HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-09-2019 Community Justice Collaborating Council Minutes
MEETING MINUTES
COMMUNITY JUSTICE COLLABORATING COUNCIL
May 9, 2019 8:00 AM
County Board Room-Government Center
County Board Room - 1101 Carmichael Road, Hudson,
Wisconsin
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
Attendee
Name
Organization Title Status Arrived
Fred Johnson St. Croix
County
Director, Health & Human
Services
Present
Patrick
Thompson
St. Croix
County
County Administrator Present
Roger Larson St. Croix
County
County Board Chair Present
Dave Ostness St. Croix
County
Supervisor, Chair of HHS Board Present
Scott Knudson St. Croix
County
Sheriff Present
Scott
Needham
St. Croix
County
Hon. Scott R. Needham, 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 Excused
Mark Lemke St. Croix
County
Supervisor, Div. of Community
Corrections
Present
Curt
Thomassen
St. Croix
County
Faith Based Representative Present
Alison Page St. Croix
County
Medical Community
Representative
Present
Randy
Morrisette II
St. Croix
County
Citizen Member Present
Mark Richert St. Croix
County
Police Chiefs' Representative Present
Brian Smestad St. Croix
County
Attorney Manager, Office of
State Public Defender
Present
Michael
Nieskes
St. Croix
County
District Attorney Present
Agnes A. Ring St. Croix
County
Citizen Member Present
Andy
Brinkman
St. Croix
County
Supervisor,PP& J Chair Present
Also present; Hon. Scott J. Nordstrand, Hon. R. Michael Waterman, Pam Bellrichard, Lisa
Multhauf, Mike O'Keefe, Steve T'Kach, Chris Drost, Tim Heckmann, Phil Landgraf, Kevin
Hamlin, and Tina Sitz.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Community Justice Collaborating Council – Regular Meeting – March 14, 2019 8:00
AM
Minutes for March 14, 2019 were accepted.
RESULT: ACCEPTED
PUBLIC COMMENT
BUSINESS ITEMS
1. CJCC and Treatment Alternatives & Diversion (TAD) Grant Budgets Review
Mike O'Keefe, CJCC Coordinator, announced the CJCC and Treatment Alternatives &
Diversion (TAD) budgets are within guidelines and we should receive reimbursement for
the 1st quarter of the TAD grant very soon.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
2. Veterans Justice Outreach Program Presentation
David Holewinski of the Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) Program, Minneapolis VA,
discussed the possibility of providing services to individuals in the St. Croix County Jail
that are identified as serving in the armed forces of the United States. He also discussed
the Washington County Veteran's Program and how it operates. Oversight for this
program is provided by the District Attorney's Office. Some of the services that the
Minneapolis VA can provide is Strength at Home - domestic violence - 24 hour group
based program and 16 hours of individual risk assessment before and after. Domestic
violence victims are offered support services as well. Judge Needham proposes a
concept like this should be modeled in St. Croix County if the District Attorney's Office is
in support. The County Veteran's Service Officer (CVSO) has a lot of interest in this type
of program and will provide input as requested.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
3. Treatment Alternatives & Diversion (TAD) Grant Program Updates
Mike O'Keefe, CJCC Coordinator, reports they have hired a .5 FTE Treatment Court
and Diversion Programs Support Specialist funded by the Treatment Alternatives &
Diversion (TAD) grant. The name of the employee is Jodi Tedone.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
4. Day Report Center Site Visit by Dunn and Polk Counties Update
Judge Waterman gave an update on the St. Croix County (SCC) Day Report Center
(DRC) visit by Dunn and Polk Counties. Both Counties are interested in starting a
similar type of program and wanted to see firsthand how SCC's DRC operates and
how procedures were developed.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
5. Polk County CJCC Update
Mike O'Keefe, CJCC Coordinator, reports that Polk County has hired Kristin Boland as
their CJCC Coordinator. Through a resolution Polk County is funding the CJCC
Coordinator's position.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
6. St. Croix County Sheriff's Office Updates
Judge Needham welcomes Chris Drost, recently appointed Jail Captain. Sheriff Knudson
gave an update from the most recent County Board Meeting where a proposal for a
remodeling project was sent back to committee for more study and input. The purpose
of this request to attempt to safely and securely meet the needs of inmates in the jail
that exhibit mental health issues. Judge Needham believes the presentation to the
County Board was well received. Sheriff Knudson announced that next week is National
Law Enforcement Memorial week.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
7. CJCC Subcommittee Updates
Judge Nordstrand gave an update on the goals of the Criminal Justice Subcommittee.
The Day Report Center statistics and challenges were discussed. Judge Nordstrand states
AODA assessment fees will be reviewed by subcommittee. The Community Engagement
Subcommittee update was given by Judge Waterman. He reported on the status of the
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) grant application which included St. Croix
County and explained how they would interact in CHIPS cases. He also reported that out
of home placements are rising and the goal is to provide permanent, stable housing for
children. The CASA representative would do regular home visits and personal contacts
with the children and then send reports to the court, both in writing and in person as
required. Studies have shown when CASA is involved in cases children are spending less
time in the foster care system. This translates into fewer placements and cost savings.
The consensus of the group is to move forward with the process of starting a CASA
program in St. Croix County (SCC) if grant funding becomes available. The CASA
representative does not take the place of the Guardian Ad Litem or the assigned social
worker. There is in-depth background check conducted for all volunteers as well as a 30
hour training session. Fred Johnson gave updates on the Mental Health and Substance
Abuse subcommittees. The subcommittees did not meet in April, but will meet in May.
The focus continues to be early intervention strategies. The Mental Health Subcommittee
reorganized and we initiated a conversation about priorities. We will bring these back to
the CJCC for approval. The Domestic Violence/Family Issues Subcommittee update was
given by Mike O’Keefe. He states that Judge Vlack is working on a DV court calendar and
will update the group at the next CJCC meeting.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE
Fred Johnson states St. Croix County Health and Human Services is involved as a partner in an
application for a Federal Child Abuse Prevention grant. The grant is a follow up from one
submitted last year, which they did not receive. The partners in this grant process have taken a
different approach and hope they can submit a competitive application outlining early
intervention and prevention strategies of child abuse and neglect. This is a multi-county grant
application and would go along way in helping our foster care situation in the future.
ADJOURN
Judge Needham adjourned the meeting at 9:24 a.m.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next CJCC Council meeting is Thursday, July 18, 2019, 8:00 a.m., Government Center -
County Board room. The next CJCC Executive Subcommittee meeting is Thursday, May 23, 2019,
12:00 p.m. Government Center - Administration Conference room -1411.