so picture a diverse group of young men and women standing in the Virginia State
and women standing in the Virginia State
and women standing in the Virginia State Capitol presenting a constitution that
Capitol presenting a constitution that
Capitol presenting a constitution that they had crafted to guide their newly
they had crafted to guide their newly
they had crafted to guide their newly formed democracy the Constitution lays
formed democracy the Constitution lays
formed democracy the Constitution lays out the qualifications for office the
out the qualifications for office the
out the qualifications for office the rules for elections the purposes of this
rules for elections the purposes of this
rules for elections the purposes of this new government in the room that day as
new government in the room that day as
new government in the room that day as they’re presenting are a number of state
they’re presenting are a number of state
they’re presenting are a number of state officials and other dignitaries and
officials and other dignitaries and
officials and other dignitaries and indeed the very first person who signs
indeed the very first person who signs
indeed the very first person who signs that Constitution is our Governor Terry
that Constitution is our Governor Terry
that Constitution is our Governor Terry McAuliffe a closer look at the young men
McAuliffe a closer look at the young men
McAuliffe a closer look at the young men and women who are up on the diets
and women who are up on the diets
and women who are up on the diets reveals something interesting about them
reveals something interesting about them
reveals something interesting about them on their ankles our tracking devices and
on their ankles our tracking devices and
on their ankles our tracking devices and in the back of the room our staff from
in the back of the room our staff from
in the back of the room our staff from Beaumont and Bonaire juvenile
Beaumont and Bonaire juvenile
Beaumont and Bonaire juvenile correctional centers and yet there they
correctional centers and yet there they
correctional centers and yet there they are feeling justifiably proud for what
are feeling justifiably proud for what
are feeling justifiably proud for what they’ve created and what they were
they’ve created and what they were
they’ve created and what they were embarking on the very first
embarking on the very first
embarking on the very first constitutionally based student
constitutionally based student
constitutionally based student government inside a juvenile
government inside a juvenile
government inside a juvenile Correctional Center in this country on
Correctional Center in this country on
Correctional Center in this country on the wall of my office is a quote by
the wall of my office is a quote by
the wall of my office is a quote by Nelson Mandela that was hand-painted by
Nelson Mandela that was hand-painted by
Nelson Mandela that was hand-painted by my daughter Maya the quote reads it
my daughter Maya the quote reads it
my daughter Maya the quote reads it always seems impossible until it’s done
always seems impossible until it’s done
always seems impossible until it’s done I love the quote because it embraces a
I love the quote because it embraces a
I love the quote because it embraces a kind of fearlessness and optimism about
kind of fearlessness and optimism about
kind of fearlessness and optimism about human potential and human capacity it
human potential and human capacity it
human potential and human capacity it liberates us to try to do hard things we
liberates us to try to do hard things we
liberates us to try to do hard things we can do more than we think we can we just
can do more than we think we can we just
can do more than we think we can we just need to try my boss the Governor Terry
need to try my boss the Governor Terry
need to try my boss the Governor Terry McAuliffe has a related view of
McAuliffe has a related view of
McAuliffe has a related view of governing and he continually exhorts his
governing and he continually exhorts his
governing and he continually exhorts his cabinet members US agency heads to think
cabinet members US agency heads to think
cabinet members US agency heads to think outside the box to go big he tells us
outside the box to go big he tells us
outside the box to go big he tells us it’s ok to make mistakes when we’re
it’s ok to make mistakes when we’re
it’s ok to make mistakes when we’re doing this if what we’re trying to do is
doing this if what we’re trying to do is
doing this if what we’re trying to do is to improve the lives of the people of
to improve the lives of the people of
to improve the lives of the people of Virginia at the Department of Juvenile
Virginia at the Department of Juvenile
Virginia at the Department of Juvenile Justice where I’m the director we took
Justice where I’m the director we took
Justice where I’m the director we took governor McAuliffe’s message to heart
governor McAuliffe’s message to heart
governor McAuliffe’s message to heart and today I’m gonna tell you our story
and today I’m gonna tell you our story
and today I’m gonna tell you our story but before I get into that
but before I get into that
but before I get into that I want to say that you might not think
I want to say that you might not think
I want to say that you might not think of our story so much as thinking outside
of our story so much as thinking outside
of our story so much as thinking outside the box you might think about it as one
the box you might think about it as one
the box you might think about it as one of our staff described it to me as
of our staff described it to me as
of our staff described it to me as thinking outside the fence but even
thinking outside the fence but even
thinking outside the fence but even before I get into the story I want to
before I get into the story I want to
before I get into the story I want to tell you a little bit about my own
tell you a little bit about my own
tell you a little bit about my own background because when Governor
background because when Governor
background because when Governor McAuliffe appointed me to be the
McAuliffe appointed me to be the
McAuliffe appointed me to be the director he was thinking outside the
director he was thinking outside the
director he was thinking outside the fence a bit as well you see I had never
fence a bit as well you see I had never
fence a bit as well you see I had never worked for state government before I had
worked for state government before I had
worked for state government before I had never worked in public safety before the
never worked in public safety before the
never worked in public safety before the most people I had supervised before I
most people I had supervised before I
most people I had supervised before I took this job was ten and the Department
took this job was ten and the Department
took this job was ten and the Department of Juvenile Justice has close to 2,000
