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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-09-2020 Community Justice Collaborating Council Minutes MEETING MINUTES COMMUNITY JUSTICE COLLABORATING COUNCIL July 9, 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 Coronavirus 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 Patrick Thompson St. Croix County County Administrator Present David Peterson St. Croix County Chair, County Board Present Dave Ostness St. Croix County Chair - HHS Board Present Scott Knudson St. Croix County Sheriff Present Scott Needham St. Croix County Hon. Scott R. Needham, Br. III CJCCChair Present Scott L. Cox St. Croix County Corporation Counsel Remote Kristi Severson St. Croix County Clerk of Circuit Court Present Kathleen Avoles St. Croix County Bar Association Representative Present Mark Lemke St. Croix County Supervisor, Division of Community Corrections Remote Curt St. Croix Faith Based Representative Excused Thomassen County Alison Page St. Croix County Medical Community Representative Remote Randy Morrisette II St. Croix County Citizen Member Remote Mark Richert St. Croix County Police Chiefs' Representative Remote Michael Nieskes St. Croix County District Attorney - Karl Anderson proxy Present Bob Feidler St. Croix County Chair - PP&J Committee Present Agnes A. Ring St. Croix County Citizen Member Present Susan Gherty St. Croix County Municipal Court Representative Remote Bob Rohret St. Croix County Director, HHS Remote Laurie Osberg St. Croix County Regional Manager, Office of State Public Defender Remote Others present; Hon. Scott J. Nordstrand, Hon. R. Michael Waterman, Jodi Sachsenmaier, Lisa Multhauf, Kim Kitzberger, Pam Bellrichard, Mike O'Keefe, and Karl Anderson (proxy) for Michael Nieskes. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Community Justice Collaborating Council – Regular Meeting – January 16, 2020 8:00 AM Minutes of Thursday, January 16, 2020 meeting are accepted as presented. RESULT: ACCEPTED PUBLIC COMMENT BUSINESS ITEMS 1. CJCC and Treatment Alternatives & Diversion (TAD) Grant Financial Reports Mike O’Keefe, CJCC Coordinator, indicates they are on track with both budgets and are starting to work on the budgets for the 2021 TAD Grant and CJCC. He states they expect the 2021 TAD Grant will be released for submission in August/September 2020. RESULT: DISCUSSED 2. Introduction of Bob Rohret, HHS Director Bob Rohret, was introduced as the newly appointed Health & Human Services Director for St. Croix County. Mr. Rohret assumed duties on June 8, 2020 and is replacing Fred Johnson, who retired in June 2020. RESULT: DISCUSSED 3. Introduction of Adam Kastonek, Public Information Officer Adam Kastonek, was introduced as the new Public Information Officer (PIO) for St. Croix County. This is a newly created Administration Department position for the County, but he will assist in other areas as needed. Mr. Kastonek previously worked for the State of MN, IT Department. RESULT: DISCUSSED 4. Use of Video for CJCC Council Meetings Judge Needham announced that this meeting and all future CJCC meetings will be recorded on the County's MinuteTraq system and broadcast on the local River Channel. He states this will allow the public to view our meetings and promote transparency in our community justice system. RESULT: DISCUSSED 5. St. Croix County Circuit Courts Covid-19 Task Force Update Judge Needham gave an update on the process used to develop a plan to reopen St. Croix County Circuit Courts (SCCCC) for in-person jury trials. During the onset of COVID- 19 the SCCCC did not shut down, but did reduce court activities to about 25%. A decision was made to open the courts to full operations with the use of the Zoom platform. To accommodate in person jury trials a statewide task force was formed and given a two week turnaround time to develop a recommended plan. Part of this plan was to direct each county to develop their own plan and submit to the chief judge of each district for approval. There were main requirements set forth by the WI Supreme Court, anyone in court setting must wear a mask, there must be a visible means of sanitizing for persons and equipment. The SCCCC Task Force was formed and plans were approved with input from all stakeholders. A COVID-19 friendly courtroom has been established in Courtroom #1 with significant remodeling of the jury box and audience area. Jury deliberations will take place in three jury rooms or the courtroom could be used also. Judge Needham states Chief Judge Boyle commented on how thorough and well thought out our plans were. He attributes this to the cooperation received by all stakeholders. RESULT: DISCUSSED 6. CJCC Subcommittee Updates Mike O'Keefe, CJCC Coordinator gave updates on the status of each subcommittee. RESULT: DISCUSSED 7. CASA of Western Wisconsin Update Judge Waterman states CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate and over the past 3 years St. Croix County has averaged 80 new Children in Need of Protective