HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-13-2021 Treatment Courts Minutes
MEETING MINUTES
TREATMENT COURTS SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE
COMMUNITY JUSTICE COLLABORATING COUNCIL
May 13, 2021 9:00 AM
Room 1284-County Board Room
St. Croix County Government Center - Room 1284 -
Government Center - 1101 Carmichael Road, Hudson,
Wisconsin
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
Attendee Organization Title Status Arrived
Name
Scott Knudson St. Croix Sheriff Present
County
Edward Vlack St. Croix Hon. Edward F. Vlack, Br 2 Absent
County
Scott St. Croix Hon. Scott R. Needham, Br 3 Present
Needham County
Mark Lemke St. Croix Supervisor, Division of Present
County Community Corrections
Mike St. Croix Hon. R. Michael Waterman, Br 4, Present
Waterman County Chair
Scott St. Croix Hon. Scott J. Nordstrand, Br 1 Present
Nordstrand County
Bob Rohret St. Croix Director, Health & Human Present
County Services
Travis Satorius St. Croix Attorney Manager, Office of State Present
County Public Defender
Also present; Kimberly Kitzberger, Tina Sitz, Mike O'Keefe, Brandie Hart, Kristin DePrey,
Kayla Turpin, Darren Kirby and Kris Anderson.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Treatment Courts Subcommittee of the Community Justice Collaborating Council
Regular Meeting January 14, 2021 9:00 AM
Minutes from January 14, 2021 Treatment Court accepted as presented.
RESULT: ACCEPTED
PUBLIC COMMENT
BUSINESS ITEMS
1. 2021 First Quarter Treatment Court Program Snapshot Review
Kim Kitzberger provided a review of the St. Croix County Treatment Court Program
Snapshot packet. Program capacity remains consistent with increases in average
quarterly capacity since 2015. Participant participation has hovered around 20. The
maximum between both programs is 20-25. There has been significant increases in
monitoring costs along with increased use of GPS monitoring and remote breath
portable breath alcohol testing devices. Age of the participants has not changed
substantially. Methamphetamine continues to be the primary drug of use among Track
1 participants with close to half of the participants also diagnosed with a substance use
disorder involving two or more substances. 73% were admitted to Treatment Court
following conviction for a drug or alcohol related offense. 60% of the participants in
Track 1 during this first quarter were referred to the program by defense counsel.
Alcohol is the primary drug of Track 2 participants with 27% identifying more than one
th
drug of use. 50% were admitted following conviction of an OWI 5 or greater offense.
100% of Track 2 participants were referred to Treatment Court by their defense counsel.
There will be an impact of Wisconsin State Legislature 2019 Wisconsin Act 106 to the
Track 2 program population. 20-40% of applicants have been determined ineligible. This
has increased. Over 20% of Track 2 applicants have withdrawn their application before
an eligibility determination and/or program admission. It takes times to get a referral to
Treatment Court. Best practice standard is to get the person into Treatment Court within
50 days after the offense while the motivation to change is high for best outcome.
Currently, it is about a year to get to the referral stage. Our Treatment Court is post-plea.
A topic for future discussion might be how to utilize this program to get defendants into
the program when their motivation is still high.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
2. Treatment Court Policy and Procedure Updates
The St. Croix Co. District Attorney has veto power for Treatment Court applicants. Judge
Waterman advised that best standard practices have moved against it. The District
Attorney looked into it and will eliminate District Attorney veto. Second, Treatment
Court does not have a policy for excluding drug dealers. We are developing a formal
written policy it. Finally, there is a prohibition against romantic relationships between
participants. This is not the best standard. We are reviewing the policy and looking to
make it more specific to each participant.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
3. Treatment Court Return to In Person Activities Update
Judge Waterman advised that in March of 2020, Treatment Court was held virtually. With
the pandemic unwinding, we are shifting gradually to in-person. Most of Track 1 is in-
person and it is anticipated Track 2 will be in-person sometime when Judge Nordstrand
starts presiding over Treatment Court this summer.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
4. St. Croix County Justice Support Services Department Update
Under the Justice Services model, Treatment Court will be moved into that department.
This approach will give flexibility for adding new services.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
5. 2022 Treatment Alternatives & Diversion (TAD) Grant Program Enhancements
Update
TAD meets weekly to discuss strategy and to how to structure the 2022 TAD Grant.
Currently we are waiting on direction from the state as to how requests are received.
There are no specific enhancements. However, drug testing needs to be secured. With
lifetime revocations and in-person resuming for Tract 2 participants, transportation
issues need to be addressed. Suggestions were made for contacting the AA Inter-group
office or clergy for transportation options. Data entry for the program is time intense
and a full-time position may be part of the TAD Grant. TAD Grant funding maybe used in
the Day Report Center.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE
ADJOURN
Judge Waterman adjourned the meeting at 9:39 a.m.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Thursday, September 9, 2021, 9:00 a.m., Government Center - County Board Room - 1284