of Juvenile Justice has close to 2,000
of Juvenile Justice has close to 2,000 employees which explains a lot probably
employees which explains a lot probably
employees which explains a lot probably to the people who work at the department
to the people who work at the department
to the people who work at the department more than that I was the founder and
more than that I was the founder and
more than that I was the founder and legal director of the just children
legal director of the just children
legal director of the just children program of legally justice center here
program of legally justice center here
program of legally justice center here in town and I spent my entire
in town and I spent my entire
in town and I spent my entire professional career to that point trying
professional career to that point trying
professional career to that point trying to keep kids out of the very facilities
to keep kids out of the very facilities
to keep kids out of the very facilities that the department operated I appeared
that the department operated I appeared
that the department operated I appeared in the press in the legislature critical
in the press in the legislature critical
in the press in the legislature critical of the workings of the department and on
of the workings of the department and on
of the workings of the department and on more than one occasion threatened to sue
more than one occasion threatened to sue
more than one occasion threatened to sue the very agency that I was now being
the very agency that I was now being
the very agency that I was now being appointed to run the very last thing I
appointed to run the very last thing I
appointed to run the very last thing I would have wanted in the world or the
would have wanted in the world or the
would have wanted in the world or the very last thing I would have thought
very last thing I would have thought
very last thing I would have thought would have happened would be for me to
would have happened would be for me to
would have happened would be for me to be the guy whose picture is in the lobby
be the guy whose picture is in the lobby
be the guy whose picture is in the lobby of the juvenile correctional centers
of the juvenile correctional centers
of the juvenile correctional centers that I worked so hard to keep kids out
that I worked so hard to keep kids out
that I worked so hard to keep kids out of and yet after I got appointed there I
of and yet after I got appointed there I
of and yet after I got appointed there I was the guy whose picture is on the wall
was the guy whose picture is on the wall
was the guy whose picture is on the wall in the lobby when you go into the
in the lobby when you go into the
in the lobby when you go into the facilities instead of sticking it to the
facilities instead of sticking it to the
facilities instead of sticking it to the man which I had long prided myself on my
man which I had long prided myself on my
man which I had long prided myself on my ability to do I had suddenly become him
ability to do I had suddenly become him
ability to do I had suddenly become him now it’s important to understand that
now it’s important to understand that
now it’s important to understand that the department is more than just locked
the department is more than just locked
the department is more than just locked facilities in fact that’s a very small
facilities in fact that’s a very small
facilities in fact that’s a very small fraction of what we do we have probation
fraction of what we do we have probation
fraction of what we do we have probation offices across Virginia we run treatment
offices across Virginia we run treatment
offices across Virginia we run treatment programs I shouldn’t say fun treatment
programs I shouldn’t say fun treatment
programs I shouldn’t say fun treatment programs across the state on any given
programs across the state on any given
programs across the state on any given day we have approximately 4,000 kids
day we have approximately 4,000 kids
day we have approximately 4,000 kids under some kind of supervision more than
under some kind of supervision more than
under some kind of supervision more than 90% of whom are in the community but
90% of whom are in the community but
90% of whom are in the community but when I started as director and I got a
when I started as director and I got a
when I started as director and I got a point in April of 2014 we were not
point in April of 2014 we were not
point in April of 2014 we were not doing very well we were spending about
doing very well we were spending about
doing very well we were spending about 40% of our budget on the less than 10%
40% of our budget on the less than 10%
40% of our budget on the less than 10% of kids who were in those big oversized
of kids who were in those big oversized
of kids who were in those big oversized adult-like facilities most of the kids
adult-like facilities most of the kids
adult-like facilities most of the kids in there our kids who’ve been exposed to
in there our kids who’ve been exposed to
in there our kids who’ve been exposed to trauma have mental health issues have
trauma have mental health issues have
trauma have mental health issues have learning challenges we’re spending
learning challenges we’re spending
learning challenges we’re spending almost 40% of our money on that small
almost 40% of our money on that small
almost 40% of our money on that small percentage of kids almost 80% of whom
percentage of kids almost 80% of whom
percentage of kids almost 80% of whom were getting really thin three years of
were getting really thin three years of
were getting really thin three years of our release thinking about the numbers a
our release thinking about the numbers a
our release thinking about the numbers a different way if about 20% of the kids
different way if about 20% of the kids
different way if about 20% of the kids in Virginia are african-american more
in Virginia are african-american more
in Virginia are african-american more than 70% of the kids in our facilities
than 70% of the kids in our facilities
than 70% of the kids in our facilities are children of color but the numbers
are children of color but the numbers
are children of color but the numbers only tell you part of this story and
only tell you part of this story and
only tell you part of this story and it’s important not just to get
it’s important not just to get
it’s important not just to get distracted by data on my second day on
distracted by data on my second day on
distracted by data on my second day on the job I had to watch a videotape of
the job I had to watch a videotape of
the job I had to watch a videotape of staff and some young people at Beaumont
staff and some young people at Beaumont
staff and some young people at Beaumont juvenile correctional center pulling the
juvenile correctional center pulling the
