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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-10-2020 Community Justice Collaborating Council Minutes MEETING MINUTES COMMUNITY JUSTICE COLLABORATING COUNCIL September 10, 2020 8:00 AM Room 1284-County Board Room St. Croix County Government Center - Room 1284 - Government Center - 1101 Carmichael Road, Hudson, Wisconsin NOTICE Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, CJCC Council members are encouraged to attend the meeting via the use of technology utilizing the Zoom platform. CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL Attendee Name Organization Title Status Arrived David Peterson St. Croix County Supervisor, County Board Chair Present Dave Ostness St. Croix County Supervisor, Chair - HHS Present Scott Knudson St. Croix County Sheriff Present Scott Needham St. Croix County Hon. Scott R. Needham, Br. III - Chair Present Scott L. Cox St. Croix County Corporation Counsel Present Kristi Severson St. Croix County Clerk of Circuit Court Present Kathleen Avoles St. Croix County Bar Association Representative- Kyle Schaffer proxy Present Mark Lemke St. Croix County Supervisor, Division of Community Corrections Present Curt Thomassen St. Croix County Faith Based Representative Remote Alison Page St. Croix Medical Community Remote County Representative Randy Morrisette II St. Croix County Citizen Member Remote Mark Richert St. Croix County Police Chiefs' Representative- Gordon Young - proxy Remote Ken Witt St. Croix County Interim County Administrator Present Michael Nieskes St. Croix County District Attorney Present Bob Feidler St. Croix County Supervisor, Chair - PP&J Present Agnes A. Ring St. Croix County Citizen Member Excused Susan Gherty St. Croix County Municipal Court Representative Present Bob Rohret St. Croix County HHS Director - Julie Krings - proxy Remote Laurie Osberg St. Croix County Regional Attorney Manager, OSPD Excused Other CJCC Advisory Members present; Hon. Scott J. Nordstrand, Hon. R. Michael Waterman, Alena Taylor, Kris Anderson, Kristin DePrey, Lisa Multhauf, Tim Heckmann, Pam Bellrichard, Phil Landgraf, Susan Capparelli,, Tina Sitz and Mike O'Keefe. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Community Justice Collaborating Council – Regular Meeting – July 9, 2020 8:00 AM Minutes of July 9, 2020 were accepted as presented. RESULT: ACCEPTED PUBLIC COMMENT BUSINESS ITEMS 1. Introduction of Interim County Administrator - Ken Witt Judge Needham introduced Ken Witt who has been appointed as the Interim County Administrator due to the resignation of Pat Thompson. Ken has worked for Wisconsin government for over 20 years and looks forward to being part of CJCC. RESULT: DISCUSSED 2. CJCC & Treatment Alternatives & Diversion (TAD) Financial Reports Mike O’Keefe, CJCC Coordinator, states the CJCC budget is on track. He states the Treatment Alternatives & Diversion (TAD) budget is also on track and we receive revenue reimbursements on a quarterly basis from the WI Department of Justice (DOJ). RESULT: DISCUSSED 3. Treatment Alternatives & Diversion (TAD) Grant Update Kim Kitzberger, Treatment Court Coordinator, states they are currently in the 4th year of a 5 year grant cycle. She states the ability to do drug testing for Treatment Court participants with the Day Report Center (DRC) has been a challenge during the pandemic. There are currently some unencumbered funds are available through the Treatment Alternatives & Diversion (TAD) grant and a proposal was made to the Sheriff's Office for additional support staff at the DRC to increase the frequency of testing. This proposal would support a civilian contracted worker and the position would be called a Pre-Trial Specialist. This position would act in support of DRC deputies and perform duties as needed. If approved by the WI Department of Justice (DOJ) the plan is to start this position on January 1, 2021 with funding sources to include the TAD Grant, Treatment Court, and additional County monies totaling approximately $72,000. This contracted position would be placed under the fiscal management of the CJCC. Lisa Multhauf states planning for the next competitive cycle for the TAD Grant (2022 - 2027) will begin in early 2021. She states they are continuing a Case Management Specialist position in District Attorney's Office funded by the TAD Grant. Mike O’Keefe states the Pre-Trial Specialist civilian position may have a background in social work or AODA which would help with referral work. Lisa Multhauf thanked Cathy Borgschatz, Kim Kitzberger and the Sheriff's Department for collaborating on this project. Judge Needham indicates that COVID essentially shut down the DRC for a time and suspended testing. They have now come up with innovative ways to assist individuals with chronic AODA needs. Judge Needham states they moved the DRC to the Service Center in New Richmond for a time and then reopened in Hudson in a construction trailer. During this time it was taking more time for the deputies to hook up SCRAM units and develop other ways to test individuals. This Pretrial Specialist position will be a win-win for everyone. Judge Needham states In 2022 it becomes a open competitive process for TAD Grants around the State. . There are 72 counties in the mix for a defined amount of funding. Judge Needham thanks all involved. Judge Waterman discussed a recently released DOJ report on recidivism rates and the effectiveness of TAD programs around the State of WI. He states there is a direct correlation between money spent and benefits to taxpayers as offenders are diverted to programming instead of jail. Judge Needham states he has seen about a half a dozen cases of people on pre-trial release show up at DRC and test positive, but at least they came in knowing they might be subjected to bail jumping charges. He states it is obvious they need to address their addictions and are referred to the stabilization program at the Services Center in New Richmond. RESULT: DISCUSSED 4. