Spring is just around the corner. As we start to close the door on the winter, I want to take this opportunity to discuss a few priority topics that JJDP has either been experiencing or of which we will continue to work.

Though staff vacancies remain high, we are making steady progress on filling vacant positions since the implementation of the comprehensive pay plan. During a recent presentation before the Joint Oversight Committee on Justice and Public Safety, we discussed the things we have been doing to bring down vacancies, which include: 

• sponsoring 72 hiring events since January 2023; 
• using provisional offers to bring on staff waiting on approval from Criminal Justice Standards;
• reviewing job classifications, especially connected to direct care positions, to account for education/experience that differs from correctional officers, upon which the pay plan is based; 
• providing sign-on and retention bonuses; and 
• hiring temporary staff, such as security guards, to ensure the availability of staff to provide a safe and secure setting for our employees and juveniles in our care. 

Since we began implementing these measures, our vacancy rates (which do not include temporary security guard staff) has decreased. For example, the vacancy rate of Youth Services Behavioral Specialists has plummeted from a high of 73% last summer to 51% in February. Vacancy rates for youth counselors have dropped from a high of 53% to 45%, while youth counselor techs have seen a more modest decrease from 49% to 46%. We are also seeing improvements in the vacancy rates for juvenile court counselors, which have declined from 37% to 32%. 

We know there’s still much to be done in the area of hiring more efficiently and effectively and retaining the professional and caring staff we have already hired. We are open to trying innovative approaches to bring staff vacancy rates down, and I hope those of you who have ideas that could help in this area communicate those thoughts through your chain of command and to human resources staff within JJDP. 

Last month, you may have either seen media coverage, or heard from your colleagues, about some high-profile incidents in juvenile facilities. We are fully reviewing those incidents and are exploring ways to prevent future incidents from occurring within our facilities. Staff and juvenile safety are a top priority for the Department of Public Safety and DJJDP. I want to emphasize that the services and programming we supply to juveniles make most of them far less likely to engage in behaviors that threaten staff and other juveniles.  

You may also have seen featured in media stories talk alleging that the increase many of our communities are seeing in juvenile crime is connected to the expansion of 16 and 17-year olds to juvenile jurisdiction, also known as Raise the Age. Based on our analysis of existing data in concert with Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission staff, I must emphasize that 16 and 17-year olds are not committing more crimes since passage of Raise the Age. Our analysis points out that the increase in juvenile crime can be explained by the huge drop in juvenile crime that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by those crime numbers bouncing back to totals below what we projected we would see for Raise the Age.   

• Projections from the Juvenile Jurisdiction Advisory Committee from when 16/17 year olds were in the adult system, were that there would be 8,673 juveniles statewide added to the juvenile system. 
• In 2023, JJDP received delinquent complaints for only 5,593 juveniles aged 16/17 at offense compared to 11,418 youth prior to Raise the Age (CY 2018). 
• Also, if comparing the under 16 population in FY23 to the under 16 population in FY19, there has been a 4.2% decrease in delinquent juveniles. 
• FY20 through FY 22 saw lower juvenile crime due to the pandemic (e.g., school closures, closed courts) and offense types changed during this time period where shelter at home sometimes increased available supervision at home and sometimes limited access to people for person-centered crime. 

Please know that JJDP and DPS leadership, as well as members of the advocacy community supportive of Raise the Age, are responding to statements related to Raise the Age with facts and data we are sharing with members of the news media and our stakeholder community, and are preparing documents that will bust some of the myths you may hear regarding Raise the Age. Please let your leadership know when you hear fallacies spread about Raise the Age or other items related to juvenile justice or our division, so that we can proactively address these myths and issues.

Do you know someone at JJDP who consistently goes above and beyond in their duties or who just makes coming to work a joy? We're excited to announce the rollout of a new staff affirmation system that will allow staff members to send message of positivity to their JJ friends and colleagues. This form will also be available on the JJDP Sharepoint homepage, which will also display a running feed of the newest affirmations.

A new JJDP initiative will place tablet computers in the hands of youth at all of the state’s youth development and juvenile detention centers, opening a world of new possibilities in the realms of education, behavioral health and reentry. Read more about the recent launch of these tablets at C.A. Dillon and Cabarrus and the new opportunities these tools present for youth.

April is Second Chance Month, and a series of real world microsociety events have been scheduled at facilities across the state. Events will take place at:

April 3 - Chatham YDC

April 17 - Lenoir YDC

April 24 - Edgecombe YDC

Two large classes of Juvenile Justice Officers and Juvenile Court Counselors were recognized during a graduation ceremony at the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Central Office on Feb. 12. Congratulations to these new graduates, and best of luck in your Juvenile Justice careers!

