JOINT MEETING
LEC ADDITION COMMITTEE and JUDICIARY & LAW COMMITTEE
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Administrative Center – Room 3220
8:15 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Steve Doyle, Vicki Burke, John Medinger, Charles Spiker, Maureen Freedland, Don Meyer, Roger Plesha, Jeff Schroeder, Sharon Hampson, Joe Bilskemper
MEMBERS EXCUSED: Keith Belzer
MEMBERS ABSENT: Tara Johnson, Jacie Gamroth, Bernie Maney
OTHERS PRESENT: Steve Helgeson, Jeff Wolf, Jane Klekamp, Jim Speropulos, Gary Ingvalson, Mary Powell, Tim Gruenke, Vicki Gunderson, Val Schute, Gary Uting, Linda Schwandt, Margaret Wood, Ray Ebert, Jim Berns, Bev Heebsh, Cheryl Stephen
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Steve Doyle called the meeting to order at 8:15 a.m. He asked for an update on progress made with the architects. Jim Speropulos noted the group has met several times in order to redefine the building needs with more future meetings planned.
At this time Chairman Doyle noted the need to cancel the next prescheduled September 11th meeting due to Carey Group training session on same day. By general agreement, committee members chose September 18th as the next joint meeting.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION by Freedland/Plesha to approve LEC Addition Committee minutes of August 14, 2007. Motion carried unanimously; Belzer excused; Johnson absent.
RESOLUTION RE ACCEPTING IN PRINCIPLE THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CAREY GROUP JUSTICE ASSESSMENT
Supervisor Burke reviewed the resolution. The first paragraph notes three major objectives; the second para. lists 6 specific recommendations, with third para. showing a number of Carey Group recommendations that are already being worked on. She distributed copies of suggested amendment to the NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED para., to read as: ……that the La Crosse County Board accepts the Carey Group Justice Assessment final report, supports the specific recommendations listed, and directs County staff to continue to present decisions and options implementing other recommendations. She also noted two grammatical changes that were already corrected.
MOTION by Burke/Medinger to approve the resolution as presented, including two grammatical changes and the amendment to the last paragraph. Discussion followed. Supervisor Schroeder questioned what does “in principle” include. Supervisor Burke reviewed in detail the following: (1) remodel and construct an addition to the present Law Enforcement Center that not only meets our present needs but also includes space to expand in a long-term Master Plan and allows for collaboration among those involved in the criminal justice system; (2) include both direct and indirect supervision for inmate housing; (3) provide adequate staffing for the Jail and Justice Sanctions; (4) adopt evidenced-based practices in achieving risk reduction and developing effective, long-term programming to provide consistent risk/needs assessment and reduce offender recidivism; (5) support a collaborative process for making informed decisions; and (6) develop evaluation components to assure quality services, based upon enhancement of integrated data collection systems to the extent possible. Supervisor Schroeder said the entire project should be included in the downtown campus plan; should look at the overall big picture.
Chairman Doyle said committees and County Board need to make decisions in order to give direction to staff and the architect. Sheriff Helgeson noted direct supervision is currently included in the new addition plans, leaving the current jail as indirect supervision as it would be too expensive to change; direct supervision works best for pods of 48-60 inmates; current jail has 8 pods so that would need one Jailer per pod. Supervisor Spiker said the State, in particular Probation and Parole, need to be involved due to high number of inmates under their jurisdiction. The Sheriff noted current number at 19; they are already working on reducing their numbers. Discussion on staffing costs for direct and indirect supervision. Sheriff noted identical manpower needed – no additional cost for staffing. Motion carried unanimously; Belzer excused; Gamroth, Johnson, Maney absent.
JAIL POPULATION DESCRIPTION REPORT
Sheriff Helgeson distributed copies of most recent report on current inmates (dated 8/27/07). The report included: names, sex, age, city residency, confined date, crime/reason for confinement, bond type and amount, final disposition, and release date. Miscellaneous questions and discussion followed. Sheriff noted average stay is 14 days. Supervisor Burke and the Sheriff noted the importance of jail programs; need to keep the inmates busy, gives them less time to get in trouble, as well as importance for education. Supervisor Spiker noted the importance of having the capability of using “work crews”/low risk inmates working on community projects; this is what most citizens would like to see.
JUSTICE SANCTIONS REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE – JAIL POPULATION AND INMATE ORIGINATION
Jane Klekamp distributed a report entitled “Jail Population Data”. The information included: total male population for month of August, including comparisons with total number of male beds, average daily population (ADP), and 80% capacity. For 2005, ADP ranged from 126-167; for 2006 range from 137-168; and 2007 range from 147-167 with 152 for July. Similar charts were prepared for the women; ADP for 2005 ranged from 15-36; for 2006 range from 9-31; and 2007 range from 19-23 with 21 for July. Also showed charts on “jail population snapshots” for 2002, 2003 and current, that included percentages: cash bonds, DOC, sentenced to jail without release, multiple reasons, Justice Sanctions, county warrants, treatment court holds, prison and misc. reasons. Pointed out that holds for lack of Huber Center has increased from 9-14%; noted these as Judges’ decisions who may require some jail time vs. none at all. Sheriff noted out of the total 195 male beds, 23 are for receiving, medical and special needs; they are considered short-term/72 hour max. hold; they have no natural daylight so the State does count these in the total bed count. The Sheriff also noted that it takes up to 7 days to get State permission to release an inmate to the prison system.
NEXT MEETING
Joint meeting of LEC Addition and Judiciary & Law on Tuesday, September 18, 2007 at 8:15 a.m.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION by Medinger/Bilskemper to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried unanimously; Belzer excused; Gamroth, Johnson, Maney absent. The meeting adjourned at 9:19 a.m.
Disclaimer: The above minutes may be approved, amended or corrected at the next committee meeting.
Cheryl Stephen, Recorder