Larry Rein - SF 100

Harold Pryor, Broward County’s first black State Attorney, took office Tuesday. He promises reforms such as diversion programs for those accused of drug-related offenses or misdemeanors and the decreased prosecution of juveniles as adults. This is encouraging.  Hopefully, it will involve more than simply placing juveniles in tired, old and ineffective programs. Improving outcomes for them requires thoughtful, comprehensive and intensive attention to and support of them, and their families.  Attention that will only break cycles of abuse, violence and delinquency if it includes developing and enhancing educational and vocational skills that will enable them to become truly productive adults.