Juvenile Court Counselors

Addison Lynn Avery

Donneaca Avery 

Leah Micaela Banks 

Tiwana Rochele Banks 

Olivia Grace Clark 

Virginia Michelle Doaty 

Ronae Aerial Ferebee Tykwaisjahnique Gibson 

Krista Leigh Greene 

Katherine Harper 

Ayanna Tekerra Harris 

Fatimah Nahro Innab 

Leah Jeanette Johnson

Isabella Marie Jontz 

Liaba Ahme Khan 

Jackson Andrew Koonts

Chrystal Denise Langston Rogera Shalimar Pratt 

Tasheka Jakoyia Robinson Meredith Elaine Rogers

Katherine Ann Ross 

Matthew Jordan Searcy* 

Kiara Sherron Toomer

Juvenile Justice Officers

Deborah Fitzgerald Avery

Jordan Amber Bonner 

Chaz Bowen 

Shakira Monai Bradley

Kenneth Jaray Butchee 

Ebony Mone Cotton 

Demontre Dozier 

Kayla Gaudet 

Valdrin Henderson-Brown Johana Jimenez 

Tamico Lachelle Jones 

Brianna Demetrius King 

Lisa Vernette Lipscomb

Phoebe Elizabeth Martin*

Lequita Jessimarie Mayfield Selina Analiz Rivera 

Latisha Shanta Shelton 

Gianna J’Rae Sherman

*These students earned the highest scores on their final exams and graduated with honors.

The JJDP recruitment team was out in the community in full force throughout February. In addition to hosting a statewide virtual hiring event on Feb. 15, which generated 41 interviews and 26 recommendations for hire, the team also attended six career fairs hosted by North Carolina universities. Staff shared career opportunities with students at Elizabeth City State University, NC A&T, Winston-Salem State University, UNC Charlotte, UNC Wilmington and NC State. Thank you to Andy Stein, Natalie McLean, Howard Clark, Ariana Garcia, Sabrina Martin, Don Jordan, Justin Rogers, Peter Aiken, Gina Riccio, Sarah Tolbert, Anita Foster and Ryan Abbot for representing JJDP during these events!

This past month, Juvenile Justice staff across the division celebrated Black History Month with a variety of special programs at facilities and in the community.

On Feb. 20, DPS leaders and staff from Governor Cooper’s Policy Office enjoyed a tour of Lenoir Youth Development Center, as well as two Methodist Home for Children facilities supported by the JJDP Community Programs section. The day’s events began with a special Black History Month celebration at Lenoir YDC, followed by visits to the Eastern Crisis and Assessment Center and The Farm Transitional Living Home. Thank you to our JJDP staff for highlighting these important resources and programs available for youth in eastern North Carolina.

In celebration of Black History Month, Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin visited Cumberland Juvenile Detention Center to interact with youth. Students were able to learn about the role of the mayor, initiatives he is trying to bring to the community and the mayor's own background and upbringing. This was a great opportunity for the juveniles to see a successful person come from their own backyard. The students were allowed time to ask questions and chat with the mayor. Colvin gave the students inspiring words and encouraged them to apply themselves and to have a plan and stick to it. The mayor talked about his family funeral business and how he has seen the impact of violence on families. Some of these topics affected the students and really gave them some things to think on.

On Feb. 9, Chatham YDC hosted motivational speaker Jamir Jumoke, along with several local officials from Siler City, for the facility's annual Black History Month program. Jumoke encouraged the students to learn all they can from staff and not go back to their homes looking for the same friends and doing the same things that brought them to Chatham. Each unit had a presentation to contribute to the program, with the Chatham girls performing dances and the boys reciting poems.

Volunteers from the local community came together on Feb. 25 to serve up a Black History Month meal at Alexander JDC. One of the facility's transportation staff, Tracie Daniels, is also the pastor of Pleasant Home Fire Baptized Holiness Church in Stony Point. She and some other women from the church graciously prepared meals for the youth. Thank you to Tracie and the congregation for making this special meal! 

Staff at the JJDP Central Office took the opportunity to celebrate Black History Month on Feb. 28, dressing for the occasion and gathering for a group photo.

On Feb. 13, Halifax Community College hosted its 2024 Celebrating Black Excellence program, with Chief Court Counselor Sonynia Leonard attending. The program included an unveiling of the USPS Black Heritage Stamp dedicated to Constance Baker Motley. Motley was the first African American woman to argue a case in the United States Supreme Court and first to serve as a federal judge. 

