Amended 3/11/04
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
Members Present: Tina Weatherwax-Grant, Dianne Holman, Mark Grebner, Mary Stid, Randy Schafer and Chairperson Victor Celentino
Members Absent: Calvin Lynch
Others Present: John Neilsen, Matthew Myers, Marc Thomas, Nervy Oliver, Gene Wriggelsworth, Mark Alley, Maureen Winslow, Travis Faulds, Christine Timmons, Jeff Venn, David Buck, Tom Lattig, Joyce Dorrow, Loretta Beachnau, Chris Horton and others
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Weatherwax-Grant at 7:01 p.m. in the Personnel Conference Room of the Human Services Building, 5303 S. Cedar, Lansing.
Approval of the February 12, 2004 Minutes
MOVED BY COMM. SCHAFER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. STID, TO APPROVE THE FEBRUARY 12 MINUTES AS SUBMITTED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Absent: Comm. Lynch
Additions to the Agenda: None
Limited Public Comment
Ms. Timmons spoke regarding the expenditure of the Juvenile Justice Millage funds. She stated her belief that the spirit of the millage language is being violated. She will take the appropriate action if necessary.
Mr. Wriggelsworth addressed the issue of juvenile detention. When a youth is placed in the Ingham County Jail, the Jail must comply with sight and sound requirements. To meet this requirement, housing one youth in the Jail involves four cells. The youth are housed in the maximum security section of the Jail. Mr. Wriggelsworth suggested the County place video cameras in the Jail where the youth are housed if the Committee decides to set an established number of beds within the Jail.
Comm. Grebner asked for the approximate number of youth that were placed in the Jail last year. Mr. Faulds stated approximately 10 youth were housed in the Jail in 2003. Comm. Grebner stated it may be financially feasible to place youth in the Jail who have met specified criteria.
Mr. Myers stated there are 40 beds in the maximum security section. However, he would recommend the placement of only four youth in the Jail at one time. This would leave room for adult placement in maximum security. In response to Comm. Schafer, Mr. Wriggelsworth stated placing youth in the Jail who need more security than the Youth Center would create a few non-significant burdens on the Office. He further stated the Jail cannot accept female youth as the Jail is not set up to address their specific needs.
Chairperson Weatherwax-Grant brought up the issue of recidivism. Mr. Alley stated he is not sure how many youth are turned away from the Youth Center. He further stated he has some serious concerns regarding the placement of youth in the Jail. The Jail does not provide treatment for youth. There may be a better way to handle this situation than placing kids in the Jail.
Mr. Alley stated it would be better if programs were created to prevent crime on the part of youth. Juvenile Justice millage funds are available for this issue. Several prevention programs exist. One source of prevention assistance is Michigan State University. In response to Comm. Grebner, Mr. Alley stated the Lansing Police Department has to deal with an increasing number of female youth who commit crimes. Resources must be balanced between prevention and maximum security.
Chairperson Weatherwax-Grant asked if any youth are placed in the Youth Facility because it would not be safe to place them back in their own homes. Mr. Alley stated foster care is available for intermittent situations. There are other social agencies who could handle this type of situation.
Mr. Faulds informed the Committee that the Youth Center denied 414 detention requests in 2003 because those youth did not meet the Youth Center's placement criteria. Comm. Schafer stated he has heard concerns over the years from law enforcement personnel that youth should be detained when they commit a crime such as joyriding or home invasion. He further stated he believes there are four times more detention denials due to a lack of beds and that the youth do not meet the placement criteria.
This discussion continued. Mr. Oliver explained that a youth must be a harm to him/herself, others or the community before he/she will be placed in the Youth Center. Placing youth in the Jail because of overcrowding in the Youth Center is an important issue to consider. A youth must be dangerous before he/she is placed in the Jail.
Comm. Schafer stated youth charged with home invasion and joy riding must receive some form of detention. A placement for this type of youth must exist for the community to feel safe. The County must address the issue of housing before approving anymore funding for additional personnel.
Comm. Grebner stated the County should really think about the need for different types of placement. He then suggested the County develop contractual arrangements for youth bed rental at the Jail. Mr. Myers repeated his strong recommendation that only four youth be placed in the Jail at one time.
Chairperson Weatherwax-Grant asked if the Lansing City Police Department was fond of any diversion programs. Mr. Alley stated the Truancy Court is a marvelous tool. Camp Highfields and Cristo Rey offer different diversion programs which are also effective. Staff at those two agencies are highly skilled in the diversion area.