juvenile correctional center pulling the lifeless body of a young man out of his
lifeless body of a young man out of his
lifeless body of a young man out of his cell where he had hung himself the
cell where he had hung himself the
cell where he had hung himself the incident had happened a few weeks before
incident had happened a few weeks before
incident had happened a few weeks before I started but it was part of my job to
I started but it was part of my job to
I started but it was part of my job to figure out what to do and I was watched
figure out what to do and I was watched
figure out what to do and I was watched the videotape I was overwhelmed by a
the videotape I was overwhelmed by a
the videotape I was overwhelmed by a range of emotions not least of which was
range of emotions not least of which was
range of emotions not least of which was the thought that what do I do now but
the thought that what do I do now but
the thought that what do I do now but also the realization that these places
also the realization that these places
also the realization that these places that were in many ways supposed to be
that were in many ways supposed to be
that were in many ways supposed to be rehabilitative and places of opportunity
rehabilitative and places of opportunity
rehabilitative and places of opportunity and new starts had to often become
and new starts had to often become
and new starts had to often become places of despair I want to assure you
places of despair I want to assure you
places of despair I want to assure you that the staff at the department then
that the staff at the department then
that the staff at the department then and the staff of the department now are
and the staff of the department now are
and the staff of the department now are hard-working people who care about kids
hard-working people who care about kids
hard-working people who care about kids but they have incredibly hard jobs and
but they have incredibly hard jobs and
but they have incredibly hard jobs and when you put people behind a fence in a
when you put people behind a fence in a
when you put people behind a fence in a facility that’s really built more for
facility that’s really built more for
facility that’s really built more for adults and the kids have multiple
adults and the kids have multiple
adults and the kids have multiple challenges and the staff don’t have
challenges and the staff don’t have
challenges and the staff don’t have resources or direction it’s hard to do
resources or direction it’s hard to do
resources or direction it’s hard to do good work
good work
good work so we said about to make a change and we
so we said about to make a change and we
so we said about to make a change and we brought in lots of people to help us
brought in lots of people to help us
brought in lots of people to help us figure this out and our plan to
figure this out and our plan to
figure this out and our plan to transform the agency consisted of three
transform the agency consisted of three
transform the agency consisted of three primary activities number one was
primary activities number one was
primary activities number one was reducing the population of kids in those
reducing the population of kids in those
reducing the population of kids in those facilities primarily by shortening the
facilities primarily by shortening the
facilities primarily by shortening the length of time where they were there we
length of time where they were there we
length of time where they were there we did some research
did some research
did some research Church that showed that the longer the
Church that showed that the longer the
Church that showed that the longer the kids were in the facilities the more
kids were in the facilities the more
kids were in the facilities the more likely it was they were gonna get in
likely it was they were gonna get in
likely it was they were gonna get in trouble when they went home so that
trouble when they went home so that
trouble when they went home so that didn’t make a lot of sense we created
didn’t make a lot of sense we created
didn’t make a lot of sense we created alternative placements so not everybody
alternative placements so not everybody
alternative placements so not everybody had to get sent upstate we started
had to get sent upstate we started
had to get sent upstate we started changing probation practices so we could
changing probation practices so we could
changing probation practices so we could get the the right kid the right program
get the the right kid the right program
get the the right kid the right program at the right time so hopefully they
at the right time so hopefully they
at the right time so hopefully they didn’t have to enter the system or
didn’t have to enter the system or
didn’t have to enter the system or penetrate that deeply but we also
penetrate that deeply but we also
penetrate that deeply but we also realized we had to do better work in
realized we had to do better work in
realized we had to do better work in those facilities and so we had a plan to
those facilities and so we had a plan to
those facilities and so we had a plan to dramatically transform the way we worked
dramatically transform the way we worked
dramatically transform the way we worked with kids and provide more opportunities
with kids and provide more opportunities
with kids and provide more opportunities for education and rehabilitation and
for education and rehabilitation and
for education and rehabilitation and growth and success but we also realized
growth and success but we also realized
growth and success but we also realized that wasn’t enough either that
that wasn’t enough either that
that wasn’t enough either that ultimately did to do the work we needed
ultimately did to do the work we needed
ultimately did to do the work we needed to do we need to replace these old
to do we need to replace these old
to do we need to replace these old institutions with something that would
institutions with something that would
institutions with something that would work better with programs in community
work better with programs in community
work better with programs in community so that kids could get what they needed
so that kids could get what they needed
so that kids could get what they needed where they lived and with their family
where they lived and with their family
where they lived and with their family and for those small group of kids who
and for those small group of kids who
and for those small group of kids who had to be confined building new smaller
had to be confined building new smaller
had to be confined building new smaller treatment oriented facilities that
treatment oriented facilities that
treatment oriented facilities that weren’t obstacles to rehabilitation but
weren’t obstacles to rehabilitation but
weren’t obstacles to rehabilitation but were tools for rehabilitation to do this
were tools for rehabilitation to do this
