FYI @ DJJ: the official online newsletter of the Department of Juvenile Justice [Summer 2013]

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Summer 2013

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FYI at DJJ: Departmental News from around Georgia

FYI @ DJJ is your online source for the latest news from our many Department of Juvenile Justice court services offices and secure facilities throughout the state and our divisions at Central Office in Decatur. Learn more about the innovative programs and activities involving your professional DJJ colleagues as they strive to improve the lives of the youth in our care and custody while serving the public safety needs of the citizens of the State of Georgia.
AJC Conversation: Ensuring Safety for Youth in Custody
Long before anonymous data from a single federal survey raised concerns about sexual abuse in some Georgia juvenile detention centers, Georgia's Department of Juvenile Justice took serious and meaningful steps to protect the youth in our facilities. Our employees received training based on the Federal Prison Rape Elimination Act, called P.R.E.A. The law defines sexual victimization as "any unwanted sexual activity between youth, and all sexual activity between youth and staff."
Georgia's P.R.E.A. programming efforts were first launched in 2011 under the guidance of DJJ Commissioners Amy Howell and L.

Gale Buckner. The DJJ Investigative Staff received their first P.R.E.A. training in November 2011. Then DJJ received a federal grant award in the fall of 2011 allowing Georgia juvenile justice to hire a full-time P.R.E.A. Program Coordinator.
Senior leadership training and facility assessments continued in fall 2012 as part of DJJ's P.R.E.A. program implementation. Based on DJJ's early national lead in P.R.E.A. programming, a Georgia delegation was invited to demonstrate examples of its current P.R.E.A. programming advances at a national corrections conference for other state juvenile detention leaders.
Since his appointment by Gov. Nathan Deal, Commissioner Avery D. Niles has helped DJJ's reputation develop as a rising national leader in P.R.E.A. program integration. Commissioner Niles remains focused on attaining an absolute-Zero Tolerance policy for P.R.E.A. violations. DJJ's goal is to ensure a sexually safe environment for the youth in state care and custody.
A leading advocacy group released an outside study this spring funded in part by the Justice Department, which stated that "DJJ leadership continues...sending a clear message of zero tolerance and commitment to P.R.E.A. compliance. DJJ has built a strong foundation to comprehensively address the P.R.E.A. standards and recognizes the importance of leadership and culture in fully achieving sexual safety.'
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DJJ to Focus on Community Programs
Commissioner Avery D. Niles is proud to announce the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice is partnering with two new job training programs designed to expedite the assimilation of former young offenders back into their communities and to prepare them for re-entry to the workforce after being charged with a juvenile offense.
`For efforts to stop recidivism to have any chance of working at all, the education process for youth in our care cannot end at the gates of our detention facilities,` said Commissioner Avery Niles. `Community Outreach programs like these are essential to continue ongoing activities and training.`
`That s why the Education Division at DJJ is excited to be working hand in hand with outside organizations that can assist with this next step in youth development, said DJJ Associate School Superintendent Dr. Audrey Armistad. The next steps in Community Outreach for DJJ are new programs like RESPECT and Transition to Success .
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Gainesville-based program among new job training efforts for juvenile offenders
The Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) Friday announced two new programs designed to help former young offenders on the job and life fronts.
According to Avery Niles, his department will partner with the new programs, RESPECT and Transition to Success.
The later effort is based at the Gainesville Regional Youth Detention Center. DJJ Associate School Superintendent Dr. Audrey Armistad said the "Transition to Success"

program provides GED preparation and testing opportunities. Lanier Technical college instructors will teach the prep courses.
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DJJ Focus on Education
Commissioner Avery D. Niles is proud to announce the success of DJJ's spring graduations. At Georgia's Youth Development Campuses at Eastman, Sumter, Milan, Augusta and Atlanta, the Department of Juvenile Justice awarded twenty-seven high school diplomas and seventy-nine GED's (General Educational Development) certificates during the month of June.
"Many people don't realize DJJ is chartered as Georgia's 181st school district," said Commissioner Niles. "But the education system the Department of Juvenile Justice and its Board have developed for Georgia is one of the largest educators in the state. We recently renamed and rededicated this system as the Georgia Preparatory Academy."
The Georgia Preparatory Academy is accredited by both the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the Correctional Educational Association (CEA). In addition to the twenty-seven high school grads and seventy-nine GED certificates just awarded, DJJ also presented forty-six TCCs (Technical Certificates of Credit) earned this year from four Georgia Technical Schools across the state which have partnerships with DJJ.
Another fifty students in the Graduate Education Program (GEP) received a

