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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-12-2020 Community Justice Collaborating Council Minutes MEETING MINUTES COMMUNITY JUSTICE COLLABORATING COUNCIL November 12, 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 and Advisory 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 Chair, County Board Present Dave Ostness St. Croix County Chair - HHS Board Excused 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 Remote Kristi Severson St. Croix County Clerk of Circuit Court Remote Kathleen Avoles St. Croix County Bar Association Representative Excused Mark Lemke St. Croix County Supervisor, Division of Community Corrections Remote 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 Present Mark Richert St. Croix County Police Chiefs' Representative Present Ken Witt St. Croix County Interim County Administrator Present Michael Nieskes St. Croix County District Attorney Remote Bob Feidler St. Croix County Chair - PP&J Committee Present Agnes A. Ring St. Croix County Citizen Member Remote Susan Gherty St. Croix County Municipal Court Representative Excused Bob Rohret St. Croix County Director, HHS Remote Laurie Osberg St. Croix County Regional Manager, Office of State Public Defender Remote Also present; Hon. Scott J. Nordstrand, Hon. R. Michael Waterman, Kimberly Kitzberger, Kris Anderson, Kristin DePrey, Lisa Multhauf, Lisa Plunkett, Matt Zabel, Michelle Leccia, Mike O'Keefe, Phil Landgraf, Rebecca Schultz, Susan Capparelli, Tim Heckmann, Tina Sitz, Yvonne Larson, Cathy Borgschatz, Sharlene Lopez, Karl Anderson, Judy Achterhof and Phillip Galli. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Community Justice Collaborating Council Regular Meeting September 10, 2020 8:00 AM Minutes of Thursday, September 10, 2020 stand as presented by Judge Needham. Motion by Dave Peterson. Second by Bob Feidler. Motion carried unanimously. RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: David Peterson, Chair, County Board SECONDER: Bob Feidler, Chair - PP&J Committee AYES: David Peterson, Scott Knudson, Scott Needham, Scott L. Cox, Kristi Severson, Mark Lemke, Curt Thomassen, Alison Page, Randy Morrisette II, Mark Richert, Ken Witt, Michael Nieskes, Bob Feidler, Agnes A. Ring, Bob Rohret, Laurie Osberg EXCUSED: Dave Ostness, Kathleen Avoles, Susan Gherty PUBLIC COMMENT BUSINESS ITEMS 1. CJCC and Treatment Alternatives & Diversion (TAD) Grant Financial Review grant. They will receive one more payment, probably in February to close out the 2020 TAD Grant. RESULT: DISCUSSED 2. CJCC and Treatment Alternatives & Diversion (TAD) Grant 2021 Budget Review position in the Day Report Center (DRC). Part of the funding is from the TAD grant, Treatment Court funds, and a portion from County resources. Judge Needham states hiring a civilian worker for the DRC will help with daily duties and it will continue to be fe states next year is the last year of our 5 year TAD grant cycle. We will need to apply for an additional 5 years in 2021 for the period 2022-27. Judge Needham asks for a motion to accept the 2021 CJCC & TAD grant budget. Motion by Randy Morrissette to accept the budgets. Second by Bob Fiedler. Motion carried unanimously. RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Randy Morrisette II, Citizen Member SECONDER: Bob Feidler, Chair - PP&J Committee AYES: David Peterson, Scott Knudson, Scott Needham, Scott L. Cox, Kristi Severson, Mark Lemke, Curt Thomassen, Alison Page, Randy Morrisette II, Mark Richert, Ken Witt, Michael Nieskes, Bob Feidler, Agnes A. Ring, Bob Rohret, Laurie Osberg EXCUSED: Dave Ostness, Kathleen Avoles, Susan Gherty 3. Treatment Alternatives & Diversion (TAD) Grant Update budget for 2021. Lisa Multauf discussed the 2021 TAD budget and procedures. She states we will work with the Day Report Center (DRC) to get testing UA testing back to previous levels. Ms. Multhauf states MRT groups are being held via Zoom and clients are getting used to that platform. Kim Kitzberger states we are proposing using excess TAD grant funds for a progress and outcomes evaluation for Treatment Court and the Diversion Program. The 2021 grant has been approved and awarded to the County. Judge Needham states 2021 is the last year in the current grant cycle and he hopes the legislature will approve monies for TAD going forward, as well as increase funding. He states the WI Department of Justice (DOJ) should recognize the benefits of continuing to fund these types of programs. Judge Needham states he believes all 72 counties will be applying for TAD funds in the next competitive grant cycle and believes making a presentation that catches their eye will be important. At the next CJCC Executive meeting, Judge Needham will suggest getting a jump on the next grant and form a subcommittee. Supervisor Fiedler thinks a subcommittee should be appointed and asks the grant in August or September of 2021 year, but could be earlier. RESULT: DISCUSSED 4. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Update Judge Waterman states we need to work out details on how to participate in a regional Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) model. CASA of Western Wisconsin is insisting we participate in a regional model and Barron County is the regional hub. CASA of Western Wisconsin does not have a blueprint to follow and we are left to come up with the terms and details ourselves to join with Barron County. A Board meeting was held with the CASA of Western WI. After the meeting they met with an accountant for CASA of Western Wisconsin and they are still looking for more guidance on how to interface with St. Croix County. Once they get more information they will evaluate and present to CASA of Western Wisconsin. Judge Needham states he has been frustrated with CASA and the need to join a regional model without details being presented in advance. The Judges are not going to approve the allocation of funding until there is a structure on how the funds will be used. RESULT: DISCUSSED 5. CJCC Subcommittee Updates Susan Capparelli gave an update for the CJCC Community Engagement Subcommittee and states they will focus on CASA when it is referred to them. Judge Nordstrand gave updates for the CJCC Criminal Justice Subcommittee. He discussed risk assessment issues that were raised and possible solutions. They have also been looking for alternatives for those suffering from