CRIMINAL JUSTICE MANAGEMENT COUNCIL
May 16, 2007
Administrative Center Room B190
7:30 a.m.
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MEMBERS PRESENT: |
Margaret Larson, Steve Doyle, Judge Michael Mulroy, Jerry Huber, Bill Hammes, Jim Nesbitt, Steve Helgeson, Gary Uting, Ann Quinlisk, Tom Knothe, Linda Schwandt |
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MEMBERS EXCUSED: |
Vicki Burke, Scott Horne, Elliott Levine, Keith Belzer, Richie Johnson, Sharon Hampson, Fred Kusch |
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OTHERS PRESENT: |
Steve O’Malley, Jane Klekamp, Doris Daggett, Pete Kinziger, Tim Gruenke, Chris Clare, Judy Widuch, Jackie Shaw, Tammy Hoskins, Sheila Garrity, Jerry Kember, Mary Ellen Prinsen, Deb Garrison, John Burgess, Margaret Wood, Jill Billings, Wendy Henderson, Bev Heebsh, Terri Pavlic |
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Margaret Larson called the meeting to order at 7:32 a.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION by Doyle/Nesbitt to approve the April 18, 2007 minutes of the Criminal Justice Management Council carried unanimously (Burke, Horne, Levine, Belzer, Johnson, Hampson and Kusch excused).
NEW MEMBERS
Chair Larson introduced our new member, Linda Schwandt.
PRESENTATION ON ADOLESCENT BRAIN DEVELOPMENT – WENDY HENDERSON FROM WI COUNCIL ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
Wendy Henderson from the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families gave a presentation on Adolescent Brain Development. It takes adolescents a longer time to make the right decision. When alone, they come up with the right decision in the end – when surrounded by peers, they might not. Poor decision making leads to more arrests. The most common juvenile crimes are drug possession, liquor law violations, disorderly conduct and theft (other than motor vehicle).
In the mid 1990’s Wisconsin law was changed to state that for purposes of criminal prosecution, an adult is a person who is 17 or older. Nationally, 44 states changed their laws to make it easier to try juveniles as adults. Wisconsin is one of only 13 states that consider 17-year olds adults for criminal prosecution. Also, child poverty is on the rise in Wisconsin – 14% state-wide and 21% in children under 5.
There is a significant difference in the number of hours of schooling in an adult system vs. the juvenile system.
Some of the negative impacts of processing youth (under 18) in the Adult System are:
Subject to harsher penalties than youth tried in juvenile system;
Little or no rehabilitative programming in adult corrections;
Adult criminal record;
Youth are at a greater risk of victimization and death in adult jails and prisons;
The practice of sentencing youth as adults most seriously impacts kids of color;
Youth held in adult facilities are more likely to recidivate than similar offenders remaining in the juvenile system.
Plea bargaining is perhaps the one spot where adolescents are at the biggest disadvantage.
A youth’s emotional maturity impacts the ability to take into consideration long-term consequences, comprehend future risks and weigh whether to comply with authority figures.
ADJOURN
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:55 a.m.
The above minutes may be approved, amended or corrected at the next Council meeting.
Recorded by Terri Pavlic