were tools for rehabilitation to do this last part to replace the system also
last part to replace the system also
last part to replace the system also involved getting authorization to close
involved getting authorization to close
involved getting authorization to close old facilities to keep our money to
old facilities to keep our money to
old facilities to keep our money to spend on these treatment programs and it
spend on these treatment programs and it
spend on these treatment programs and it required not only getting the buy-in of
required not only getting the buy-in of
required not only getting the buy-in of Governor McAuliffe who was all in from
Governor McAuliffe who was all in from
Governor McAuliffe who was all in from the beginning it also required getting
the beginning it also required getting
the beginning it also required getting the buy-in from our
the buy-in from our
the buy-in from our republican-controlled General Assembly
republican-controlled General Assembly
republican-controlled General Assembly as if the work wasn’t hard enough we now
as if the work wasn’t hard enough we now
as if the work wasn’t hard enough we now had to get Democrats and Republicans to
had to get Democrats and Republicans to
had to get Democrats and Republicans to work together imagine that now a plan is
work together imagine that now a plan is
work together imagine that now a plan is just words on a piece of paper or words
just words on a piece of paper or words
just words on a piece of paper or words on a whiteboard
on a whiteboard
on a whiteboard unless people fuel it and people support
unless people fuel it and people support
unless people fuel it and people support it and people give it momentum and
it and people give it momentum and
it and people give it momentum and that’s exactly what happened with us
that’s exactly what happened with us
that’s exactly what happened with us people saw that we were now playing to
people saw that we were now playing to
people saw that we were now playing to win and try to do good things for kids
win and try to do good things for kids
win and try to do good things for kids instead of just keeping bad things from
instead of just keeping bad things from
instead of just keeping bad things from happening and our staff who in many ways
happening and our staff who in many ways
happening and our staff who in many ways had to suffer the most through all the
had to suffer the most through all the
had to suffer the most through all the changes have embraced this our
changes have embraced this our
changes have embraced this our stakeholders judges and community
stakeholders judges and community
stakeholders judges and community members and service providers they
members and service providers they
members and service providers they these young people have embraced this
these young people have embraced this
these young people have embraced this our governor has embraced this
our governor has embraced this
our governor has embraced this hour-by-hour
hour-by-hour
hour-by-hour you know bipartisan group of legislators
you know bipartisan group of legislators
you know bipartisan group of legislators Republicans and Democrats have embraced
Republicans and Democrats have embraced
Republicans and Democrats have embraced this and fueled with all this support
this and fueled with all this support
this and fueled with all this support we’ve been able to accomplish actually
we’ve been able to accomplish actually
we’ve been able to accomplish actually quite a bit with Governor McAuliffe took
quite a bit with Governor McAuliffe took
quite a bit with Governor McAuliffe took office in April of 2014 we had about 600
office in April of 2014 we had about 600
office in April of 2014 we had about 600 kids in our large facilities today I’m
kids in our large facilities today I’m
kids in our large facilities today I’m happy to tell you that we only have 217
happy to tell you that we only have 217
happy to tell you that we only have 217 [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
in terms of what’s happening with the
in terms of what’s happening with the kids in the facilities we’ve done a lot
kids in the facilities we’ve done a lot
kids in the facilities we’ve done a lot of work there too we’re creating many
of work there too we’re creating many
of work there too we’re creating many more educational opportunities for those
more educational opportunities for those
more educational opportunities for those young people who have to be confined for
young people who have to be confined for
young people who have to be confined for example when I started in 2014 we had no
example when I started in 2014 we had no
example when I started in 2014 we had no college classes even though we could
college classes even though we could
college classes even though we could hold kids till they were 21 we recently
hold kids till they were 21 we recently
hold kids till they were 21 we recently had two young men leave us having her in
had two young men leave us having her in
had two young men leave us having her in twenty four college credits during the
twenty four college credits during the
twenty four college credits during the time that they were with us historically
time that they were with us historically
time that they were with us historically the agency and folks who work in the
the agency and folks who work in the
the agency and folks who work in the field have looked at parents in many
field have looked at parents in many
field have looked at parents in many ways as obstacles to rehabilitation that
ways as obstacles to rehabilitation that
ways as obstacles to rehabilitation that they’re part of the problem not part of
they’re part of the problem not part of
they’re part of the problem not part of the solution but we realized that if we
the solution but we realized that if we
the solution but we realized that if we really wanted to do good work if we
really wanted to do good work if we
really wanted to do good work if we wanted to keep kids with their families
wanted to keep kids with their families
wanted to keep kids with their families or allow kids to return home to their
or allow kids to return home to their
or allow kids to return home to their families we had to include families now
families we had to include families now
families we had to include families now Virginia is a very big state and
Virginia is a very big state and
Virginia is a very big state and Beaumont and Bonaire were both clustered
Beaumont and Bonaire were both clustered
Beaumont and Bonaire were both clustered around Richmond making it very hard for
around Richmond making it very hard for
around Richmond making it very hard for families to visit their kids so we came
families to visit their kids so we came
families to visit their kids so we came up with the idea and said well why don’t
up with the idea and said well why don’t
up with the idea and said well why don’t we provide free transportation so any
