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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-16-2021 Community Justice Collaborating Council Minutes MEETING MINUTES COMMUNITY JUSTICE COLLABORATING COUNCIL September 16, 2021 8:00 AM St. Croix County Government Center -Room 1284 Government Center -1101 Carmichael Road, Hudson, Wisconsin CALL TO ORDER Honorable Judge Needham called the meeting to order at 8:01AM ROLL CALL Attendee OrganizationTitleStatusArrived Name David PetersonSt. Croix Chair, County BoardPresent County Dave OstnessSt. Croix Chair -HHSPresent County Scott KnudsonSt. Croix SheriffPresent County Scott NeedhamSt. Croix Judge -Br. III -ChairPresent County Scott L. CoxSt. Croix Corporation CounselPresent County Kristi SeversonSt. Croix Clerk of Circuit CourtPresent County Kathleen AvolesSt. Croix Bar Association RepresentativePresent County Mark LemkeSt. Croix Supervisor, Department of Present CountyCorrections Curt ThomassenSt. Croix Faith Based RepresentativePresent County Alison PageSt. Croix Medical Community Present CountyRepresentative Randy St. Croix Citizen Member Present Morrisette II County Mark Richert St. Croix Police Chiefs' Representative Present County Ken Witt St. Croix Interim County Administrator Present County Bob Feidler St. Croix Chair - PP&J Present County Agnes A. Ring St. Croix Citizen Member Excused County Susan Gherty St. Croix Municipal Court Present County Representative Bob Rohret St. Croix HHS Present County Laurie Osberg St. Croix Public Defender Present County Travis Satorius St. Croix Present County APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Community Justice Collaborating Council Regular Meeting May 13, 2021 8:00 AM The minutes of the Thursday, May 13, 2021 meeting stand approved as presented. RESULT: ACCEPTED PUBLIC COMMENT Yvonne Larsen announces there is an event next week in New Richmond - Shop with the Cops. Over 100 qualified students will participate. St. Croix County Sheriff's Department and 10 County Police Departments are involved. They take the students to Walmart shopping. Ms. Larsen also states that she is excited and hoping to be the first person joining the new Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program. Supervisor Fiedler talks about the Elder Abuse Conference that was held this week. BUSINESS ITEMS 1. Introduction of Justice Support Services Director - Susan Capparelli Judge Needham introduces Susan Capparelli, new Justice Services Director. Susan thanks everyone for their support as she learns her new role in the County. The Justice Support Department has the CJCC and its management under it's umbrella, as well as, Treatment Court and the new civilian run Day Report Center (DRC), which Susan indicates they have started calling the Justice Support Center. Judge Needham reminded the group of Susan's prior work as Director of Restorative Services in River Falls and agreed that the evolving needs of Justice Services will be a challenge and welcomed the work ahead with Susan. RESULT: DISCUSSED 2. Justice Services and Treatment Alternatives & Diversion (TAD) Grant Financial Review Susan presents to the group that all prior program financials once separated into different accounts will now come under one, Justice Support Services. The second quarter submission for TAD grant funds was submitted and we received $40,533 at the end of August. RESULT: DISCUSSED 3. Treatment Alternatives & Diversion (TAD) Grant 2022-27 Workgroup Update Judge Wateraman provides an update on the task force. They met last month to re- connect and get back on track discussing the pending TAD Grant application for 2022. Some recommendations the group came up with are to prioritize our existing programs to make sure what we are already doing now will continue to be funded. Also wish to ask for additional funding to support the CORE data entry platform area that is required by WI DOJ for all Grantees. This platform is labor and time intensive to keep up-to-date. As an example, one participant in Treatment Court would potentially have 600 data entry points for drug testing alone. And many, many hundreds more treatment contacts that are required entry areas. However, CORE is the measurement of how WI DOJ funds are being used and if TAD dollars are doing what their intended to do. Judge Waterman indicated that there was discussion about asking for larger amounts to be placed toward new initiatives and the group determined this might be a greater risk of not receiving any of the very competitive dollars. We are anticipating more entities will be applying for limited funds. We agreed as a group to be cautious. The TAD Grant has been announced and Lisa Multhauf and Kim Kitzberger are already working on it. It is due in a week. Lisa added information on what specifically will be covered in the Grant amount and informed the group that MRT will be shifting to HHS. RESULT: DISCUSSED 4. Presentation from Professor Phillip Galli - Treatment Court Process Evaluation Judge Waterman gives background on the reason for hiring Professor Galli and the current evidence-based practices of the Treatment Court in St. Croix County. Professor Galli gives his presentation on his research. Some highlights - team staffings are very thorough. The status hearings are informal and are treating the whole person. In the screenings for the participants, everyone is involved. St. ck's graduations are higher than the national average. More males