Criminal Justice

TAYLOR COUNTY CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL 2022 Meeting Minutes – Submitted by Rose Thums / Clerk of Court October 7, 2022 Meeting began at 8:34 am Attendance: Honorable Ann Knox-Bauer, Rose Thums, Courtney Graff, Kristi Tlusty, Julie Clarkson, Suzanne Stanfley, Joe Svejda, Courtney Scholl, Shanna Kestler, and LeeAnn Raab Minutes are posted on the Taylor County website. Kristi Tlusty approved the July 8, 2022 minutes, Second by July Clarkson. All approved. No dissents. Treatment Court Update Wendy Ness is at a conference. Kristi Tlusty updated everyone on treatment court. There are nine current participants with one pending admission in November. Since the last meeting, one individual graduated and one individual was terminated. Several letters have been mailed to individual eligible based on conviction. On September 27, 2022, Wendy submitted a request to Aspirus Medford for grant funding to cover a portion of the remaining estimated budget needs. Response is pending. There is opioid money that Taylor County will be receiving. A committee has been established to propose how the money should be spent. Wendy submitted a list of potential uses of the opioid money specific to treatment court for example: housing/transportation, assistance for peer recovery certification and part-time employment, Sober Grid Program, etc. Wendy is researching options to expanding the Treatment Court Program to include a Family Court, Reentry Court or overall Problem Solving Court. The Reentry Court would be for individuals who are released from prison that need support transitioning back into the community. Other Business This will be the last meeting for Rose Thums as she is retiring at the end of the year. LeeAnn Raab also indicated that there would be changes in the probation office as Elaine Mather will be retiring in February and there are new probation officers that will be coming to Taylor County. Next meeting scheduled for January 6, 2023 Meeting adjourned at 9:01 am. July 8, 2022 Attendance: Honorable Ann Knox-Bauer, Rose Thums, Nicholas Smith, Courtney Graff, Lisa Kauffman, Kristi Tlusty, Ruth Ann Koch, Julie Clarkson, Wendy Ness and Jen Meyer. Shackling During Transportation and Hearings in Chapter 51 and Juvenile Matters Nicholas Smith provided everyone with two handouts regarding shackling of juveniles. There was a discussion by everyone regarding shackling. The consensus was that restraints would be removed before the juvenile would enter the courtroom. If the prosecutor requests shackles, a hearing will be held. Chapter 51 cases shackling will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Chapter 51 juvenile cases there is a presumption that the juvenile will be unshackled in the courtroom unless reason is given that the juvenile should be shackled. It will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Juveniles will be shackled during transport if that is the policy of the sheriff’s department or transporter of the juvenile. The Judge does not find a necessity for a local court rule at this time. Texting and the Use of IPads in the Jail Nicholas Smith and Kristi Tlusty discussed the issue of inmates who were ordered by the Court on a bond to not have contact with an individual. The defendant is now having contacts with the individual through the IPad in the jail and there is no signed bond. Kristi cannot charge the defendant with bail jumping because there is not a violation of the bond as the individual did not sign a bond even though the court imposed a bond. It was decided that Kristi might prepare an order for the Court’s signature directing the jail that the defendant lose their IPad privileges. The clerk will immediately send the Order to the Court for signature. Treatment Court Update Wendy Ness indicated that there are 11 people in treatment court. One of the participants should be graduating in August. Wendy indicated that as part of the grant, our meeting minutes must be posted. Britney and Rose will look into getting the minutes posted on the Taylor County website. Kristi Tlusty indicated that some counties are doing a work around for fifth offense OWI cases so that the defendant may participate in the treatment court program. The counties are having the defendant sit one year in the county jail and then sentence the defendant to time served so that they can participate in the treatment program. There was a discussion regarding sentencing a defendant to prison and then the condition of probation would be attendance at the treatment court program. Right now, there is a mandatory minimum 18 months jail. Nothing was decided at this time regarding defendants of fifth offense OWI and participation in the treatment court program. Other Business There was a brief discussion regarding the opioid money that the county will be receiving from the opioid settlement. Kristi discussed the TAD grant. Money is taken away if the grant money is not spent. Next meeting scheduled for October 7, 2022 Meeting adjourned. January 7, 2022 Attendance: Honorable Ann Knox-Bauer, Rose Thums, Corey Dassow, Nicholas Smith, Courtney Graff, Lisa Kauffman, Kristi Tlusty, Ruth Ann Koch, LeeAnn Raab and Courtney Scholl, Katie Maske and Julie Clarkson. Juvenile Intake Transition Judge Knox-Bauer indicated that she no longer has the Family and Juvenile Services Coordinator position in her office. She did not have any qualified candidates apply for the position. Taylor County Human Services will be taking over the juvenile intake work. Jan Gartman will be doing family mediation. Transports for Chapter 51 cases and Transports for Early Morning Hearings Everybody needs to be cognizant of the time requirements for juveniles. Corey Dassow is requesting that there not be transports for the early morning hearings as the officers have to be up at 2:00 am for some of the transports that are further away. Ruth Ann indicated that she has been trying to use zoom for those hearings but there are some facilities that zoom does not work. Everybody agrees that communication among the parties are key to success. Treatment Court Update Katie Maske indicated that there are 11 people in treatment court. There are five women and six men. There is room for one more participant that they believe will be joining treatment court in February. Julie Clarkson indicated that AODA are backed up at this time. Other Business Kristi would like a checklist for OWI defendants. Pro se defendants are vey overwhelmed in Court when they are sentenced for OWI convictions. Defendants receive so much paperwork from the Court and are not sure where to go and what to do. Kristi will be working on a checklist. Suzanne Stanfley accepted the position as the new Taylor County Human Services Director. She will start on Monday, January 10, 2022. Liza’s last day will be February 1, 2022. LeeAnn Raab introduced herself to the group. She took over Michelle Hubbard’s position. LeeAnn indicated that there is a new agent, and her name is Kristin Gabrielsen. LeeAnn also indicated that she would be working with Drug Endangered Children program. DEC is a program that helps makes a difference in the lives of children who are in danger because their parents or caregivers are using, dealing, or manufacturing drugs. There was also a discussion about preparing a training video for the jailers. We may need to get Melissa from IT involved to help with a video. Judge Knox-Bauer indicated that Marsy’s Law might be changed as it may be appealed to the Supreme Court. Next meeting scheduled for April 15, 2022 Meeting adjourned.