various forms of substance abuse and to look at a more holistic approach. There are a limited number of resources and options for the day to day substance abuse victims. Judge Nordstrand states there has been positive input from complete pretrial risk assessments on felony level cases. He is finding cases involving drugs, specifically methamphetamine tend to have higher risk scores than others. He states the risk assessment is looking at the likelihood that a defendant will return for court dates and the possibility they will involve themselves in criminal activities while out on bail or bond. Judge Needham states that there is hope to roll out a more simplified tool called the Public Safety Assessment (PSA). With the PSA, you do not have to interview the person and it relies on static information. Mike O'Keefe states Dane County has started a pre-trial supervision program and they are using the PSA.. He states these assessments can be useful and Agnes Ring requests examples. The pretrial risk assessments are all about bail and bond conditions while factoring in public safety concerns. Mike O Subcommitte and states the next meeting is in December. Chief Richert gave an update on the Lethality Assessment Program (LAP) and states not all agencies are using it. At this time only Hudson and New Richmond are trained to use it. Judge Needham states he has had hearings where the LAP has been completed and finds it useful. The Sheriff's Department is also trained in use of the LAP. Bob Rohret, Chair of the Mental Health Subcommittee introduced Sharlene Lopez. Ms. Lopez began a week ago and is assuming duties as the Behavioral Health Administrator. She has experience in behavioral health and worked with the Minnesota Department of Corrections. Mr. Rohret would like subcommittees formed to look at restructuring behavioral health services. He states WI is in the early stages of making similar efforts to those of MN. He states treating addiction should be like treating any other disease. The HHS Department applied for behavioral health home pilot program grant but we were not selected. Those efforts will continue and we will explore to see how similar efforts are working in other parts of the state. The Mental Health Subcommittee is looking into emergency psychiatric services and the continued lack of available beds in our area. Judge Waterman discussed the proposed evaluation and outcome study. The Treatment Court compiles data on how many hours in treatment, how many times went to an AA meetings, how many times they were given incentives, etc. UWRF has agreed to look at the data and give a report. The second update is in regards to COVID-19. A lot of participants have struggled during COVID-19 and Treatment Court staff manages to come up with creative solutions for the participants. Judge Waterman complimented Kim Kitzberger and Tina Sitz for their work and that of other members of the Team. RESULT: DISCUSSED 6. CJCC Executive Committee - At Large Member Appointment Judge Needham states the CJCC Executive Committee has five members, one is an at- large member. Michael Nieskes will be retiring and giving up his office as of January 4, 2021. Karl Anderson will be taking over as District Attorney at that time and there will be a vacancy on the CJCC Executive Committee . Michael Nieskes nominates Karl Anderson to assume the position of at-large member. Motion made by David Peterson to appoint Karl Anderson. Second by Bob Feidler. Motion is carried unanimously. RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: David Peterson, Chair, County Board SECONDER: Bob Feidler, Chair - PP&J Committee AYES: David Peterson, Scott Knudson, Scott Needham, Scott L. Cox, Kristi Severson, Mark Lemke, Curt Thomassen, Alison Page, Randy Morrisette II, Mark Richert, Ken Witt, Michael Nieskes, Bob Feidler, Agnes A. Ring, Bob Rohret, Laurie Osberg EXCUSED: Dave Ostness, Kathleen Avoles, Susan Gherty 7. Circuit Court Updates Judge Needham states they are in the process of completing courtroom technical upgrades. Judge Nordstrand thanks Jim Elsbury and John Allegro for all of their assistance with upgrades to Courtroom #1. He states the audio/visual capabilities are being done on a courtroom by courtroom basis and the whole system has changed to a server-based system. This system will allow expansion in the future, if needed. He states jury trials continue to be conducted in Courtroom #1. Judge Needham states one of our local public defenders has resigned and they are now down to 2 public defenders. They have been working diligently to recruit and train new public defenders. RESULT: DISCUSSED 8. St. Croix County Sheriff's Office Updates Sheriff Scott Knudson states the Day Report Center (DRC) has moved into their new addition. The DRC numbers were 331 the month of October ; 288 were on bond; 14 were on huber, 15 were in treatment; average drug tests were 27; and phone contact were 283. When someone goes to court they are required to get mug shots and prints. This is completed by staff at the DRC. They have had 56 DNA collections and 62 public finger print requests. Sheriff Knudson states of the violations for October only 1 person violated with THC. He states THC doesn't seem to be the drug of choice, it is methamphetamine. He states Kris Anderson has been named the permanent Jail Captain and we welcome her to this position. Sheriff Knudson states the special needs cells have been completed and yesterday we received approval of occupancy from the state jail inspector. The population of the Jail is about 100 and some inmates were housed in the Barron County Jail during our construction period. RESULT: DISCUSSED 9. 2021 CJCC Council & Executive Committee Meetings Schedule Mike O'Keefe states in the packet is a 2021 Calendar for CJCC meetings. RESULT: DISCUSSED REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE Judge Needham recognized Mike Nieskes who will be relocating to North Carolina and thanks him for his service to this group and to this County. He has been a valuable resource to the Judges and wishes him well. Mike Nieskes thanks everyone on the committee and the public members that participate in the great collaboration in this County. He thanks the Courts and committee members. ADJOURN Judge Needham adjourned the meeting at 9:23 a.m. DATE OF NEXT MEETING Thursday, January 14, 2021, 8:00 a.m., Government Center-County Board room (1284) and via Zoom.