HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-12-2019 Community Justice Collaborating Council Minutes
MEETING MINUTES
COMMUNITY JUSTICE COLLABORATING COUNCIL
September 12, 2019 8:00 AM
Room 1284-County Board Room
Government Center - 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
County Board Supervisor, HHS
Chair
Present
Scott Knudson St. Croix
County
Sheriff Present
Scott
Needham
St. Croix
County
Hon. Scott R. Needham, Br. III,
CJCC 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, Division of
Community Corr.
Present
Curt
Thomassen
St. Croix
County
Faith Based Representative Excused
Alison Page St. Croix
County
Medical Community
Representative
Present
Randy
Morrisette II
St. Croix
County
Citizen Member Excused
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
Bob Feidler St. Croix
County
County Board Supervisor, PP&J
Chair
Present
Agnes A. Ring St. Croix
County
Citizen Member Present
Also present; Hon. Scott J. Nordstrand, Hon. R. Michael Waterman, Chris Drost, Kim
Kitzberger, Kristin DePrey, Mike O'Keefe, Pam Bellrichard, Rebecca Schultz, Susan
Capparelli, Phillip Galli, Tim Heckmann and Jodi Sachsenmaier.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Community Justice Collaborating Council – Regular Meeting – July 18, 2019 8:00 AM
Minutes of July 18, 2019 were accepted as presented.
RESULT: ACCEPTED
PUBLIC COMMENT
BUSINESS ITEMS
1. CJCC and Treatment Alternatives & Diversion (TAD) Financial Review
Mike O’Keefe, CJCC Coordinator, states the CJCC and Treatment Alternatives and
Diversion (TAD) budgets are within guidelines for 2019 and we are working on 2020
budget.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
2. Update on Treatment Alternatives & Diversion (TAD) 2020 Grant Application
Mike O’Keefe, CJCC Coordinator, states the Treatment Alternatives and Diversion (TAD)
grant for 2020 has been submitted to the WI Department of Justice (DOJ). St. Croix
County receives approximately $146,000/yr from the TAD grant and this amount is based
on a five year non-competitive grant cycle. Kim Kitzberger, Treatment Court
Coordinator, states we plan to restructure the TAD grant and request a ½ time COMPAS
assessor and ½ time treatment court support position. The grant also supports a 1.0 FTE
Diversion Program Case Management Specialist position. Kim states the Day Report
Center (DRC) is also directly impacted by Treatment Court participants required to take
UA's as part of their treatment. There was TAD expansion funds available in the
Governor's 2020 budget and St. Croix County is requesting funding to support an
Intoxicated Driver's Intervention Program (IDIP) case manager. This program would be
managed in the District Attorney's Office. The target group for this program is OWI 2nd,
3rd, and possible 4th convictions. There will be a lot of statewide competition for these
funds and priority will be given to those counties not currently receiving TAD funding.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
3. CJCC & Treatment Alternatives & Diversion (TAD) 2020 Budget Approval Process
Mike O’Keefe, CJCC Coordinator states approval is needed to give the Executive
Subcommittee the authority to approve the proposed budgets for the 2020 CJCC and
Treatment Alternatives and Diversion (TAD) grant. There was a motion by Dave Ostness;
seconded by Fred Johnson, to give authority to the CJCC Executive Subcommittee to
approve both budgets. The motion carried unanimously.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
AYES: Fred Johnson, Patrick Thompson, Roger Larson, Dave Ostness, Scott
Knudson, Scott Needham, Scott L. Cox, Kristi Severson, Mark Lemke, Alison Page,
Mark Richert, Brian Smestad, Michael Nieskes, Bob Feidler, Agnes A. Ring
EXCUSED: Kathleen Avoles, Curt Thomassen, Randy Morrisette II
4. Nominations for At-Large Position on CJCC Executive Subcommittee
Judge Needham states the CJCC Executive Subcommittee has an at large position
with a 2 year term. Michael Nieskes has filled this position and we are now seeking
nominations for any voting members of the CJCC Council. Pat Thompson makes a
motion to nominate Michael Nieskes to fill this position for the next term, second by
Scott Knudson, motion carries unanimously.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
AYES: Fred Johnson, Patrick Thompson, Roger Larson, Dave Ostness, Scott
Knudson, Scott Needham, Scott L. Cox, Kristi Severson, Mark Lemke, Alison Page,
Mark Richert, Brian Smestad, Michael Nieskes, Bob Feidler, Agnes A. Ring
EXCUSED: Kathleen Avoles, Curt Thomassen, Randy Morrisette II
5. Discussion on CJCC Membership - Municipal Representation
Judge Needham states at the last CJCC meeting there was a proposal to look at adding a
municipal court representative to the CJCC Council. The bylaws would have to be
amended for this purpose. Fred Johnson believes a municipal judge would be a good
addition to this group. Susan Capparelli would like to see Susan Gherty, City of Hudson
Municipal Court Judge. Susan Gherty is also District 10 liaison judge for municipal
judges. The Executive Committee will take this up at their next meeting.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
6. Update on Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Grant
Judge Waterman states St. Croix County (SCC) was not selected to receive Court
Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) grant monies. Susan Capparelli states that many
CASA programs are struggling to raise funding and some of them may not continue .
