JACKSON - House Juvenile Justice Chairman George Flaggs on Tuesday unveiled legislation that overhauls Mississippi's system for dealing with youth offenders.
The bill would create a Department of Juvenile Justice with a nine-member board. It would also remove the state's two training schools from under the authority of the Department of Human Services.
Under the bill, youth offenders would get several chances at rehabilitation in the community before being sent to one of the training schools. Among the programs the bill creates is the Mississippi Challenge Program to target children who are at risk of being placed in training school. It also establishes juvenile drug courts in all counties.
The legislation would be phased-in over a number of years. Flaggs said staggering implementation would give lawmakers time to find money for the proposal.
"I think it's in the best interest of this state to come together, even with limited resources, and come up with something we can afford," said Flaggs, D-Vicksburg.
Senate Appropriations Chairman Jack Gordon, D-Okolona, said the state will have a difficult time funding programs already in existence next year.
"It's going to be hard to fund new programs, no matter how meritorious they are," Gordon said.
Flaggs said the bill would ensure the future of the state's youth and it would also address concerns raised by a Justice Department lawsuit against the state over its training schools.
"The future of the state is on the line," Flaggs said during a committee meeting.
Flaggs said he had been in discussions with DHS executive director Don Taylor about the bill.
Taylor declined to comment on the bill until he completed reviewing it.
Some youth advocates lauded the legislation.
"It takes an important step forward. He's de-emphasizing incarceration," said attorney Sheila Bedi of the Mississippi Center for Justice. "It allows for more accountability. That's been a real problem."
The Justice Department filed suit in December alleging abusive treatment at Oakley Training School in Raymond and Columbia Training School in Columbia. Federal officials also cited inadequate health care and mental health and educational services for the youth.
Lawmakers took no action during the 2004 session to make changes at the two training schools. Among suggestions was the closure of the schools.
Flaggs' bill mandates that the proposed Department of Juvenile Justice seek accreditation as a nonpublic school from the Department of Education. He said that would allow the state to tap into more federal dollars.
Mississippi ACLU executive director Nsombi Lambright said she was concerned about the education provision and wanted more time to review the language. She said the legislation was "a step in the right direction."
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