Chairperson Weatherwax-Grant thanked Mr. Alley and Mr. Wriggelsworth for their comments this evening. This Committee will keep them advised of its progress in this area. Comm. Stid also expressed her appreciation for their comments.
(Comm. Schafer left the meeting at approximately 7:48 p.m.)
Mr. Oliver stated the County does not have the resources to address the needs of female youth. The community did not start to address this issue until recently. He explained that female youth are extremely damaged at a young age. Many female youth in the system have been sexually abused. Our system is designed to house males, not females. Many criminal female youth are becoming as dangerous as male youth.
Mr. Oliver stated the community needs to view female youth as mothers of future youth. Females need specific programming that we have to be creative in designing or creating.
Chairperson Weatherwax-Grant thanked Mr. Oliver for his candor. These issues should be addressed from the beginning.
Mr. Oliver stated Peckham and Sequel provide programs locally. A variety of beds are needed, including beds for youth involved in domestic violence situations. They should have a safe, restful place when they cannot return to their own homes due to the violent situation.
Mr. Oliver explained that females respond better to group interactions when addressing issues such as hygiene, self-esteem and protection. They need higher, sophisticated programming than the males. Females also need strong mental health support. If the community can keep the females health and strong, it has more of a chance of reaching other community goals.
Mr. Buck agreed that females' needs are more complex than males. Female treatment programs need to address specific female issues and severe offenses. Mr. Faulds stated many of the females in the Youth Center have been sexually abused at a young age and have had several sex partners. When a young female is violated, she should be helped then instead of waiting for her to turn to crime.
Comm. Stid stated a facility is needed for younger females who cannot be placed back in their homes. Mr. Oliver expressed his concern regarding what happens to a youth who is released from a transitional program and is expected to return to her community. Youth still need supportive structure when they are released from a transitional program to weene them off the structured transitional program.
Ms. Beachnau stated Peckham wants to help girls before they get angry and have babies. A female program at Peckham would consist of six beds, chores, study sessions and other things which are to be done as a normal part of a day, such as preparing dinner and washing dishes. Counseling sessions would be provided in the evenings.
Comm. Holman asked what kind of commitment Peckham would expect from the County. Ms. Beachnau stated Peckham would request at least a five year commitment. Comm. Grebner suggested that any renovation costs could be built into the cost of a facility so that it would be Child Care Fund eligible.
Mr. Neilsen stated this Committee can accept the two proposals from Peckham and Sequel or they could issue a Request for Proposals. A facility would be built in this area at no cost to the County and Peckham would operate the County programs.
Chairperson Weatherwax-Grant informed the Committee that Sequel representatives could not be present this evening. They will be scheduled for another meeting. She stated this Committee can entertain resolutions for services after a few more meetings.
Mr. Oliver stated the Family Court would like the County to move forward with its support for Peckham and to entertain its support of Sequel. Decisions need to be made soon so that the needs of the community can be met. Chairperson Weatherwax-Grant stated this Committee has an obligation to hold four or five more meetings to hear from other agencies and what they have to offer the County.
Mr. Neilsen asked what type of commitment is needed. Mr. Oliver expressed his concern that two homes may not address all the needs of the youth in the court system. There is a pressing need for residential beds. The two facilities are asking that if they make a facility available to the County, the County will use the facility. Chairperson Weatherwax-Grant stated the Commissioners will discuss this issue to determine their next step.
Mr. Oliver informed the Committee that 50 to 60 kids will have been assessed in three to four months. There is a current need for the additional beds. Mr. Neilsen stated he expects the Court will provide this Committee with a resolution requesting an increase in their budget to provide the community with additional placements. Mr. Oliver stated the Court will submit such a resolution.
Comm. Stid asked about program data. Ms. Beachnau stated Peckham does keep records of current contracts.
Mr. Neilsen stated this Report has been provided to the Law Enforcement, County Services and Finance Committees. This information is being provided at the request of a few Commissioners. All Committees should have an opportunity to review this information.
Chairperson Weatherwax-Grant stated Gateway Community Services will be invited to a future meeting to discuss their proposal.
The Board Referral was received and placed on file.
Announcements
Chairperson Weatherwax-Grant informed the Committee that it will meet at 7:00 p.m. for the remainder of the year. A future meeting will be held at Camp Highfields.
Public Comment
Ms. Timmons stated she would like to see additional proposals.
Ms. Dorrow expressed her concern that appropriate treatment be provided to the youth in this community.
The meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Debra Neff