Topic: Debrah Stafford

Juvenile Justice Director raises the question: What about the children?

By Terry McMoore | May 23, 2008 |

The citizens of Clarksville were treated to a wealth of information at a recent community forum hosted by the Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) Task Force. The program was held at the Clarksville - Montgomery County Public Library and included a reception for speakers and guests. Ms. Debrah Stafford, Juvenile Justice Director for the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth, opened the forum with a strong power point presentation titled What About the Children?

Every day in America, 540 children are arrested for various crimes, though in many cases there are mitigating situations that cause these children to come in contact with the system. Ms. Stafford suggests that we must not be “in such a hurry” to just lock up a child.

One major finding by juvenile justice professionals is that more attention should be paid to the mental heath of the child. Children in juvenile justice often have mental health and substance abuse problems, have a higher percentage of learning disabilities, have frequent histories of trauma abuse/neglect, violence in the home, and/or have parents with substance abuse problems.

«Read the rest of this article»

Sections: News | No Comments

Tennessee Juvenile Justice Director to speak at community forum

By Terry McMoore | May 5, 2008 |

Debrah Stafford, Juvenile Justice Director for the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth will be the special guest speaker at a Community Forum Sponsored by Clarksville-Montgomery County Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) Task Force on Monday, May 12, at 6 p.m. at the Montgomery County Public Library.

The Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) Task Force was put together by a Tennessee executive order to look at the overrepresentation of minority youth in secure confinement and to come up with ways to reduce these numbers as well as reducing the numbers of all juveniles that come into the system as a hold.

The Clarksville-Montgomery County DMC Task Force is one of only 5 task forces that exist throughout the state of Tennessee.

• Did you know that 3 out of every 5 kids are in the Juvenile Justice system?
• Why are so many youths getting into trouble?
• Is Your Child Taking Drugs?
• Gang Problems?
• Single Parent Need Help?

This program will explain what services are available to help parents before kids get into the system and much more.

«Read the rest of this article»

Sections: News | No Comments