HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-13-2022 Community Justice Collaborating Council Minutes
MEETING MINUTES
COMMUNITY JUSTICE COLLABORATING COUNCIL
January 13, 2022 8:00 AM
St. Croix County Government Center -Room 1284
Government Center -1101 Carmichael Road, Hudson, Wisconsin
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
Attendee OrganizationTitleStatusArrived
Name
David PetersonSt. Croix Chair, County BoardPresent
County
Dave OstnessSt. Croix Chair -HHSPresent
County
Scott KnudsonSt. Croix SheriffExcused
County
Scott NeedhamSt. Croix Judge -Br. III -ChairPresent
County
Scott L. CoxSt. Croix Corporation CounselPresent
County
Kristi SeversonSt. Croix Clerk of Circuit CourtExcused
County
Kathleen AvolesSt. Croix Bar Association RepresentativePresent
County
Curt St. Croix Faith Based RepresentativePresent
ThomassenCounty
Alison PageSt. Croix Open -Medical Community Excused
CountyRepresentative
Randy St. Croix Citizen MemberPresent
Morrisette IICounty
Mark RichertSt. Croix Police Chiefs' RepresentativePresent
County
Ken Witt St. Croix County Administrator Present
County
Bob Feidler St. Croix Chair - PP&J Present
County
Agnes A. Ring St. Croix Citizen Member Excused
County
Susan Gherty St. Croix Municipal Court Representative Present
County
Bob Rohret St. Croix HHS Present
County
Travis Satorius St. Croix Public Defense Present
County
Craig J. St. Croix DOC Present
Hooyman County
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Community Justice Collaborating Council Regular Meeting November 11, 2021
8:00 AM
The minutes were accepted as written.
RESULT: ACCEPTED
PUBLIC COMMENT
Judge Needham makes a request (related to Announcements & Correspondence), that an
announcement and information relating to Warrant Day, be moved to the beginning of the
Agenda as Judge Nordstrand would need to leave early for Court.
BUSINESS ITEMS
1. CJCC Bylaws Update and Membership Review
Judge Nordstrand presents the work of the Judiciary, DA's Office, Defense and Clerk of
Courts to form a Warrant Return Day. The return dates will be on January 21, 2022 all
morning in Branch I (8AM-12PM). The DA's Office as well as others, including the
Department of Corrections will be available to assist. We will start with misdemeanors for
our first Warrant Day. Warrants will be quashed and a date of return provided for those
who appear. If there is a path for immediate resolution when they appear, cases may be
resolved. Our focus will be St. Croix County warrants. If victims are involved, return dates
will be provided to the defendant. Warrants will include those for child support. As this is
our first attempt at a Warrant Return Day - and we are copying the success of other
Counties - we will see what comes of this first day and move forward from there for next
opportunities.
Judge Needham begins the Agenda asking Vice Chair Kate Avoles to provide her edits
and suggested updates/language to the CJCC Bylaws - last updated in 2019. Kate
gives updates as well as thoughts on membership and titles for various members
and advisory members that have changed over the years. Judge asks for approval of
the updates noting no errors. All in favor. Susan will alter the membership names in
the County IQM2 system and update noted errors on membership.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
2. Pretrial Services Program and the Justice Support Center
Shelby Hilden, Justice Support Center Coordinator, presents on the Justice Support
Center (JSC) and the forming Pretrial Services Program. Shelby has a historical reference
to the prior Day Report Center (DRC), which opened its doors in March of 2017. The DRC
was previously operated by the Sheriff's Office of which she was a Deputy. She provides
background on the duty of the Sheriff's Deputies that worked within the DRC and the
new framework as a civilian operation and moving toward full operations as a Pretrial
Services Program, which also involves case management and referrals to supportive and
other ancillary services for those involved in the criminal justice system and on bond. The
Criminal Justice Subcommittee is working together toward implementation of the Public
Safety Assessment (PSA) which will assist the Judiciary in their bond decision-making.
Judge Needham the approach and uses of the PSA and how these Pretrial Reports will
be used from the Bench, the DA's Office and Defense. Discussion was held.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
3. St. Croix County Diversion Program
DA Karl Anderson presents on the Diversion Program. He introduces Lisa Multhauf as the
Diversion Program Supervisor. The St. Croix County Diversion Program was one of the
first in the State leading the way across the State of WI starting in earnest in 2005. The
goal is to divert lower risk individuals from the criminal justice system. Those
participating in Diversion receive case management and are held accountable for the
incident that happened but the ultimate conviction is not entered once they complete
the program requirements. This benefits the participant and avoids a lot of costs across
the system. Victims in case also approve of this model as there is still a level of
accountability for the offense. St. Croix County receives Treatment Alternatives and
Diversion (TAD) Grant funds to support those in Diversion that meet the requirements of
low risk and non violent, and where their alcohol or drug use played a part in the offense
- to date, we have received over a million dollars over the years which has supported the
program as well as other programs and staffing. Discussion from the group. Judge
Waterman states that the Diversion Program is a valuable tool to be able to offer
especially, to young people. Judge Needham acknowledges County Board and
Administration for their ongoing support for the various justice related programs
here in St. Croix County. It is hard to measure success in these programs, but can
measure success in what we are avoiding in pure jail bed days and risks of future
issues.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
4. Update on the St. Croix County Court Appointed Special Advocate Program (CASA)
Dustin Haider, Executive Director of the St. Croix County Court Appointed Special
Advocates (CASA) Program, briefly updates the group on the CASA to date. We have a
potential four (4) current volunteers ready to train. Once trained, we can start as early as
February to begin these advocates working with children. In March, we will start another
group trained of 4-6 advocates. Judge Waterman thanks Dustin for his hard work as well
as the Board of CASA - acknowledges Yvonne Larsen as first a Board member and now
the County's pending first advocate. Kate Avoles, Vice Chair of the CJCC, is a new Board
member for CASA as is Bridget Warren, Executive Director of Restorative Services.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
5. CJCC Subcommittee Updates
Updates from the Chairs of CJCC Subcommittees were provided.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
6. 2022 CJCC Council and Executive Meeting Calendar
Judge Needham briefly reviewed the meeting calendar for CJCC 2022 - no alterations at
this time in the standard schedule of meetings. Currently, the full CJCC meets six (6)
times per year and the Executive Committee meets ten (10) times per year. The calendar
is in the Agenda Packet and posted online in the County Meetings portal within the
Agenda Packet. Members may email Susan for a clean copy. Updated emails are
requested for those wishing to receive meeting notices to their emails.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE
Judge Needham takes this opportunity to thank Corporation Counsel, Scott Cox for his
years of service. Scott will be retiring in January. Assistant Corporation Counsel, Heather
Amos, will be the interim Counsel until a final candidate is selected.
ADJOURN
Judge Needham adjourned the meeting at 9:25AM
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next CJCC Council meeting is March 10, 2022 at 8AM.