Approved 3/10/05

LAW ENFORCEMENT

February 24, 2005

Minutes

Members Present:         Debbie DeLeon, Deb Nolan, Marc Thomas, Randy Schafer, Don Vickers and Board Chairperson Mark Grebner

Members Absent:         Dale Copedge

Others Present:             John Neilsen, Jerry Ambrose and Mary Sabaj

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson DeLeon at 6:02 p.m. in the Personnel

Conference Room of the Human Services Building, 5303 S. Cedar, Lansing.

Approval of the February 10, 2005 Minutes

MOVED BY COMM. SCHAFER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. NOLAN, TO APPROVE THE FEBRUARY 10 MINUTES AS AMENDED.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.  Absent:  Comms. Copedge and Thomas

Additions to the Agenda

4a.       Additional Information

Limited Public Comment:          None

(Comm. Thomas arrived at 6:04 p.m.)

1.         Animal Control Advisory Committee – Interview

The Committee interviewed Darren Warner for a position on the Animal Control Advisory Committee.

After a general discussion of the applicants, the following motion was offered:

MOVED BY COMM. SCHAFER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. THOMAS, TO RECOMMEND THE APPOINTMENT OF BRIAN SMITH TO THE ANIMAL CONTROL ADVISORY COMMITTEE.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.  Absent:  Comm. Copedge

Comm. DeLeon requested that the composition of the members of advisory committees be noted on the staff informational sheet.

MOVED BY COMM. SCHAFER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. VICKERS, TO APPROVE A CONSENT AGENDA FOR THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:

2.         911 Advisory Committee – 911 Expenditure – Request for the Costs Associated with Obtaining the Necessary Frequency’s for the Ingham County Radio Communications System Project

3a.       Sheriff’s Office – Resolution to Authorize the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office to Accept a $1,000 Donation from the Wal-Mart Foundation

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.  Absent:  Comm. Copedge

MOVED BY COMM. SCHAFER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. VICKERS, TO APPROVE THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.  Absent:  Comm. Copedge

3b.       Sheriff’s Office – Communication- Traffic Safety Award

Mr. Neilsen informed the Committee that Mr. Myers would not be present this evening because he had a previous commitment.  A Resolution authorizing the acceptance of this Award will be presented to this Committee at a future meeting.

Comm. Thomas expressed his continuing concern that department representatives should be present at meetings when they have items on a Committee agenda for consideration.  He then stated he was fine with this item as the resolution will be before this Committee at a future meeting. 

4.         Controller’s Office

            a.         Long Term Priority – Providing Appropriate Sanctions

· Providing Additional Appropriate Amount of Beds at the  Ingham County Jail and Probation Residential Services

· Long Term Objective:  Exploring Alternative Law Enforcement Funding

Mr. Ambrose stated the Board of Commissioners adopted a long-term objective of exploring alternative law enforcement funding.  In 2004, the Board established a subcommittee consisting of Comms. Stid, Minter and Grebner to review this matter.  Background information was prepared and reviewed by the subcommittee. 

Mr. Ambrose explained the Controller’s Office is now seeking direction from this Committee with how to proceed with this long-term objective as two members of the subcommittee are no longer on the Board.

Mr. Ambrose reviewed the information contained in his memorandum regarding Encouraging the Use of Appropriate Sanctions, dated February 24, 2005.  The memorandum outlined the use of the County Jail, Community Corrections, and the Jail Utilization Coordinator Committee.  

From a financial perspective, the question to be addressed is whether additional capacity or support should be financed to appropriately accommodate the number and type of offenders in the County’s justice system.  Modifications to the Jail have been made since the early 1980’s to increase the physical capacity.  Since at least 2000, the number of sentenced and unsentenced inmates housed at the Jail has exceeded its capacity most of the time.  The practical experience learned from the initial expansions of the Jail, and from other Jail expansions, is that expansion rarely eliminates overcrowding or reduces recidivism.  Mr. Ambrose stated the Jail capacity tends to be used to its fullest.

Chairperson Grebner provided a historical perspective regarding the use of the Jail.  He then stated an agreement with the Judges needs to be reached to resolve the overcrowding situations.  The Judges should each be allocated a specific number of beds for their sentencing purposes.  Until such an agreement is reached, Chairperson Grebner stated he would absolutely oppose an increase in Jail capacity.

Comm. Vickers stated he agrees that if the size of the Jail is increased, it will be filled on a regular basis.  Comm. Schafer also agreed that increasing the capacity of the Jail would not resolve the over-crowding situations.  He will continue to encourage the use of alternatives from the Community Corrections Advisory Board (CCAB).  Ms. Sabaj stated there has been an increase in the use of the CCAB’s alternatives by the courts.  Comm. Nolan stated the new commissioners should receive information from the CCAB regarding their sentencing alternatives.  Ms. Sabaj stated she could arrange a tour of the House of Commons if desired.

Mr. Ambrose stated staff supports the use of alternative sentencing programs via the CCAB.  The Jail Utilization Coordinating Committee (JUCC) is looking for better ways to use the Jail.  Providing additional financial support to the strategies and initiatives being considered by the JUCC may be appropriate. 

Comm. Thomas suggested the subcommittee on alternative law enforcement funding be re-established.  Chairperson DeLeon expressed her concern that this Committee waited a long time to receive recommendations from the subcommittee in the past.  Comm. Nolan stated this Committee needs further discussion regarding out-County law enforcement services.  Mr. Ambrose stated he would provide this Committee with information regarding what services are used by each municipality. 

Comm. Schafer stated this Committee should discuss the issue of alternative law enforcement funding, not a subcommittee.  Comm. Vickers stated he agrees that this Committee should look at the philosophy of out-County law enforcement services. 

Announcements:           None

Public Comment:          None

The meeting adjourned at 7:04 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Debra Neff