Adult Justice Systems - Sub Committee of Criminal Justice Committee

01.13.21 DRAFT Minutes (132 KB)

Members Present: Brattset, Englund, Lange, Basham, Spoentgen, Hanson

Members Absent: Warwick, McCumber, Dolch

1. Call meeting to order – 3:30P ----- Certify compliance with open meeting laws (Brattset)
2. Adopt agenda – motion by Lange, Second by Basham – motion carries
3. Prior minutes – motion by Spoentgen, Second by Lange – motion carries
4. Public Comment – no public present.
5. Communications – none.
6. Stepping up module 3 – review of toolkit goals.
   1. Policies – regular review of conditions of bail for people who can’t post.
      1. Lange and Spoentgen notes that there really isn’t an executive-led system to do this; however most of the people in the jail held on cash are for major cases.
   2. Alternatives to incarceration – yes – EM, Probation, Treatment Court., DPAs, etc.
   3. Discussions with legislature to increase the use of DPAs.
      1. Going to pass to CJCC.
   4. Modifications of conditions of bond.
      1. Spoentgen talks about procedure for bond modification.
      2. Mentions the possibility that bail monitoring program could be implemented.
      3. Talk about feasibility and legality of using EM for bail monitoring.
         1. Notes about 20 to 25 people per staff member for monitoring. Also possible that SCSD may not want to run the program. May be more financially feasible to utilize civilian staff/program
      4. If doable, would it be worth it?
         1. Spoentgen – unsure – depends on the effect of the program that the judge would give.
         2. Englund – talking about people with limited means – may want to get the input of a public defender.
            1. Shouldn’t put everyone in this system – if people can’t afford to post cash or desire this program, then it should be done; otherwise cash or signature bonds can still work.
         3. Lange going to take a snapshot of how many people are on cash only, without probation hold, and see why there here to inform discussion.
   5. Assessments on Treatment needs inform placement and in-custody care
      1. Lange – no capacity to do assessments on everyone that comes in.
      2. Discussion of the goal of identifying issue of keeping people with mental health issues or substance issue out of jail, when conduct is not criminally related.
      3. Englund notes that he’d be comfortable with this so long as the person gets to talk to a pure advocate (attorney for them).
7. Update on electronic record and mental health screening from the jail
   1. Lange – Records in place for nearly 2 years. Data is available. Jared had nearly 2000 contacts with people in the jail for substance/MH issues during 2020. Reports on individuals taking medications, etc. If there is data we want, it may be available.
   2. Will pull some numbers for next meeting. Unsure if there is a report built specifically reporting data with individuals on AODA needs.
8. Data needed to be helpful for Stepping-Up
   1. Dealt with via agenda item 7
9. Stepping-up action plan – deferred for now.
10. Update about challenges/opportunities with housing and transportation for adult justice participants.
    1. Hanson – challenges w/ housing for Adult Treatment Court participants. Talk of a person wanting to set up a sober living home, but still challenges. For our participants, we probably need closer to a half-way house.
    2. Brattset – possibility of “housing first” model being used; however none of these initiatives are funded.
    3. Needs to be a continued dialogue for CJCC. DHS doesn’t have additional money for housing – only small amount specifically for women/children in specific circumstances.
    4. Transportation brought up – possibility of using bar buddies drivers during their off times, but this was delayed due to pandemic
11. Next meeting dates: 2/10/21 @ 3:30PM
    1. Agenda Items:
       1. Stepping up intercepts.
       2. Lange – data follow-up from above.
12. Adjourn – motion Lange – second Englund – motion carries.

Respectfully Submitted

Rick Spoentgen

Chief ADA – Sauk County District Attorney’s Office