In July, the Department of Juvenile Services, under Acting Secretary Betsy Fox Tolentino, revised its ankle monitoring policy. The new policy mandates that juveniles already on a monitor who commit another crime must be held until their hearing. However, questions remain about the effectiveness and implementation of these changes.
“I’m in it. I’m trying to make changes where appropriate as fast as we can,” Tolentino said. Despite these efforts, she admitted, “I can’t give you an actual timeline” for when the results of the policy change will be evident.
Concerns have been heightened by the recent arrest of a 13-year-old involved in a series of carjackings and robberies while on an ankle monitor. Former Deputy Commissioner Jason Johnson expressed frustration, saying, “You have a 13-year-old that’s out there repeatedly committing violent felonies. And it still out on the street, with an ankle monitor that nobody’s monitoring, clearly.”
In a case that drew significant attention, police arrested five juveniles for a carjacking in Hampden, where the victim was recovering from a C-section.
“Come to find out, three of them had ankle monitors on,” the victim said.
Another incident involved a stolen car captured on video, with police audio noting, “Just ran the red light, south on Monroe. From Eagle.” Police indicated that one of the teens, a 13-year-old, may have been removed from supervision despite several arrests. The boy’s mother reportedly told police, “Apparently, after his last three arrests, they took him off the box.”
This case occurred just weeks after the Department of Juvenile Services announced the revisions to their ankle monitor policy.
The Department of Juvenile Services did not respond to a request for clarification on why the teen was removed from electronic monitoring and who is responsible for such decisions.
Meanwhile, victims continue to question the system. “Basically, they’re going in and coming out without any consequence. And I’m like, what’s the point,” one victim said.
Have a news tip? Contact Vincent Hill at Vihill@sbgtv.com.
