Criminal Justice

Taylor County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council April 10, 2026 Attendance: Honorable Ann Knox-Bauer, Treatment Court Coordinator Wendy Ness, Attorney Brady Loos of Wisconsin Public Defender’s Office, LeeAnn Raab of DOC, District Attorney Kristi Tlusty, Sheriff Corey Dassow and Clerk of Court Jill Scheithauer. LeeAnn motions to approve the agenda. Brady seconds the motion. Motion carried. Brady motions to approve last meetings minutes. Kristi seconds the motion. Motion carried. Treatment Court Update- Wendy Ness updated the council with the following: • There are currently 8 active participants in the program. They’ve had two graduations and two new participants entering the program. • They received $5000 from Aspirus for Peer Recovery Services. • Wendy updated the participant handbook. • Smart Recovery is currently being held once a week. • 1st quarter report was sent to the Department of Justice. • Wendy was asked to present at this year’s Treatment Court Conference as part of the “Make the Invisible Visible.” • Wendy is currently collaborating with Taylor County on the TC Suicide Walk, which coincides with Recovery Month. • Wendy will be holding another rummage sale in May to raise funds for the program. • LeeAnn advised there currently are no ATRs for potential treatment court participants. Brady drafted a Memorandum (attached to these minutes) to start a plan for OWI 5th & 6th offenders to be able to enter the treatment court when there is a mandatory prison sentence. Next meeting is scheduled for June 17, 2026. Meeting adjourned. Submitted by Jill Scheithauer Taylor County Clerk of Court Approved on 6/17/26 Taylor County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council January 9, 2026 Attendance: Honorable Ann Knox-Bauer, Treatment Court Coordinator Wendy Ness, Attorney Brady Loos of Wisconsin Public Defender’s Office, Corp. Counsel Attorney Courtney Graff, LeeAnn Raab of DOC, Deputy Lisa Kauffman, District Attorney Kristi Tlusty, Sheriff Corey Dassow and Clerk of Court Jill Scheithauer. Brad motions to approve last meetings minutes. LeeAnn seconds the motion. Motion carried. Staff Updates: • State PD’s Office: Attorney Shawn Behrens will be starting on Monday, January 12, 2026. He will primarily be covering Langlade County but may be in Taylor County from time to time. • DOC: Two new agents are starting, Kyla Barazza and Alyssa Chapman. They will be training in Madison before starting in the Medford office. • Clerk of Court’s Office: Susan Warner has been hired as a deputy clerk while Jessica Nernberger has been promoted to Chief Deputy. Susan will be handling traffic and part of criminal once acclimated to the office. • DA’s Office: Desirae Stockheimer has been hired as the legal secretary • Sheriff’s Department: Corey said they are fully staffed on the road and down four in the jail. Treatment Court Update- Wendy Ness updated the council with the following: • She is currently busy working on the 4th quarter report for the 2025 grant. • There are currently 10 active participants in the program. They’ve had one graduation and one termination since last meeting. • A participant has been trained in Smart Recovery and is handling meetings after treatment court. Also, they will be running Smart Recovery meetings at the rec center starting in February. • The treatment court is now collaborating with Restorative Justice. Wendy is now on the board of R.J. They held their first Substance Abuse Victim Impact Panel. 11 people attended. A treatment court member spoke at meeting and did a wonderful job. • This spring, treatment court and Restorative Justice intend to work together on a fundraiser to be held at 64 North, who has a bread truck available on the premises that can be rented and sell anything out of it during the event. They are working on the bar coming up with a menu of mocktails for the event. Brady requests an agenda item for the April meeting to discuss ways to coordinate a way for OWI-5th and 6th convictions to enter treatment court. Next meeting is scheduled for April 10, 2026. Meeting adjourned. Submitted by Jill Scheithauer Taylor County Clerk of Court