Barron County is moving forward regardless with support from their county board and
United Way is very interested in CASA programs. Judge Needham explains what a CASA
program is and who benefits from it. He also believes this is an opportunity for SCC and
feels it is a worthwhile endeavor. Judge Waterman agrees with Judge Needham and
states there is an appeal process and we are currently assessing this option. Fred
Johnson provided additional data to assist in the event their is an appeal. He states this
is another means to help address the needs of the children. Alison Page asks if the
committee could pass a resolution to support the same? Judge Needham asked the
Community Engagement Committee if they could discuss a formal proposal or resolution
at their next meeting. Fred Johnson proposes they invite United Way to a meeting and
Judge Nordstrand states we should invite other foundations and entities to see if we can
gain support.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
7. CJCC Subcommittee Updates & Review Judicial Membership
Michael Nieskes, District Attorney, gave an update of a new Veteran’s Program where
participants could enter into diversion agreements to keep them out of CCAP. There are
roughly 5,000 veterans in the County. The number of veterans that enter the criminal
justice system is relatively small. The Day Report Center (DRC) completes and average of
35 UA tests on a daily basis and the number continues to increase. The DA's Office is
reviewing some bonds and suggests that perhaps they can reduce tests per week to
lessen requirements if defendants have clean tests for a period of time. The DRC is at or
near capacity to serve people on bond.
Fred Johnson gave an update on AODA wait times for Driver Safety Plans. On 9/6/19, it
was down to 42 individuals waiting for assessments.
Judge Nordstrand, Criminal Justice Subcommittee Chair, brought up the possibility of
holding a Warrants Resolution Day to allow people in warrant status to come to the
courthouse to address their issues with the court. According to Kristi Severson, there are
roughly 1,200 misdemeanor warrants and any given time. Sheriff Knutson brought up the
man hours it takes to process individuals that are picked up on warrants.
Mike O'Keefe reports the Domestic Violence Court operational and there are 5 offenders
in the program at this time. Chief Richert discusses the grant awarded to the North
Hudson Police Dept. and St. Croix County Sheriff's Office to implement a Lethality
Assessment Program for Domestic Violence cases. He states they will eventually reach
out to other municipalities for training.
Mental Health Subcommittee; Fred Johnson states they are focusing on intensive
residential treatment services. There remains a need for emergency detention hospital
beds. The State of WI is aware of the need for emergency hospital beds and they are
meeting to discuss this issue. Senator Schachtner attended the statewide conference
held in Madison. Mr. Johnson states MN has a step down model called Intensive
Residential Treatment Services (IRTS) and if this could be implemented in WI it may be
an alternative to hospitalization or could serve those being released from an emergency
hospital stay.
Substance Abuse Subcommittee. Kim Kitzberger gave an update on the status of the
substance abuse survey. Phil Galli did get approval from the UW System to start the
survey process. Judge Needham appointed Judge Waterman to serve on the Substance
Abuse Committee.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
8. Sheriff's Office Update - Jail Expansion Project
Sheriff Knutson thanks the CJCC Council for their support on the Special Needs beds
addition being proposed in the Jail. They will get bids on the project this fall and hopes
to have things started by March/April time frame if all goes according to plan. The
expansion should be completed by late 2021.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
9. Discussion On Future Justice Initiatives
Judge Waterman states St. Croix County is the only county in the state where treatment
court is connected to the court. The Executive Subcommittee is reviewing a plan for the
future where we can manage, monitor and house all community justice programs to
avoid conflicts of interest. Judge Needham believes there should be an independent
body that would monitor, supervise, and staff programs.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
10. Substance Abuse Community Forum - 9/18/19 Announcement - Bob Feidler
Bob Feidler announced the Substance Abuse Community Forum that will be held on
September 18, 2019 at 8:00 a.m. in the County Board room.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
11. Review November 14, 2019 CJCC Meeting Agenda
Mike O'Keefe, CJCC Coordinator, is proposing cancelling the November 14, 2019
CJCC meeting to allow members to attend training being sponsored by the St. Croix
County Circuit Court. The training is entitled the Neurobiology of Trauma - Domestic
Violence. The trainers are Dr. Chris Wilson and Judge Floerke.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE
ADJOURN
Judge Needham adjourned the meeting at 9:09 a.m.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next CJCC meeting is Thursday, January 9, 2020, 8:00 a.m., Government Center - County
Board room. The CJCC Executive Subcommittee is scheduled to meet on Thursday, September
26, 2019, 12:00 p.m., Government Center - Administration Conference room -1411.