. Zuelch ')
cc: Jim Roberts, Monroe County Administrator
Richard Collins, Monroe County Attorney
Sheriff Rick Roth, Monroe County Sheriff