Drew Wilson
The Senate Criminal Justice Committee voted Monday to approve Gov. Ron DeSantis’ pick to lead the Department of Juvenile Justice.
DeSantis selected Simone Marstiller, a veteran of the Jeb Bush administration who once led the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, to head up DJJ earlier this year.
She will still have to be approved by the full Senate later this Session.
Most recently, the Liberian-born Republican worked at the Gunster law firm on issues including government affairs, ethics and elections. DeSantis released a statement on why he selected Marstiller to serve as DJJ Secretary.
“I’m a product of public service, “ Marstiller told the Senate panel. “For most of the past 20 years I’ve been in public service. What I thought was going to be my last stint in public service was as an appeals judge in Tallahassee.”
Marstiller didn’t go into detail on her vision for DJJ, but said her main goals in the position would be to “increase prevention and make sure that we’re providing the combinations of services to the children that we serve.”
Sen. Jeff Brandes, a St. Petersburg Republican, was the only committee member to question Marstiller. His queries focused on whether, and how often, DJJ uses of risk assessment tools.
Brandes is a proponent of risk assessment tools and has filed a bill (SB 534) that would allow the chief judge of each circuit to put them in place to help make pretrial release determinations for cases before their court.
“We use an assessment tool at every step along the way,” Marstiller said. “Everything we do, every decision we make, will be data driven. I see no reason to change that.”
Following the brief Q&A, Committee Chair Keith Perry called for a vote. Marstiller received unanimous approval from the panel.