we provide free transportation so any
we provide free transportation so any weekend now there are shuttle buses
weekend now there are shuttle buses
weekend now there are shuttle buses leaving from some point in the state
leaving from some point in the state
leaving from some point in the state taking families to visit their kids
taking families to visit their kids
taking families to visit their kids people who were skeptical about that –
people who were skeptical about that –
people who were skeptical about that – well parents don’t care they’re not
well parents don’t care they’re not
well parents don’t care they’re not going to do this in our very first year
going to do this in our very first year
going to do this in our very first year of doing this we had 1,200 people take
of doing this we had 1,200 people take
of doing this we had 1,200 people take advantage of this service we had parents
advantage of this service we had parents
advantage of this service we had parents who hadn’t seen their kids for two years
who hadn’t seen their kids for two years
who hadn’t seen their kids for two years finally get a chance to visit now that
finally get a chance to visit now that
finally get a chance to visit now that all sounds good and it’s incredibly
all sounds good and it’s incredibly
all sounds good and it’s incredibly important but really the main work we’re
important but really the main work we’re
important but really the main work we’re doing in the facilities is trying to
doing in the facilities is trying to
doing in the facilities is trying to transform the work of our staff with the
transform the work of our staff with the
transform the work of our staff with the kids we had juvenile correctional
kids we had juvenile correctional
kids we had juvenile correctional officers whose job was primarily to
officers whose job was primarily to
officers whose job was primarily to maintain order and maintain security and
maintain order and maintain security and
maintain order and maintain security and we had and they were told explicitly not
we had and they were told explicitly not
we had and they were told explicitly not to engage with kids but they’re there
to engage with kids but they’re there
to engage with kids but they’re there all the time they’re the adults who have
all the time they’re the adults who have
all the time they’re the adults who have the most contact with the kids in the
the most contact with the kids in the
the most contact with the kids in the facility so we had to change that we
facility so we had to change that we
facility so we had to change that we reclassified their position we included
reclassified their position we included
reclassified their position we included new responsibilities we shortened their
new responsibilities we shortened their
new responsibilities we shortened their work days from 12 hours to 8 so they’d
work days from 12 hours to 8 so they’d
work days from 12 hours to 8 so they’d be on the
be on the
be on the hopper their game as much as they could
hopper their game as much as they could
hopper their game as much as they could but in state government it’s not so easy
but in state government it’s not so easy
but in state government it’s not so easy to do that you can’t just flip a switch
to do that you can’t just flip a switch
to do that you can’t just flip a switch and say you were a correctional officer
and say you were a correctional officer
and say you were a correctional officer one day and these were your job
one day and these were your job
one day and these were your job responsibilities and now you’re what
responsibilities and now you’re what
responsibilities and now you’re what we’re calling a resident specialist we
we’re calling a resident specialist we
we’re calling a resident specialist we literally had to lay everybody off
literally had to lay everybody off
literally had to lay everybody off redefine their jobs and have them
redefine their jobs and have them
redefine their jobs and have them reapply to the reapply for these new
reapply to the reapply for these new
reapply to the reapply for these new positions we had folks who’d been in the
positions we had folks who’d been in the
positions we had folks who’d been in the agency for 20 or 30 years who had to go
agency for 20 or 30 years who had to go
agency for 20 or 30 years who had to go through this process and it was scary
through this process and it was scary
through this process and it was scary but I’m pleased to tell you that we’ve
but I’m pleased to tell you that we’ve
but I’m pleased to tell you that we’ve done it and everyone has converted to
done it and everyone has converted to
done it and everyone has converted to this new way of doing work it’s been
this new way of doing work it’s been
this new way of doing work it’s been hard because as if that wasn’t enough we
hard because as if that wasn’t enough we
hard because as if that wasn’t enough we also got approval to start closing
also got approval to start closing
also got approval to start closing facilities and keeping money so people
facilities and keeping money so people
facilities and keeping money so people were learning new things at the same
were learning new things at the same
were learning new things at the same times they were worried about their job
times they were worried about their job
times they were worried about their job and we closed Beaumont juvenile
and we closed Beaumont juvenile
and we closed Beaumont juvenile Correctional Center in June of this year
Correctional Center in June of this year
Correctional Center in June of this year and with the money from that closure
and with the money from that closure
and with the money from that closure we’ve been able to create new treatment
we’ve been able to create new treatment
we’ve been able to create new treatment programs across Virginia to give you an
programs across Virginia to give you an
programs across Virginia to give you an illustration of what that’s like at the
illustration of what that’s like at the
illustration of what that’s like at the beginning of this year only two
beginning of this year only two
beginning of this year only two jurisdictions in Virginia had access to
jurisdictions in Virginia had access to
jurisdictions in Virginia had access to this highly regarded evidence-based
this highly regarded evidence-based
this highly regarded evidence-based program that was really effective at
program that was really effective at
program that was really effective at working with high-risk kids in their
working with high-risk kids in their
working with high-risk kids in their communities with their families kids who
communities with their families kids who
communities with their families kids who might otherwise get locked up by year’s
might otherwise get locked up by year’s
might otherwise get locked up by year’s end with the savings from the closure we
end with the savings from the closure we
