Department of Juvenile Justice Secretary Anthony J. Schembri last month told a Florida newspaper: "I am developing an organization that values youth and will be accountable - from the line staff to the top. Anyone not meeting this standard will not be part of our team."
Schembri is acting as though he meant it. This week, he fired the superintendent of the Miami juvenile jail in which 17-year-old Omar Paisley died last year from medical neglect. The superintendent, brought in after the Paisley tragedy, had not moved quickly enough, in Schembri's view, to make needed changes in crucial areas such as protecting youths with health problems.
Can it be that Florida finally has a juvenile-justice leader whose actions are as strong as his rhetoric?
The firing, announced Monday, is only the latest decisive move from the DJJ secretary. Since taking the helm only four months ago, Schembri has cracked down on the use of improper restraints, instituted surprise inspections, created a medical services unit and implemented other important reforms.
His vigor is a refreshing change. The man Schembri replaced, former DJJ chief Bill Bankhead, was often criticized, with good reason, for tolerating incompetence and worse in those charged with housing and guarding Florida's juveniles. Schembri seems to have little patience for that old DJJ culture - and, so far at least, seems determined to usher in a more humane system.
