MAINE
JUVENILE JUSTICE ADVISORY GROUP
The mission of the Maine Juvenile Justice Advisory Group is to advise and make recommendations to state policy makers and to promote effective system level responses that further the goals of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act
MINUTES
May 24, 2006
The JJAG held the May 2006 meeting on May 24, 2006
at MCJA, Paul Vestal, Jr., Chair, presiding.
I. Roll Call:
Present: Richard Brown, Leslie Chatfield, Jim Foss, Linda Frazier, Carla Fearon, Dana Hamilton, Alan Hammond, Jaime Johnson, Margaret Longsworth, Joan McDonald, Carole Martin, Breanne Petrini, Shelley Reed, Hugh Sipowitz,Barry Stoodley, Christine Thibeault,Paul Vestal
Absent:Cathy McLoy, Philip McLoy, James Minkowsky, James Morse, Barry DeLong
Staff: Kathryn McGloin, Norma Loud, David Brown
II. Minutes
Paul opened the meeting at 9:15 by asking if there were changes or additions to the minutes of March 22, 2006. There were no changes to the February meeting minutes.
Motion: To approve the minutes of the 04/26/06 meeting.
Moved: Shelley Reed/Jim Foss 2nd
Action:Approved
III. Chair Report
Paul Vestal reported that he and Barry Stoodley, Associate Commissioner for Juvenile Services, spoke about the reporting practice of Volunteers of America (VOA) and that they are now up to date. VOA understands that this is the JJAG’s final year of funding.
Barry reported the kids are doing well in the program; there have been 52-53 in the program this year; VOA is well regarded by the local JCCO’s; VOA serves all of AndroscogginCounty and there is a 27% recidivism rate for kids in the program.
Kathryn McGloin and David Brown worked with Dawn Mills of VOA on performance evaluation. They will work with MDOC on retooling the quarterly reports to streamline them without losing information necessary to both MDOC and OJJDP requirements. The JJAG voted last month to fund VOA for another year;it will be up to VOA to get future funding from other sources. MDOC will look for funding and so may put out an Request for Proposals for day reporting.
The JJAG raised concern over belonging to the Center for Juvenile Justiceand paying the $5000 dues last month. It was voted to table the motion until members returned from the CJJ Conference. Kathryn, Christine Thibeault, JamieJohnson and Breanne Petrini attended the CJJConference in Washington, D. C. Christine reported on the conference and said she thinks it is worthwhile to pay our dues. The CJJ is a coalition of state advisory groups. Forty-five (45) of fifty-six (56) states and territoriesparticipate in the CJJ. Thirty-nine (39) of these states and territories were in attendance at the conference.
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) is working toward privatizing and Christine thinks they are trying to get out of Juvenile Justice. CJJs funding went from 90% to 40% from OJJDP in the last few years. The good news is CJJ has partnered with Juvenile Justice Network, a network of national non profits. CJJ has gotten smaller, staff-wise, but not weaker.
Barry told the members that A.L. Carlisle founded CJJ in Cape Elizabeth, ME.
Discussion on what happened at the conference followed:
- The conference was about Adolescent Brain Development.
- Jamie and Breanne spoke about meeting other youth members at the conference
- Jamie spoke about the new advisory members training and offered to share handouts
- Jamie and Breanne will be involved in once a month conference calls with other youth members.
- Breanne spoke about child brain development and the need for consequences for behavior
- Christine will send out talking points
Motion: To pay CJJ dues
Moved: Christine Thibeault/Richard Brown 2nd
Approved: 14
Opposed:0
Abstentions: 0
IV. Juvenile Justice Specialist Report
Kathryn McGloin reports the OJJDP State Relations and Assistance Division regional training will take place September 11-13, 2006 and the CJJ Annual Ethnic and National Diversity Conference will take place September 7 – 10, both in New Orleans. JJAG members are encouraged to attend. The focus of the regional training is on the JJDP Act and its use in the State (This is a good opportunity to learn about the Act and a JJAG member’s role). The CJJ conference focuses on DMC and related topics.
The Honorable Paul Lawrence of New Hampshire is the chair of CJJ. CJJ supports training for state advisory groups and staff (compliance monitors, disproportionate minority contact coordinators and juvenile justice specialists), research and publications, detention reform and legislative action. Kathryn believes, after hearing concerns and the confidence from other states that CJJ will continue even if they are not awarded another OJJDP training contract.
There have been no changes to the staff and OJJDP.