end with the savings from the closure we will have that service available in a
will have that service available in a
will have that service available in a hundred jurisdictions across the state
the work is ongoing and these structural
the work is ongoing and these structural changes wow they’re huge only tell part
changes wow they’re huge only tell part
changes wow they’re huge only tell part of the story this thinking outside the
of the story this thinking outside the
of the story this thinking outside the fence this trying to do good work
fence this trying to do good work
fence this trying to do good work instead of just keeping bad things from
instead of just keeping bad things from
instead of just keeping bad things from happening this way of looking at it has
happening this way of looking at it has
happening this way of looking at it has cascaded throughout the agency we have
cascaded throughout the agency we have
cascaded throughout the agency we have staff now thinking on their own about
staff now thinking on their own about
staff now thinking on their own about new ways of doing the work we had a
new ways of doing the work we had a
new ways of doing the work we had a group of probation officers in Norfolk
group of probation officers in Norfolk
group of probation officers in Norfolk who instead of just as they had
who instead of just as they had
who instead of just as they had traditionally had done saying I’m here
traditionally had done saying I’m here
traditionally had done saying I’m here to monitor compliance with the courts
to monitor compliance with the courts
to monitor compliance with the courts rules and make sure you’re doing what
rules and make sure you’re doing what
rules and make sure you’re doing what you’re supposed to do said let’s do
you’re supposed to do said let’s do
you’re supposed to do said let’s do something different and they took a
something different and they took a
something different and they took a group of young men from Norfolk up to
group of young men from Norfolk up to
group of young men from Norfolk up to Washington to go to the National Museum
Washington to go to the National Museum
Washington to go to the National Museum of african-american history and culture
of african-american history and culture
of african-american history and culture they did it to expand those kids view of
they did it to expand those kids view of
they did it to expand those kids view of the world of themselves of their society
the world of themselves of their society
the world of themselves of their society in so doing some of the kids who went on
in so doing some of the kids who went on
in so doing some of the kids who went on the trip got to go outside of Norfolk
the trip got to go outside of Norfolk
the trip got to go outside of Norfolk for the first time one of the kids who
for the first time one of the kids who
for the first time one of the kids who went on the trip got to ride an
went on the trip got to ride an
went on the trip got to ride an escalator for the first time we had a
escalator for the first time we had a
escalator for the first time we had a family day at Bonaire juvenile
family day at Bonaire juvenile
family day at Bonaire juvenile correctional center which is our last
correctional center which is our last
correctional center which is our last remaining place we invited hundreds of
remaining place we invited hundreds of
remaining place we invited hundreds of family members to have kind of a fun
family members to have kind of a fun
family members to have kind of a fun normal parent kid experience we had
normal parent kid experience we had
normal parent kid experience we had picnic we had ice cream and cotton candy
picnic we had ice cream and cotton candy
picnic we had ice cream and cotton candy and kids played games and got to sit at
and kids played games and got to sit at
and kids played games and got to sit at picnic tables with their parents and
picnic tables with their parents and
picnic tables with their parents and their siblings and it was a beautiful
their siblings and it was a beautiful
their siblings and it was a beautiful day but to make that work we had to call
day but to make that work we had to call
day but to make that work we had to call volunteers in because there were so many
volunteers in because there were so many
volunteers in because there were so many people and it was a Sunday so not always
people and it was a Sunday so not always
people and it was a Sunday so not always easy to get volunteers on a Sunday we
easy to get volunteers on a Sunday we
easy to get volunteers on a Sunday we had hundreds of volunteers we had two
had hundreds of volunteers we had two
had hundreds of volunteers we had two staff who drove up from Abingdon
staff who drove up from Abingdon
staff who drove up from Abingdon Virginia they didn’t have any kids in
Virginia they didn’t have any kids in
Virginia they didn’t have any kids in the facilities but they drove up from
the facilities but they drove up from
the facilities but they drove up from Abingdon Virginia to volunteer and be
Abingdon Virginia to volunteer and be
Abingdon Virginia to volunteer and be part of this amazing day that’s a five
part of this amazing day that’s a five
part of this amazing day that’s a five hour drive and they weren’t getting paid
hour drive and they weren’t getting paid
hour drive and they weren’t getting paid people are embracing the work in the
people are embracing the work in the
people are embracing the work in the facilities people are doing all kinds of
facilities people are doing all kinds of
facilities people are doing all kinds of different things there they’re taking
different things there they’re taking
different things there they’re taking kids outside the fence to go visit
kids outside the fence to go visit
kids outside the fence to go visit colleges so they start to think about
colleges so they start to think about
colleges so they start to think about that as part of their future in one
that as part of their future in one
that as part of their future in one instance recently the staff had a young
instance recently the staff had a young
instance recently the staff had a young man who wanted to be an artist
man who wanted to be an artist
man who wanted to be an artist so they took
so they took
so they took outside the fence to go visit the
outside the fence to go visit the
outside the fence to go visit the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts where he
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts where he
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts where he could get inspired and think differently
could get inspired and think differently
could get inspired and think differently about what his future might look like
about what his future might look like
about what his future might look like but the Cascade the investment it’s also
but the Cascade the investment it’s also