Nathan B. Junell joined the Juvenile Justice School Nutrition Team in January, in the position of School Nutrition Administrator. As an administrator, Junell will focus on purchasing, procurement, ServSafe sanitation training and manager training. Working with Juvenile Justice facilities in the state, Nathan aims to help strengthen other food service professionals and promote efficiency and exceeding department standards.

Junell grew up in Massachusetts and spent his teenage years working at Wachusett Mountain as a fry cook. He graduated with his Associates Degree in culinary arts from Atlantic Culinary Academy and is currently finishing up his Bachelor of Science in business management at Fayetteville State University. Junell moved to North Carolina in 2007, and since then he has worked in many well-known establishments across the Triangle, including the Fairview Dining Room and Mitchell’s Catering. Junell also was employed as a chef manager for Compass Group, Aramark, Sodexo and Guckenheimer, responsible for many of the major corporate firms in the area including NetApp, Bayer Crop Science, and Cisco Systems.

Among his other endeavors, Junell has ventured as far as to open his own catering company and spent time cruising around Hawaii as a cook and firefighter with Norwegian Cruise Lines. He also serves as a member of the North Carolina National Guard, assigned to the 130^th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade in Charlotte as a platoon sergeant and brigade liaison.

Michael Davis has been named Court Counselor Supervisor in District 16 and began his new duties as of Feb.12. In this new position, Davis will be responsible for supervising court counselors in Robeson, Scotland and Hoke counties.

Davis began his career with JJDP in 2002 as a Juvenile Court Counselor assigned to supervision duties at the Robeson County Office. In 2011 he was promoted to intake court counselor.

Davis brings a wealth of knowledge and skills to his new position. He has worked as a supervision and intake counselor and currently is serving as a member of the Robeson County Child Fatality Team. In the past he has served on the board of directors as a member and as chairperson for the Robeson County Teen Court and Youth Services.

Davis earned a degree in criminal justice from UNC-Pembroke. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling and spending time on the beach in the summer.

Tiffany Campbell, of Court Services District 12, was recently honored by Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin and the Fayetteville-Cumberland Human Relations Council for outstanding contributions in the realm of public service. Campbell, who serves as a youth counselor technician certified driver, was instrumental in organizing the "It's a Family Affair Sneaker Ball,” an annual event designed as a call to action against gun violence and an opportunity to promote family bonds and nurturing parent-child relationships.

This initiative came to fruition due to the pressing need to educate the community about the severity of gun violence and its far-reaching impacts. By recognizing that stronger family dynamics could potentially mitigate such tragedies, organizers aim to empower families and individuals with the knowledge and resources needed to foster healthier relationships and safer communities. This event is open to children of all ages, but primarily focuses on reaching middle schoolers, as this age group is particularly vulnerable to the influences of gun violence and may benefit most from positive messaging and community engagement. 

Thank you, Tiffany, for helping organize this phenomenal event for our youth!

Sen. Michael Lee (R - New Hanover) paid a special visit to New Hanover Regional Juvenile Detention Center on March 1 to learn more about the center's operations and how additional resources might better help the division serve the youth in our care.

Laying the groundwork for the upcoming legislative session in April, JJDP Deputy Secretary William Lassiter met with Sen. Jim Burgin (R - Harnett, Lee, Sampson) on Feb. 27 to discuss JJDP-related issues and priorities for the upcoming year.

In February, four youth at Cumberland Juvenile Detention Center had the opportunity to earn CPR certifications that may one day help them save a life. Thank you to Cumberland Youth Behavioral Specialist Nicole Jones for providing this fantastic opportunity for our youth!

It's no secret that Juvenile Justice staff are a talented bunch. On Feb. 14, District 26 Juvenile Court Counselor Trainee Brittney Pasquale's talent was on full display at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte as she performed the National Anthem to kick off the Charlotte Hornets home game against the Atlanta Hawks.

JJDP promotions, retirements and passings are provided by DPS Human Resources on a monthly basis. Longer announcements on these topics may be sent to Matt Debnam for potential publication in the JJ Update. Please include a brief biography, a current photo of the honoree, and their new job description if promoted.

Did you know that calendar year 2023 saw a 4% decrease in school threat complaints compared to CY 2022? The average age of juveniles receiving these complaints in 2023 was 13.75 and 79% were males.

All DPS employees are eligible to utilize the Responder's Assistance Initiative, a mental health support service provided by the department. Employees and their family members can call 833-747-0185, toll-free, 24/7. The number is staffed by a licensed clinician, who will provide immediate support to identify mental health needs.

Please continue to send in stories, story ideas, and photos

from events in your area that we can share to 

Matt Debnam.

Thank you for your service.