An advocate for juvenile justice

Saturday, February 18, 2006

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Dianna Matthews' son died in a detention center in 2003.

People across the state are talking about a videotape showing guards at a Panama City juvenile detention boot camp restraining a 14-year-old just prior to his death.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement tape, which was released Friday, shows Martin Anderson surrounded by several guards. Some people believe the guards struck Anderson, possibly contributing to his death, but a county medical examiner concluded Anderson died from a pre-existing medical condition.

When Dianna Matthews saw the video, her thoughts turned to her son.

"Seeing my son all over again and worse," Matthews said.

In May of 2003, 17-year-old Danny Matthews was being held at the Pinellas Regional Juvenile Detention Center. According to an internal investigation, a trainee detention worker mistakenly opened Matthews and another inmate's cells. Once out, the two boys fought and Matthews was killed.

Since her son's death, Matthews has become an advocate for juvenile detention center reform.

"We don't have enough staff, " Matthews said. "We don't have enough blankets, we don't have enough mental health. We don't have enough training."

Matthews is working closely with justiceforkids.org, an advocate for youth and parents who have to deal with any aspect of the juvenile system.

"They put these staff out to be handling these kids when they are not completely trained for all aspects of the duty," volunteer Cathy Corry said.

Corry and Matthews are applauding the Department of Justice for investigating Anderson's death. As a mother still recovering from her son's death, Matthew's heart is going out to Anderson's mother.

Danny Matthews was 17 when he died.

"She doesn't even know," Matthews said. "She hasn't even felt the pain that is going to hit her."

The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice's response to the boot camp said, "The law enforcement investigation is ongoing and DJJ continues to fully support their efforts. The videotape and medical examiner report will be thoroughly reviewed by DJJ staff and will be used as a part of DJJ's ongoing inspector investigation into our boot camp programs."