Florida Juvenile Justice to start youth and family advocacy office

In the wake of an explosive Miami Herald report on abuses within the state’s juvenile justice system, the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice announced Thursday that it will create an Office of Youth and Family Advocacy.

The office will work to improve communication with youth and their families “to amplify their voice in the ongoing improvement of the juvenile justice system,” said DJJ spokeswoman Heather DiGiacomo. “Youth and families will have an additional avenue to raise concerns and engage with the department to ensure youth and family needs are addressed,” she said.

DiGiacomo said the goal is to give juveniles and their families “another layer of accountability” while the department undergoes “robust improvement measures.”

The announcement comes less than two weeks after the Miami Herald published an in-depth investigation of abuses in the state’s juvenile justice system. The report detailed complaints including staff-organized fights between teens and accusations of physical and sexual abuse of teens by staff.

The DJJ responded to the report, saying it “blatantly neglects to recognize DJJ’s years of aggressive, innovative reform efforts and nationally recognized success serving Florida’s youth and communities.”

The agency did not comment on whether the announcement of the new advocacy office was prompted by the Miami Herald investigation.

The DJJ said in its announcement Thursday that it has been making “aggressive and innovative reforms over the past six years.”

It pointed to the state having the lowest juvenile arrest rate in 40 years, reducing residential commitment for low- to moderate-risk youth by 60 percent and having the lowest recidivism rate for youth on probation in agency history as success of recent transformations. The DJJ said in the release it will continue to evaluate and identify new ways to make positive changes.

“The Office of Youth and Family Advocacy will share our vision that all Florida’s children live in safe and nurturing communities that provide for their needs, recognize their strengths and support their success,” said DJJ Secretary Christina K. Daly.