HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-06-2021 Criminal Justice Subcommittee Minutes
MEETING MINUTES
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMUNITY JUSTICE
COLLABORATING COUNCIL
December 6, 2021 12:00 PM
St. Croix County Government Center -Room 1281
1101 Carmichael Road, Hudson, Wisconsin
CALL TO ORDER
Judge Waterman called the meeting to order at 12:00 PM.
ROLL CALL
Attendee OrganizationTitleStatusArrived
Name
Kristi SeversonSt. Croix Clerk of Circuit CourtPresent
County
Gordon YoungSt. Croix Chief, River Falls Police Dept.Excused
County
Cathy St. Croix SCCSO Chief DeputyPresent
BorgschatzCounty
Scott St. Croix Hon. Scott J. Nordstrand, Br. 1Excused
NordstrandCounty
Bob FeidlerSt. Croix Supervisor, Chair of PP&JPresent
County
Phillip GalliSt. Croix Visiting Professor, UWRFExcused
County
Karl AndersonSt. Croix District AttorneyPresent
County
Laurie OsbergSt. Croix Regional Manager, Office Of Absent
CountyState Public Defender
Kris AndersonSt. Croix Jail CaptainAbsent
County
Sharlene St. Croix Behavioral Health Adminstrator Present
Lopez County
Travis Satorius St. Croix Present
County
Craig J. St. Croix Supervisor, Division of Present
Hooyman County Community Corrections
Mike St. Croix Hon. Michael Waterman, Br. 4 Present
Waterman County
Also present: Matt Kennet (RFPD), Shelby Hilden, Ali Bolstad, Tina Sitz, Rebecca Schultz,
Katy Peavey, Susan Capparelli.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Criminal Justice Subcommittee of the Community Justice Collaborating Council
Regular Meeting November 1, 2021 12:00 PM
Minutes were accepted as presented.
RESULT: ACCEPTED
PUBLIC COMMENT
BUSINESS ITEMS
1.
Discussion continued from our last meeting about creating a "Warrant Day" - this is still
a work in progress. Travis Satorius states that a current morning time on January 21st
8AM - 11AM has been tentatively slated. Language has been drafted to be
posted/published likely within the courthouse, online, in the community. There is an
issue of how to address those with warrants outside the county. Will law enforcement be
there to screen everyone? How will this impact those showing if there is potential for
arrest? We want people to come in and feel safe to do so and address their warrant. DA
Anderson will need to speak to that. There's also question as to what types of warrants -
felony/misdemeanor? What is the cutoff? Travis indicates that if we wish to have
resolution, we need to be open to being flexible. There has been success in other
jurisdictions and many warrants are addressed quite well. Even a handful is progress
forward. We may need to do this several times and doesn't hurt us to try. DA Anderson
feels we do need to be clear about our folks on warrant - review their cases - we don't
wish to have a repeat of serious cases that have occurred in WI recently. We must
actively check on warrants as a whole on someone to be safe. Travis noted that most
defendants with SCC only cases would likely be the ones showing. Judge Waterman
asked if consideration has been made for DOC warrants. DA Anderson thought it would
be beneficial to have DOC here. DA Anderson states SCC Information Officer will assist
with getting the published info out; DA has given him the language.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
2. "Interpreter Day" Discussion
Judge Waterman states he has had conversations with stakeholders on this type of
endeavor. Anytime someone that is not an English Language speaker is in court, we
require an interpreter; most of the interpreters are Spanish speaking. Numerous other
language interpreters are needed, predominantly Spanish. The range for an interpreter
could be fifteen minutes on a Tuesday, or thirty on a Thursday and then in the morning
on a Friday and latter afternoon the same Friday; this scenario is not efficient. The idea is
to have a blocked day/time specific to the use of an interpreter, and have Defense, DA,
and a court committed to same to hear all of the cases at once. Judge Waterman
indicates that he has Defense available and he will volunteer to put this together with
parameters on how it will operate. Travis noted some other counties set aside on intake
day a month at the end of that intake to fulfill, so that it is consistent. Judge Waterman
added these would be misdemeanors, not felonies as those would stay with the assigned
Judge. Blocking this time would be a huge cost savings as well as the Clerk's office is
required to pay in two hour increments and mileage.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
3. Continued Discussion on Justice Support Center (JSC) - Pretrial Services
Judge Waterman prefaced the conversation by bringing the forward the information
about what an "ideal" Pretrial Program (based upon National Pretrial standards), would
look like, and the Justice Services document in the Agenda packet was introduced. This
new program is being produced from scratch; the Day Report Center out of the Sheriff's
Office is no longer present and we are working toward all new programming. Justice
Services has been creating an all new civilian model Pretrial Program of which policy and
procedure must be legally defensible; staff must be available and well-trained; and old
systems that once were, must be altered to new systems based upon these National
Standards. We can look to counties all around SCC and see the merits of Pretrial
programming and also see how to move forward with many of the issues that have
already been worked out in others' and build on positives that have occurred as well. The
framework is out there readily available to make sure we are doing it right. Judge
Waterman also pointed out that we also can no longer treat the newly forming program
the same as our County has come accustomed to treating the Day Report Center - the
two models are entirely different. Susan Capparelli addressed the group on the
documents and where the program is at and where it is headed.
Judge Waterman drew the group to the proposed mission statement for the Pretrial
program - noting that as a separate department, the mission statement could be
independently developed but is in agreement with Susan that all stakeholders need
to agree on the mission, the work of this program in the County to have full buy-in
to make it work. The group agreed and began review of the mission statement. DA
Anderson noted his thoughts, as did Travis Satorius. Susan will bring back a final
version with some alterations per the group discussion.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
4. Justice Support Center Electronic Monitor/Response Protocol
Coordinator, Shelby Hilden addressed the group concerning the monitor/response
protocol for after hours GPS/SCRAM notification. We have had a contract in place,
however, the issues of staffing that are creating havoc across the Nation are also
impacting the monitoring centers. The enhanced protocol that has been agreed to has
been less than perfect. Ramsey County and others across the State have gone to a semi-
enhanced model of response next day for lower level incidents - especially, uncharged
batteries, etc. Higher level responses need to got o Dispatch. The group discussed the
level of response SCC has had and there was a general consensus that this needs to be
further discussed/clarified. We currently have five people on GPS monitoring - there are
systems in place to support the enhanced protocol that are holding but require more
clarity to be long-term protocols. Susan will bring the topic to the full Judiciary for
further discussion.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Judge Waterman suggested with the short month that we meet again in February as opposed to
again in January. Judge asked for any thoughts from the group on future agenda items - to be
sent to Susan - ongoing Pretrial Program.
ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE
ADJOURN
Judge Waterman adjourned the meeting at 1:00 PM.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Monday, February 7th.