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Update - Hon. R. Michael Waterman Judge Waterman states there was a CASA Steering Committee meeting in August. We have an MOU drafted for purposes for CASA functioning, but it needs to be modified for St. Croix County. Judge Waterman states he met with Mike O'Keefe and hopefully will complete the MOU in the next month or so and we may start recruiting and training volunteers in early 2021. Judge Needham states Barron County is the regional hub for CASA of Western WI. We will have our own CASA supervisor, but will remain under the guidance of the CASA Executive Director. He states the numbers of children with issues keeps growing and they need that support of a CASA worker. Supervisor Feidler asked if there are other counties that use social workers for this task. Judge Needham states St. Croix, Barron, Polk and Burnett would be the four in this region CASA workers are volunteers, not paid social workers. RESULT: DISCUSSED 5. CJCC Subcommittee Updates Judge Nordstrand, Chair, Criminal Justice Subcommittee states one tool that is available is the use of sober living houses in St. Croix County. There is Onyx Sober Living in New Richmond and Somerset. He states it is an eye opening experience for people and these houses are used as a transition tool. He states he would like to work with this provider and other providers to increase capacity around areas of the county. People in recovery normally stay in sober houses a minimum of four months or longer; usually 6 months to a year. Judge Nordstrand states it might be a possibility to stay some jail time for participation in a recovery setting like this. He states the DOC uses sober living houses and helps pay for the first months rent which is around $500. Judge Nordstrand states at this time there are 20-30 beds for both men and women available. He states it may require some thought on part of the County concerning regulatory matters. Mike O’Keefe gave an update on the Mental Health Subcommittee and the new HHS Director, Bob Rohret. Medicaid reimbursement rates continues to be a barrier to any private entity building a facility that will hold emergency detention people in our geographic area. . Julie Krings, HHS states a technical assistance grant was applied for by HHS called the Hub and Spoke Grant and if awarded it would assist with connecting people with substance use disorders to appropriate treatment as soon as possible. Judge Needham states defendants with mental health concerns and in need of an evaluation are being held 6-8 weeks to get them to Mendota or another mental health facility. Supervisor Feidler asked about building a mental health hospital that is closer to this side of the state. Judge Needham indicates this is a legislative and executive level decision. Alison Page discussed the consortium of six hospitals that make up the St. Croix Valley Co-Op. If a hospital was built it would lose ½ million dollars a year. She states a venture like this would have to involve buy in from other counties. The hospital feels they cannot do this by themselves and need counties and state support. RESULT: DISCUSSED 6. St. Croix Valley Restorative Services Update Susan Capparelli states that many Restorative Services contracts have been re-signed. The River Falls School system is moving away from hard line disciplinary actions towards a restorative model. She states she was ready to hire more staff and therapists, but then COVID hit. She had to quickly change things, but she has not laid off one person. Jacob Otis was hired to manage some of the workload and is doing a great job. Ms. Capparelli states contracts continue and counseling services were already being done by tele- health. Mike O’Keefe asks what Circuit Court Commissioner Heckmann is working on with Jacob Otis and she states it is to remove barriers and other options for parenting classes online. RESULT: DISCUSSED 7. St. Croix County Circuit Court In-Person Court Appearances Update Judge Needham gives an update on in-person court appearance as it relates to COVID- 19 issues. He states on July 1st we started jury trials in Courtroom 1. Juror feedback has been good to date and they state they feel they are in a safe environment. Judge Needham states we have a large number of people that do not want to be on a jury and the County Board room is the only room that can hold the needed number of potential jurors. We are trying to work with the County to utilize the County Board Room from 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. when there is a jury trial scheduled. He states the Courts have given attorneys a two week cut-off for jury trials. He states the Judges will prioritize the jury trials and maintain a list. The day to day Court operations are back 75% to 80% in person. Some are still being held through Zoom. The biggest challenge is for the court reporters and the ability to understand people when they are wearing a mask. Witnesses in proceedings can remove their mask when giving testimony. The State has determined that judges and court reporters cannot travel. Judge Nordstrand states there has been a $300,000 update in audio/visual equipment that were approved for the Courts. He states we are in the process in making changes and electrical updates are necessary to hang new televisions as part of upgrades. Sheriff Knudson says there are challenges in the jail finding space to have video conferencing at the same time with different counties. RESULT: DISCUSSED 8. St. Croix County Sheriff's Office Updates Sheriff Scott Knudson states they have 18 Huber inmates; 12 of them are on electronic monitoring and the remaining 6 are currently in the Huber dorm because of lack of a job or because they could not follow rules. He does not have the Day Report Center (DRC) numbers from August because they are in a transitional stage. Sheriff Knudson discussed the DRC addition and that it was paid for through the jail assessment fee. These fees are generated from each citation issued and funds can only be used for bricks and mortar. They are still working on the special needs cells in the jail and should be completed and operational by November 2020. Sheriff Knudson showed a time lapsed video of the building of the special needs cells. Mike O’Keefe asked about how often inmates in observation status are seen and what kind of psychological services are going to be offered. Sheriff Knudson states the padded cell is a cool down cell and is monitored at a minimum of every 15 minutes. In the special needs cell area the mental health nurse will have an office to interview inmates. She is currently onsite 3 days a week. Sheriff Knudson states the special needs cell are can be a male/female mixed population, but will be segregated by gender. RESULT: DISCUSSED REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE ADJOURN Judge Needham adjourned the meeting at 9:17 a.m. DATE OF NEXT MEETING Thursday, November 12, 2020, 8:00 a.m., Government Center - County Board room (Zoom platform available)