participate in the program. Drug of choice is methamphetamine. Sixty percent (60%) are assessed as high-risk. Treatment court has helped avert up to one year of jail time and five years of prison time per program participant. Current data shows the average participant completes the program in 16 months, which is 25% longer than what is recommended. Professor Galli indicates this may be an area to assess for improvement. St. Croix County has an exemplary program and discussed that more complete data is important and would benefit future understanding of process improvement. Judge Needham expressed great concerns on the methamphetamine use in the county. Judge Nordstrand expressed great concern about the "new meth" here in our county which is not the meth of the past; it is extremely potent and pure. RESULT: DISCUSSED 5. St. Croix County Sheriff's Office Updates Sheriff Knudson indicates that there has been a shift on handling Huber inmates, with many other changes related to staffing shortages and the shift to civilian run operations in the DRC. The Huber population is now on electronic home monitoring. There is also alcohol monitoring for individuals serving alcohol- related charges. This allows these individuals to maintain employment, child care and other related activities. This model is followed by many other counties. These folks are still under the authority of the Sheriff's Office - simply, they are allowed to serve their sentence monitored outside of the jail. Pretrial services and those previously held in the DRC are now a joined relationship between the Sheriff's Office and the new Justice Services department. Sheriff noted that this is being worked on daily together. Judge Needham notes that the serious staffing issues and the needs of the Sheriff's Office are a concern and the support required to maintain the jail and community safety are a priority - he commends the work and undertaking and describes the new model the Susan and Justice Services are now building. Sheriff Knudson also talks about the Elder Abuse presentation - fraud cases with elderly - financial abuse. The fraud cases from January of 2020 through September 1, 2021 - 45 years of age and older there were 158 victims - scams, frauds, identity thefts. Of those 158 victims, there was - not the municipalities. RESULT: DISCUSSED 6. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Presentation Judge Waterman introduces the new Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program and Roy Sjoberg, the President of the CASA Board. Judge Waterman reflects on the past several years of work to get to the point where we have a fully functioning CASA program. A lot of time and energy by stakeholders across our system and community have come together to make it happen. Roy Sjoberg presents on the CASA program and its mission and the current status of CASA St. Croix County, to date - bylaws, articles of incorporation and much work has been completed with not only the State CASA organization but National CASA as well. An Executive Director will be hired very soon, dedicated to our County. We do expect to start serving children by January 1, 2022. Judge Waterman notes there are about 80 new child protection cases each year in St. Croix County. RESULT: DISCUSSED 7. CJCC Subcommittee Updates Judge Needham introduces the group to the subcommittees and the transitions, as well as issues with Covid and meeting, etc. and asks the Chairs of each subcommittee for their updates, if they have them. Further, Judge Needham encourages all subcommittee Chairs to reinvigorate their groups and get back to the work needed. Bob Rohret is the first to discuss the newly formed Behavioral Health Subcommittee. Bob indicates that an attempt was made to meet, however, lacked a quorum. He also wished to note that this is a critical time for the group to get together with the current funding and other priorities available to address escalating drug use. He will be attempting again this coming month to meet. Judge Waterman updated the group on the Criminal Justice Subcommittee and its forming relationship with Justice Services and the transition of Pretrial Services in the County, working closely with Susan to develop the program. Judge Nordstrand speaks on behalf of the Treatment Court Oversight Subcommittee and states that a meeting has been scheduled for next month. Judge Nordstrand took over the Treatment Court, replacing Judge Waterman, in April and is now the Chair. Judge Needham wraps up the conversation noting that his hope is that the CJCC is at the point now of "doing" and seeing action and work within each subcommittee that may be brought back to the whole, for review and commitment. RESULT: DISCUSSED REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE DOC Supervisor, Mark Lemke announces there has been a change in the Department of Corrections. They are going to hire more supervisors. There is a restructure and will follow with a new supervisor in St. Croix County. Those interviews are currently underway. Mark Lemke is leaving St. Croix County effective as quickly as mid-October and he is moving to Pierce County and Pepin County. Judge Needham thanked Mark for his years of service and dedication to St. Croix County. ADJOURN The meeting was adjourned at 9:51 AM by Judge Needham. DATE OF NEXT MEETING The next CJCC Council meeting is Thursday, November 11, 2021, 8:00 a.m., Government Center - County Board Room, in person.