THE FLORIDA SENATE A ro riations Subcommittee on riminai Taliahassee, Florida 32399-1 too arid" Civil Justice Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government Community Affairs Environmentai Preservation and Conservation Ethics and Elections Deputy Democratic Whip Select Committee on Patient Protection Mm District and Affordable Care Act December 10, 2013 Senator Rob Bradley Chairman Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Committee 208 Senate Office Building 404 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100 Re Request for Hearing Regarding Youth Services International, Inc. Allegations Dear Chairman Bradley, I am writing you to request a hearing on alleged abuses taking place at Florida juvenile facilities managed by Youth Services International, Inc. If you have not already done so, please review my related public records request to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice sent contemporaneously with this letter. Our Committee will undoubtedly benefit from hearing evidence regarding this matter from the Department, Youth Services International, Inc. and from Mr. Jerry Blanton, a tired Department monitor of these facilities, as well as other entities and members of the public. As far as timing, I would advise that we consider hosting this meeting by the first or second week of the 2014 Legislative Session in order to assure that we will have all the necessary information to formulate any potential legislative response. Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, Darren M. Soto CC All Senators on the Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Committee REPLY TO: D220 Senate Office Building, 404 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1 100 (850) 487-5014 Senate's Website: DON GAETZ GARRETT RICHTER President of the Senate President Pro Tempore THE FLORIDA :Cha.ir A re nations Sub mmittee on Criminal Taliahassee_ Fiorida 32399-1100 35$? 9 Civil Justice Appropriations Subcommittee on Generai Government Community Affairs Environmental Preservation and Conservation Ethics and Eiections Deputy Democratic Whip Select Committee on Patient Protection 14th District and Affordable Care Act December I0, 2013 Secretary Wansley Walters Florida Department of Juvenile Justice 2737 Centerview Drive Tallahassee, FL 32399-3100 Re -- Public Records Request Related to Youth Services International, Inc. Dear Secretary Walters, I am writing you concerning the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice's current contract relationship with Youth Services International, Inc. to provide juvenile detention, rehabilitation and other youth services. More specifically, it has come to my attention that there have been multiple complaints of alleged mistreatment, failure to provide services and other abuses by Youth Services International, Inc. in Florida. These allegations have been documented at length in "Florida's Lax Oversight Enables Systematic Abuse at Private Youth Prisons" by Chris Kirkham, The Huffington Post (1 0-23-13). 3 REQUEST IS HEREBY MADE for the Department to produce any and all contracts, pending bids for contracts, complaints, violence reports, accident reports, arrest reports, abuse reports, inspection reports, statistics, manuals, mistreatment cases closed due to inconclusive evidence, and sanitation violations related to Youth Services International, Inc. as well as any and all documents related to the employment and termination of Jerry Blanton, former monitor with the Department. It is critical that Florida maintain a safe, high quality juvenile justice system that focuses on rehabilitation, mental health treatment and positive outcomes for our children. In light of the past history related to the well--documented abuses at Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys and other facilities, it becomes incumbent upon us to continually review reports and patterns of abuse to root out bad actors and assure our children are getting the best chance for success. REPLY TO: C3220 Senate Office Building, 404 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Fiorida 323994100 (850) 487-5014 Senate's Website; DON GAETZ GARRETT RICHTER President of the Senate President Pro Tempore Please do not hesitate to contact Michelle DeMarco at the Senate Democratic Office regarding any questions or comments regarding our public records request or other information. Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, Darren M. Soto CC Senator Rob Bradley All Senators on the Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Committee