"Georgia BEST" certificate signifying their passage of a soft skills program developed by the Georgia Department of Labor.
"Our goal is that every youth that leaves our care and custody is a grade level or above where they ranked when they entered our system," said Commissioner Niles.
Shuler said locating an RYDC in Rockdale fits with the department's overall goal of successful rehabilitation.
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Rockdale RYDC News
The state Department of Juvenile Justice is set to open a new regional youth detention center in Rockdale County on July 24.
The project, which has been in the works since 2009, will be the topic of a presentation by DJJ Commissioner Avery Niles at a meeting of the Greater Rockdale Civic Association, set for Tuesday, June 18, 7 p.m. at Peachtree Academy, 1801 Ellington Road.
According to Jim Shuler, director of communications for the DJJ, the former Rockdale-DeKalb Probation Detention Center located behind the Rockdale County Jail has been retrofitted for use as a 52-bed RYDC. Shuler said all the original open-bay sleeping areas were converted into individual cells to conform to the new federal Prison Rape Elimination Act requirements.
Shuler said locating an RYDC in Rockdale fits with the department's overall goal of successful rehabilitation.
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Local RYDC Officer Honored By State
Administrative Lt. Irene Lyons from the Elbert Shaw Regional Youth Detention Center (RYDC) in Dalton was honored May 20 in an awards ceremony at the Georgia Public Training Center in Forsyth. Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) Commissioner Avery D. Niles made the presentation. Representatives from all statewide Department of Juvenile Justice secure facilities were present for the occasion.
Lyons has been employed at the RYDC in Dalton for more than 16 years. Starting as a cook in the RYDC kitchen, she has steadily risen through the DJJ ranks from Juvenile Corrections Officer I, sergeant, and lieutenant. In April, Lyons was promoted to administrative lieutenant by DJJ's Dalton Facility Director Bobby Hughes. As a result of the most recent promotion, Lyons now occupies the most senior juvenile corrections officer position. Her duties include staff scheduling, on-call duties and assisting the director and assistant director in the daily operations of the facility.
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Office of Technology and Information Services
In May, the Office of Technology and Information Services (OTIS) provided support to the Office of Education in their efforts to implement the new Infinite Tracking System that will serve as the education management records system. The OTIS Staff's role is to ensure that implementation, licensing, training for technical support, and JTS integration takes place with the Infinite Tracking System.
OTIS also provided data sets for the three (3) federal grants that the Office of Grants applied for in the previous

month.
Office of Engineering
The Office of Engineering finalized and submitted the 2014 Bond Request which was approved for $10.6 million dollars. These bonds will fund System Wide Maintenance and Repairs, System Wide Minor Construction and Renovations, and System Wide Security Upgrades and Enhancements. The later security upgrades will include funding for two, sixteen bed Secure Housing Units at the Muscogee and Macon YDCs and a Vocational Education Building at the Muscogee YDC. The bond sales should occur around the end of June 2013.
Office of Grant Administration and Building Services
The Office of Grant Administration is responsible for being the clearinghouse for all DJJ grants and aggressively seeking grant opportunities that provides funds to support the vision of the agency. In addition, this unit oversees building services at the DJJ Central Office which includes: mailroom, front desk, security, and housekeeping staff.
In May, the Office of Grant Administration was involved in the following grant opportunites:
Face Forward Grant ($1 million): provides WRAP around services to juvenile offenders that emphasis on diversion programs and expunging records.
Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program Grant ($202,000): provides funds to purchase a curriculum to provide

services to youth with traumatic mental health needs. Bullet Proof Vest Grant ($100,000): provides funds to public safety entities to secure these agencies have body armor for officers. In addition, in April, 2013 marked the 10th Anniversary for DJJ being housed at the Central Office. This milestone was celebrated with our Avondale Estate partners the last of April with an Ice Cream Social.
Office of Property Management The Office of Property Management is a new office that Commissioner Niles has established to ensure that there is enhanced accountability and oversight over the agency's assets, fleet and warehouse services.
Good afternoon DJJ Staff,
Please make sure that you and your loved ones are safe during this upcoming holiday weekend. We are all eagerly looking forward to extra time to spend with friends and family, and welcoming the un-official start to the summer. Please make sure you plan out your activities so you will make the most of your time and also return safely to work after the holiday.
Take time this weekend to reflect on the purpose of this Memorial Day designation to this weekend. This is dedicated to the men and women who have died in the military service of our