Services (CHIPS) cases annually. The CHIPS case usually last for years and approximately 90% have ties to substance abuse. CASA would be the one reliable constant in the child's life and also provide the court with insight into the family situation. As important it would help serve as the child's voice in the courtroom. The current proposed business CASA model will have Barron County as the hub and other counties in Northwest WI CASA as the spokes. Barron County will also provide CASA services in their county. Judge Waterman, Mike O’Keefe and Sue Schwartz, Director, State of WI CASA met to discuss next steps to start this initiative in SCC. Kate Avoles asks how a presentation by a CASA worker would get into court. Judge Waterman states they could be a witness, but would report through written monthly updates and speak outside of the courtroom. RESULT: DISCUSSED 8. Stepping Up Initiative Discussion Mike O’Keefe, CJCC Coordinator states County Board Supervisor, Dan Hanson, asked of the Stepping Up Initiative could be reviewed by a CJCC Subcommittee to see if implementation is possible in St. Croix County (SCC). Judge Needham states this should be referred to the Mental Health Subcommittee. Karl Anderson, Assistant District Attorney, indicates it offers a number of services, one is free counseling sessions. Laurie Osberg states there is one in Eau Claire County and the goal is limiting the number of individuals with mental health issues going to jail. Randy Morrissette makes a motion to refer Stepping Up initiative to the Mental Health Subcommittee; seconded by Kate Avoles. Carried unanimously. RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Randy Morrisette II, Citizen Member SECONDER: Kathleen Avoles, Bar Association Representative AYES: Patrick Thompson, David Peterson, Dave Ostness, Scott Knudson, Scott Needham, Scott L. Cox, Kristi Severson, Kathleen Avoles, Mark Lemke, Alison Page, Randy Morrisette II, Mark Richert, Michael Nieskes, Bob Feidler, Agnes A. Ring, Susan Gherty, Bob Rohret, Laurie Osberg EXCUSED: Curt Thomassen 9. St. Croix County Sheriff's Office Updates Sheriff Scott Knudson states due to COVID-19 issues the St. Croix County Sheriff's Office (SCCSO) has had to change how they conducted business and housed inmates. They have had to weigh public health vs public safety issues. He states the Jail was at 126 inmates and today there are 78 inmates being held. Staff had to decide which inmates were at low risk for re-offending and put them on electronic monitoring. He states they also had to look at the high risk category and consider those with medical issues. Sheriff Knudson discussed possible expansions in the future. A jail study was completed by TLM Correctional Studies in October 2019 to project future space needs. Due to COVID-19 and the lack of adequate space at the Day Report Center (DRC) they had to move to the New Richmond Services Center. The DRC staff is now working out of a construction trailer while the addition to the physical building is taking place. The number of people reporting to the DRC for services is picking up. In June they still had a 90% compliance rate. Sheriff Knudson discussed the current project of 9 special need cells in the gymnasium area. They are on track to be completed in November, 2020. There is exercise equipment in place for inmates. He states a 2nd natural disaster was recently declared and we need to be aware of the civil unrest in Minneapolis, MN. Sheriff Kundson wanted the group to know that choke holds and strangle holds are not allowed to be used by police in Wisconsin. He states we do use Crisis Intervention Training as a part of our de-escalation training and follow best practice standards. Sheriff Knudson also reviewed #8CANTWAIT as a means to bring immediate change to police departments. RESULT: DISCUSSED 10. St. Croix County District Attorney's Office Updates Karl Anderson, Assistant District Attorney (ADA), states they are planning a presentation with the Department of Health & Human Services and, Department of Justice on elder abuse. There has been no definite date set yet due to COVID-19 restrictions, but when one is confirmed it will be advertised. Judge Needham recommended including vulnerable adult abuse in this seminar due to the same types of risks and vulnerability they exhibit. ADA Anderson states we can help prevent people with mental illness from going to jail by utilizing the Community Support System (CSP). RESULT: DISCUSSED REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE Chief of Police Mark Richert expressed thanks the Sheriff’s Office and Judge Needham for their regular communication on COVID-19 changes to the court system, jail and civil unrest situations. ADJOURN Judge Needham adjourned the meeting at 9:25 a.m. DATE OF NEXT MEETING The next CJCC Council meeting is Thursday, September 10, 2020, 8:00 a.m., Government Center - County Board room. The next CJCC Executive Committee meeting is Thursday, August 27, 2020, 12:00 p.m. Government Center - County Board room.