but the Cascade the investment it’s also not stopping with our staff its
not stopping with our staff its
not stopping with our staff its cascading down to the kids as well I
cascading down to the kids as well I
cascading down to the kids as well I told you about the student government so
told you about the student government so
told you about the student government so how that came about was young people in
how that came about was young people in
how that came about was young people in the facilities they wanted more say and
the facilities they wanted more say and
the facilities they wanted more say and more of a voice and we wanted them to
more of a voice and we wanted them to
more of a voice and we wanted them to have more of an opportunity to learn
have more of an opportunity to learn
have more of an opportunity to learn about civic participation and to be
about civic participation and to be
about civic participation and to be engaged in the community in which they
engaged in the community in which they
engaged in the community in which they lived
lived
lived and governor McAuliffe got wind of this
and governor McAuliffe got wind of this
and governor McAuliffe got wind of this and invited the founders to come down to
and invited the founders to come down to
and invited the founders to come down to meet with the governor and members of
meet with the governor and members of
meet with the governor and members of his cabinet and staff to talk about
his cabinet and staff to talk about
his cabinet and staff to talk about governance and so our kids did a
governance and so our kids did a
governance and so our kids did a PowerPoint presentation and and talked
PowerPoint presentation and and talked
PowerPoint presentation and and talked about what they wanted to do and the
about what they wanted to do and the
about what they wanted to do and the governor is chief lawyer carlos hopkins
governor is chief lawyer carlos hopkins
governor is chief lawyer carlos hopkins said well if you want your government to
said well if you want your government to
said well if you want your government to last you need to create a constitution
last you need to create a constitution
last you need to create a constitution now our kids and our facilities don’t
now our kids and our facilities don’t
now our kids and our facilities don’t come with high rates of educational
come with high rates of educational
come with high rates of educational success they all too often don’t come
success they all too often don’t come
success they all too often don’t come with a lot of confidence about what
with a lot of confidence about what
with a lot of confidence about what they’re able to do and it would have
they’re able to do and it would have
they’re able to do and it would have been so easy for them to say I’m not
been so easy for them to say I’m not
been so easy for them to say I’m not going to do that that’s too much work
going to do that that’s too much work
going to do that that’s too much work but instead they embrace the challenge
but instead they embrace the challenge
but instead they embrace the challenge and not only did they write what again I
and not only did they write what again I
and not only did they write what again I am sure is the first ever constitution
am sure is the first ever constitution
am sure is the first ever constitution crafted inside a juvenile Correctional
crafted inside a juvenile Correctional
crafted inside a juvenile Correctional Center in this country but they’ve
Center in this country but they’ve
Center in this country but they’ve embraced the role of leaders and they
embraced the role of leaders and they
embraced the role of leaders and they are actively working with the leadership
are actively working with the leadership
are actively working with the leadership at Bonaire and indeed with the agency to
at Bonaire and indeed with the agency to
at Bonaire and indeed with the agency to help us understand our work better to
help us understand our work better to
help us understand our work better to help us think about working with the
help us think about working with the
help us think about working with the young people and their families better
young people and their families better
young people and their families better they are becoming partners in the
they are becoming partners in the
they are becoming partners in the process instead of just objects of our
process instead of just objects of our
process instead of just objects of our work it’s not to say that everything’s
work it’s not to say that everything’s
work it’s not to say that everything’s perfect it’s not to say we don’t still
perfect it’s not to say we don’t still
perfect it’s not to say we don’t still have work to do lots of people have
have work to do lots of people have
have work to do lots of people have gotten on board but not everybody some
gotten on board but not everybody some
gotten on board but not everybody some people criticize us for going too far
people criticize us for going too far
people criticize us for going too far some people criticize us for not going
some people criticize us for not going
some people criticize us for not going far enough and although we’ve
far enough and although we’ve
far enough and although we’ve dramatically
dramatically
dramatically Douce the number of kids in our
Douce the number of kids in our
Douce the number of kids in our facilities there’s still too many
facilities there’s still too many
facilities there’s still too many children of color but we have done a lot
children of color but we have done a lot
children of color but we have done a lot but if Governor McAuliffe had told me
but if Governor McAuliffe had told me
but if Governor McAuliffe had told me when he appointed me said Andy this is
when he appointed me said Andy this is
when he appointed me said Andy this is what I want the agency to do I want you
what I want the agency to do I want you
what I want the agency to do I want you to lay off everybody in the facilities
to lay off everybody in the facilities
to lay off everybody in the facilities and rehire them I want you to create new
and rehire them I want you to create new
and rehire them I want you to create new college classes even though you don’t
college classes even though you don’t
college classes even though you don’t have any new money I want you to create
have any new money I want you to create
have any new money I want you to create the first-ever constitutionally based
the first-ever constitutionally based
the first-ever constitutionally based student government and create free
student government and create free
student government and create free transportation for families from across
transportation for families from across
transportation for families from across the state I want you to close facilities
the state I want you to close facilities
the state I want you to close facilities and persuade the Republicans in the
