Approved 9/16/04

JUDICIARY

August 12, 2004

Minutes

 

 

Members Present:         Tina Weatherwax-Grant, Dianne Holman, Mark Grebner, Mary Stid and Board Chairperson Victor Celentino

 

Members Absent:         Calvin Lynch and Randy Schafer

 

Others Present:             John Neilsen, Mary Sabaj, Judge Collette, Sue LeDuc, Marc Thomas, Christine Timmon and others

 

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Weatherwax-Grant at 7:05 p.m. in the Personnel Conference Room of the Human Services Building, 5303 S. Cedar, Lansing.

 

Approval of the July 15 Minutes

MOVED BY COMM. STID, SUPPORTED BY COMM. GREBNER, TO APPROVE THE JULY 15 MINUTES AS SUBMITTED.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.  Absent:  Comms. Lynch and Schafer

 

Additions to the Agenda           None

 

Limited Public Comment

Ms. Timmon expressed her continuing concerns regarding this Committee, domestic partner health insurance and same sex marriages.  She also spoke to the Committee regarding her newspaper.

 

1.         Circuit Court/Community Corrections Advisory Board – DRAFT Revised Jail Overcrowding Administrative Order

 

Ms. Sabaj explained that a review of the Administrative Order (Order) was conducted to determine if any changes could be made to improve the current Order.  The Order review committee consisted of  people who interact with the jail system.  The committee was very cooperative and reached a consensus on the proposed changes. 

 

Judge Collette stated if any of the Commissioners have any questions regarding the Draft Order, they may contact him as he will not sign the Order for a few more weeks.  The Committee reviewed the Draft Order.  Comm. Grebner expressed his hope that the Court will consider the idea of allocating over-crowding releases on a per judge basis.

 

Judge Collette stated the over-crowding numbers have been down due to some specific changes.  Judge Collette also informed the Committee that a review of PA 511 is needed in the near future.  He stated the list makes many people ineligible for County services when they most need it. 

 

Comm. Grebner suggested the CCAB could submit a draft resolution to this Committee regarding a review of PA 511.  They would then be invited at an optimal time to discuss the issue with this Committee.  Chairperson Weatherwax-Grant encouraged the CCAB and the Court to move forward and research this issue further.

 

Mr. Neilsen updated the Committee regarding the additional 90 beds at the Ingham County Jail.  Mr. Neilsen stated the 90 additional beds opened for business on August 2, 2004.  He distributed his memorandum of this date to the Committee.  The memorandum contained jail revenue information for the Committee’s review.  The Committee held a brief discussion regarding this matter.

 

Mr. Neilsen stated the Sheriff’s Office would like to host a Law Enforcement Committee and Judiciary Committee meeting in the near future to provide a tour of the new addition.

 

2.         Controller’s Office – Analyses on Areas of Priority for 2005 Budget – Proposed Ingham County 55th and East Lansing 54-B District Court Consolidation

 

Mr. Neilsen stated the Analyses updates the Committee on the priority of the proposed consolidation.  This is an informational item.

 

Announcements

Comm. Stid informed the Committee that John Andreson’s open house is scheduled for Friday at the Hilliard Building.

 

Public Comment

Ms. Timmon repeated her concerns from the start of this meeting.

 

Ms. Seivers, Girl Scouts, offered the Scouts’ assistance in developing ways of utilizing the Juvenile Justice Millage funds to help the area females.   Chairperson Weatherwax-Grant stated she would invite the Girl Scouts to a meeting this fall to discuss this issue.

 

The meeting adjourned at 7:29 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Debra Neff