country. It is to these heroes that we owe our Constitutional Freedoms that we all enjoy. Please take time to pause during your celebrations to honor these men and women, as well as their families for their sacrifice to our country.
May you all have a blessed weekend.
J. Mark Sexton
Assistant Commissioner
Juvenile Court Judges Conference
In May, Deputy Commissioner Carl Brown and Legislative Director Carol Jackson attended the Juvenile Court Judges Conference on May 5-7, 2013 at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel.
Crossroads Second Chance Program and Bear Creek Middle School
Deputy Commissioner Carl Brown joined Commissioner Avery Niles, Deputy Commissioner Sarah Draper and Program Coordinator Monique Brandenburg to speak to youth at Crossroads Second Chance and Bear Creek Middle School about decision making, goal setting and discouraging gang involvement.
Laurens CSO
April Eason, JPPS assisted in "When the Devil Turned 'Round" panel discussion on April 22, 2013 at Brewton Parker College. The panel discussion was on the 1978 Georgia State Prison Riot. All panel members were students in the Brewton Parker Community and Organizational Leadership Class. In an attempt to compile a more comprehensive understanding of the events of July 23, 1978, including the prelude and aftermath, the class researched publicly available materials, visited relevant sites and interviewed witnesses, policy-makers and family

members. It was the hope of the participants that researchers in the future might find their work helpful and that the tragic event that is the subject of the presentation might not be forgotten. Ms. Eason assisted the students in creating a power point presentation with the information gathered.
Fayette CSO
Five youth were selected to participate in the 15th Annual Spring Fling Tournament, at Warner Robins High School in Warner Robins, Georgia on Saturday May, 4th. DJJ partnered with Hearts to Nourish Hope, who assisted with sponsoring the project. A special division in this tournament was opened specifically for our Fayette DJJ youth and it has been extended to other youth around the state who are in their first year of any speech or debate. The debate topic in this division was-- Resolved: Rehabilitation ought to be valued above retribution in the United States criminal justice system. Youth participating in the event are currently under DJJ supervision and school based program at Fayette Alternative School. JPPS Kevin Battle along with Christine Roth assisted the youth with preparation for the competition through weekly group meetings held at the school.
Chatham MSC
The DJJ Job Skills youth participated in a career fair at the Savannah State University which was developed and facilitated by the SSU interns and DJJ Support Services staff. Participants included employers from businesses in the community and representatives from higher learning institutions. The youth who participated in the career fair were treated to free haircuts as part of the "Dress for Success" initiative held in conjunction with the career fair.

On May 2nd, Department of Juvenile Justice Commissioner Avery D. Niles congratulated Governor Nathan Deal on the passage and signing of Georgia's massive juvenile justice reform legislation in the Senate. Based on the recommendations of a special panel convened by Governor Deal, the goal of the legislation is to reduce the number of repeat juvenile offenders and bring down costs.
On May 2, Governor Deal signed the Juvenile Justice Reform Bill in a ceremony held at the Elbert Shaw RYDC in Dalton. Many dignitaries were present representing the local and state community as well as the various groups and people who had worked diligently in preparing the reform act and were successful in its passage. The Elbert Shaw RYDC staff was very proud to have been chosen to represent the DJJ at this very historical moment in Juvenile Justice in Georgia. A special thanks to Director Bobby Hughes and his staff for being an excellent host as well as to the Special Management Response Team for adding to the overall security plan and assisting local law

enforcement during this event.
Several members of the executive management team including Commissioner Niles and Deputy Commissioner Draper attended the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Leadership Summit in Louisiana. The event was hosted by the Louisiana Department of Juvenile Justice and attended by the Executive Management Teams of the Juvenile Justice Agencies from Texas, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Georgia. The event is part of a continuing effort to discuss agency culture change regarding the implementation of PREA from a national perspective. The summit was very successful, providing wonderful networking opportunities and information sharing with colleagues from other Juvenile Justice agencies. The Summit participants were provided the opportunity to tour Louisiana's Bridge City Youth Facility.
Office of Programs and Transitional Services
OPTS had a very successful Volunteer Stakeholders meeting on April 30th with more than 30 participants representing 17 of our larger volunteer organizations. It was an inspiring event where DJJ volunteers heard from Commissioner Niles about his vision along with our need and appreciation for their partnership. The Commissioner briefed the stakeholders on the new Juvenile Justice Reform and the impact it will have on our need for increased community partnerships and collaboration.
Office of Training
Basic Juvenile Correctional Officers Training (BJCOT)
BJCOT Class #186 began March 31, 2013 with a class of 78 cadets.

Graduation was held April 26, 2013, at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center auditorium. 61 officers graduated from the program. Jimmie Fox from the DeKalb RYDC, Wayne Coleman and Danny Figueroa from the Augusta YDC served Class #186 as Class Leaders. David Friend from the Sumter YDC and Tameaka McKinney from Metro RYDC graduated with honors.
BJCOT Class #187 began April 28, 2013, with a class of 80 cadets. Graduation was held on May 24, 2013, at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center auditorium.
Basic Juvenile Probation Officers Training (BJPOT)
BJPOT Class #005 began May 5, 2013, with a class of 23 cadets. Graduation was held on May 24, 2013, at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center auditorium.
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