Heidi Shaw, OJJDP, raised concern about data in our 2006 to 2008 Plan. “Black and African American youth are 3 times more likely to be arrested or referred than white juveniles.” Heidi asks for a change in our 3 year plan outlining the reasons for this piece of data and what Maine plans to do about it. The StatisticalAnalysisCenter will do a literature review and will report in early June on options.
The Title V Request for Proposals committee will be meeting directly after the JJAG meeting. Dr. Ross Greene will join us via videoconferencing. We have learned that there is a lot of interest in Collaborative Problem Solving from schools, the Children’s Cabinet and Children’s Behavioral Health.
Kathryn is working with the Phoenix Societyto bring support to incarcerated youth for higher education. This group offers a kind of friendship rather than financial support, however could help with financial aid forms and things like that. Barry reports that the MaineCenterfor Juvenile Justice is working on higher education opportunities as well. Our youth face barriers and higher education is very different than what they are used to.
Kathryn also talked about the Juvenile Defender Trainings that will be conducted by the Maine State Bar Association (MSBA). JJAG has given the MSBA a contract for these trainings. The first took place at the Portland Regency on April 28. The keynote speaker was Steven Drizen and there were about 80 participants.
V. Compliance Monitor Report
David Brown has given technical assistance to Camden and Mexico police departments. They may now use cuffing rings. Richmond is not yet on board.
David also said he is working with CORIS folks to obtain race & ethnicity data in a single query.
VI. Committee Reports
- Communications – Cathy Ashland, Chair - No Report.
- Disproportionate Minority Contact –Ned Chester, Chair – No Report
3. Legislative – Christine Thibeault, Chair – Christine reported no change on the State Legislative update. The Feds are trying to get a law enacted to codify principals. Please see Christine’s sheet given to the Maine delegation.
Christine also said the Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Act is up for reauthorization in 2007 along with the No Child Left Behind Act. Christine reports that Senator Susan Collins will co-sponsor the Second Chance Act which would provide funding “for states and localities to implement strategic plans for providing and coordinating comprehensive efforts of enable juvenile and adult ex-offenders to successfully reenter their communities.” (Please see packet given out at meeting.)
4. Jail Monitoring–Jim Foss, Chair - Jim reports the previous months problem with juveniles being detained incorrectly in AroostookCounty has been solved.
5. Grants – Joan McDonald, Alan Hammond, Co-Chairs –RFPs will be out in June.
- Mental Health – Richard Brown, Chair – Richard reports Dr. Jeffrey Hecker’s final evaluation is completed. He reported ten (10) JCCO’s have been trained in the MAYSI-2. Dick expressed concern over the consent/release for parents saying he does not know if this will limit the impact on the process. The names will be kept separate from the data. Barry stated the timing is good for this project as OJJDP recently released data on the Mental Health of incarcerated youth.
Barry also reports that DHHS is working closely with MDOC in this pilot project.
- Native American – Carla Fearon, Chair – Carla said the committee met on March 22, 2006. They are looking to get a feeling of what is happening on the reservations. The Native American committee is encouraging the tribes to apply for RFP’s and they are also talking about the earmark stuff and generic grants with the tribes.
Technical Assistance will be offered to Police Departments on the reservations. Dave Brown is looking to meet with the Passamaquoddy Chief of Police.
VII. Department Reports
1. Department of Corrections: Barry Stoodley reports the facilities went to Indianapolis and were formally awarded American Correctional Association accreditation. Maine received some of the best scores in the nation.
2. Department of Education: ShelleyReed reported that the 2006 Dropout Prevention Summer Conference will take place at UM July 24 and 25,Shelley also reports there is an Alternative Education Conference in September and they are looking for speakers.
3. Department of Health and Human Services: Hugh Sipowitz reports the Department of Health and Human Service’s Office of Child and Family Services is seeking to obtain child welfare accreditation.
4. Office of Substance Abuse: Linda Frazier reports the Office of Substance Abuse is moving forward with Substance Abuse Evidence Based Training. Juvenile Drug Treatment Courts outcome evaluation is finished and the information is on the website.
Linda stated that OSA is going through somewhat of a transition right now with the retirement of Bill Lowenstein, Assistant Director.
5. Office of Public Safety: Alan Hammond was not present at this meeting.
VIII. Presentation: Back on Track, Skills for Responsible Thinking
Kathryn McGloin introduced our presenter, Kirsten Milliken.
The meeting adjourned at 11:40a.m.
Maine Juvenile Justice Advisory Group
111 State House Station, Augusta, ME04333
(Tel.) 207/287-4371 * (Fax.) 207/287-4518