and persuade the Republicans in the
and persuade the Republicans in the General Assembly that you should be able
General Assembly that you should be able
General Assembly that you should be able to keep your money I want you to do all
to keep your money I want you to do all
to keep your money I want you to do all that within the time of my governorship
that within the time of my governorship
that within the time of my governorship which hopefully everybody knows there’s
which hopefully everybody knows there’s
which hopefully everybody knows there’s only four years and there’s an election
only four years and there’s an election
only four years and there’s an election next week if you had said that to me I
next week if you had said that to me I
next week if you had said that to me I would have said governor you’re crazy we
would have said governor you’re crazy we
would have said governor you’re crazy we can’t do that
can’t do that
can’t do that but because we had so many people
but because we had so many people
but because we had so many people working supporting partnering joining
working supporting partnering joining
working supporting partnering joining we’ve been able to do as much as we did
we’ve been able to do as much as we did
we’ve been able to do as much as we did but it’s important to remember as I tell
but it’s important to remember as I tell
but it’s important to remember as I tell this story I might be up here by myself
this story I might be up here by myself
this story I might be up here by myself but I’m truly not alone I’m here with
but I’m truly not alone I’m here with
but I’m truly not alone I’m here with the amazing people at the Department of
the amazing people at the Department of
the amazing people at the Department of Juvenile Justice who have literally shed
Juvenile Justice who have literally shed
Juvenile Justice who have literally shed blood sweat and tears to do what we’ve
blood sweat and tears to do what we’ve
blood sweat and tears to do what we’ve done so far I’m here with the governor
done so far I’m here with the governor
done so far I’m here with the governor and I’m here with members of the
and I’m here with members of the
and I’m here with members of the legislature and I’m here with people in
legislature and I’m here with people in
legislature and I’m here with people in communities across the state who are
communities across the state who are
communities across the state who are supporting what we’re doing people in
supporting what we’re doing people in
supporting what we’re doing people in various roles in the system and people
various roles in the system and people
various roles in the system and people outside the system most importantly I’m
outside the system most importantly I’m
outside the system most importantly I’m up here with my family with my wife
up here with my family with my wife
up here with my family with my wife Kelly and our kids
Kelly and our kids
Kelly and our kids sage Maya Eden and RIE who’ve also been
sage Maya Eden and RIE who’ve also been
sage Maya Eden and RIE who’ve also been part of this whether they want it to be
part of this whether they want it to be
part of this whether they want it to be or not this social change work is hard
or not this social change work is hard
or not this social change work is hard it’s left me tired it’s left me stressed
it’s left me tired it’s left me stressed
it’s left me tired it’s left me stressed it’s left me less than the father I
it’s left me less than the father I
it’s left me less than the father I would always want to be or the husband I
would always want to be or the husband I
would always want to be or the husband I should be and my wife in particular had
should be and my wife in particular had
should be and my wife in particular had to pick up all that slack
to pick up all that slack
to pick up all that slack and there was a lot and I say this not
and there was a lot and I say this not
and there was a lot and I say this not to just say thank you to you but also to
to just say thank you to you but also to
to just say thank you to you but also to let the rest of you know that this work
let the rest of you know that this work
let the rest of you know that this work is hard it’s hard not just on the people
is hard it’s hard not just on the people
is hard it’s hard not just on the people doing it it’s hard on the people they
doing it it’s hard on the people they
doing it it’s hard on the people they love which is all the more reason we
love which is all the more reason we
love which is all the more reason we need to be involved when we see good
need to be involved when we see good
need to be involved when we see good things happening as we’re discovering in
things happening as we’re discovering in
things happening as we’re discovering in our country right now progress is
our country right now progress is
our country right now progress is fragile but as we’re hopefully also
fragile but as we’re hopefully also
fragile but as we’re hopefully also coming to understand that we can’t let
coming to understand that we can’t let
coming to understand that we can’t let the problems of the day whether it’s
the problems of the day whether it’s
the problems of the day whether it’s mass incarceration or anything else be
mass incarceration or anything else be
mass incarceration or anything else be other people’s problems they belong to
other people’s problems they belong to
other people’s problems they belong to us too and the solutions to those
us too and the solutions to those
us too and the solutions to those problems must as well and when we do
problems must as well and when we do
problems must as well and when we do come together when we approach each
come together when we approach each
come together when we approach each other and our work with courage and open
other and our work with courage and open
other and our work with courage and open hearts we can become like alchemists
hearts we can become like alchemists
hearts we can become like alchemists but instead of turning straw into gold
but instead of turning straw into gold
but instead of turning straw into gold we can turn inmates into college
we can turn inmates into college
we can turn inmates into college students we can turn prisons into
students we can turn prisons into
students we can turn prisons into treatment programs across the state we
treatment programs across the state we
treatment programs across the state we can maybe even turn a traumatized
can maybe even turn a traumatized
can maybe even turn a traumatized community into a resilient and loving
community into a resilient and loving
community into a resilient and loving one it always seems impossible until
one it always seems impossible until
one it always seems impossible until it’s done thank you
it’s done thank you
it’s done thank you [Applause]
”
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