Amended 3/1/07
JUDICIARY
February 15, 2007
Minutes
Members Present: Rebecca Bahar-Cook, Andy Schor, Tina Weatherwax-Grant, Dianne Holman, Deb Nolan, Randy Schafer and Board Chairperson Marc Thomas
Members Absent: None
Others Present: John Neilsen, Tanesha Grace, Malisa Pearson, Matt Wojack, Elizabeth Schrock, Ruth Hill-Schorsch, Jim Paparella, Warren Henson, Tamiekco Smith, David Easterday, Nervy Oliver, Al Way, John Evans, Gretchen Cochran, Maureen Winslow, Sara Deprez, and Carol Read
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Bahar-Cook at 7:34 p.m. in the Personnel Conference Room of the Human Services Building, 5303 S. Cedar, Lansing.
Approval of the February 1, 2007 Minutes
MOVED BY COMM. WEATHERWAX-GRANT, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SCHAFER, TO APPROVE THE FEBRUARY 1 MINUTES AS AMENDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
The Minutes were amended to reflect the following:
Ms. Deproz was changed to Ms. Deprez throughout the document.
Additions to the Agenda
5. Additional Information
Limited Public Comment: None
1. Presentation: Project IMPACCT
- Judge Lawless / Nervy Oliver, Family Division of Circuit Court
- Sue Hull, Director, Ingham County Department of Human Services
- Robert Sheehan, Executive Director, Clinton-Eaton-Ingham Community Mental Health
Judge Lawless, Bob Sheehan, Sue Hull provided a presentation on Project IMPACCT for the Committee.
Comm. Schor asked if the Project receives funding from other sources. Ms. Hull stated other funding sources are being investigated. The Committee held a brief discussion regarding the financial aspects of the Project. Comm. Schafer stated he is very impressed with this program.
The Committee held a general discussion regarding the services which are provided to the youth and their parents through the Project. Comm. Nolan asked when the Committee will receive the first data from this program. Mr. Wojack stated they will have the first report in approximately six months.
2. Family Division of Circuit Court
a. Update on Progress from the Family Division Regarding the Chinn Planning Inc., the Final Report - Ingham County Action Plan for Juvenile Continuum of Care
Ms. Winslow reviewed the information contained in the Ingham County Circuit Court - Family Division Quarterly Data Report (February 15, 2007). Mr. Oliver stated the Committee will receive two years’ worth of recidivism data in the spring.
Chairperson Bahar-Cook asked if each youth entering the court system receives the assessment. Mr. Oliver stated the Court gives the assessment to each youth whey they have the legal authority to do so. The assessment is given to all adjudicated youth. Chairperson Bahar-Cook commended the Court for implementing the assessment program.
Chairperson Bahar-Cook asked for the balance of the original $600,000 appropriation. Ms. Winslow stated most of those funds have not been spent as of this date. It is anticipated that all of the funds will be spent, and the Court will then be back to request additional funding. Chairperson Bahar-Cook requested an update of the fund balance.
The Committee discussed the issue of youth being placed in out-of-state placements. Comm. Weatherwax-Grant expressed her concern that the number of youth in these placements continues to increase when the County has implemented new programs. Judge Lawless explained that part of the reason is that Camp Highfields was closed for a period of time. The Court began placing youth at Camp Highfields in September 2006. She further explained the State determines the placement for its wards.
Judge Lawless explained the court uses it staffing committee’s recommendations to determine placements. She then stated youth are at higher risks in different domains. Comm. Weatherwax-Grant stated the community stakeholders should be made aware of the higher number of at risk youth. She encouraged the Court to contact the partners to seek placement alternatives. Comm. Weatherwax-Grant stated Angel House is very willing to assist the Court with their placement needs. Comm. Nolan stated the Committee is concerned about the high number of out of state placements. Judge Lawless stated each judge has its own sentencing philosophy.
Ms. Winslow informed the Committee that Drs. Davis and Turke are very anxious to present their data collection results to this Committee this spring.
b. Quarterly Report
Chairperson Bahar-Cook stated this Committee has asked the Court to provide quarterly reports to this Committee. Ms. Winslow and Judge Law distributed a Quarterly Data Report – January 15, 2007 to the Committee. Mr. Neilsen distributed out-of-state placement information to the Committee for their review.
Ms. Winslow reviewed the court’s quarterly data report.
(Comm. Schafer left the meeting at 9:00 p.m.)
Comm. Nolan stated the quarterly reports should include numbers from the previous report for comparison purposes.
The report also includes a demographic breakdown of the individual programs. Comm. Nolan expressed her concern that the numbers for Clarinda and Footprints are not high enough. Mr. Oliver stated work needs to be done regarding the use of the two programs.
Chairperson Bahar-Cook requested the Court to submit data regarding the total placements to date as well as the number of unused beds.
Comm. Weatherwax-Grant commended Court staff on their efforts. She further stated it will be interesting to see the YLS data. Chairperson Bahar-Cook agreed that this Committee does appreciate the Court’s efforts to provide this information.
3. Judiciary Committee
a. Resolution Honoring Matthew Bierwagen
MOVED BY COMM. NOLAN, SUPPORTED BY COMM. WEATHERWAX-GRANT, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION HONORING MATTHEW BIERWAGEN. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Absent: Comm. Schafer
b. Resolution Honoring Donald Reisig
MOVED BY COMM. NOLAN, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SCHOR, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION HONORING DONALD REISIG. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Absent: Comm. Schafer
4. Chairperson Bahar-Cook – Resolution Requesting the Ingham County/City of Lansing Community Coalition for Youth to Establish a Task Force to Help Facilitate the Planning of the “Continuum of Care” Facility
MOVED BY COMM. NOLAN, SUPPORTED BY COMM. HOLMAN, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE INGHAM COUNTY/CITY OF LANSING COMMUNITY COALITION FOR YOUTH TO ESTABLISH A TASK FORCE TO HELP FACILITATE THE PLANNING OF THE “CONTINUUM OF CARE” FACILITY.
Ms. Hill-Schorsch stated the Coalition reviewed the resolution. The Coalition requests a clarification of its roll in this matter.
Comm. Holman stated the Judiciary Committee should establish the task force. Chairperson Bahar-Cook stated the Committee views the CCY as the task force. The purpose of this Resolution is for the County to gain an idea of the actual needs of the facility. She further stated the THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED paragraph in the Resolution requests the CCY to help facilitate the planning of the facility.
Mr. Neilsen suggested the TFBIR paragraph be amended as follows:
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Ingham County Board of Commissioners hereby requests the Community Coalition for Youth to function as a Task Force to help facilitate the planning of the . . .
The Committee accepted Mr. Neilsen’s suggestion as a Friendly Amendment to the Resolution.
Ms. Hill-Schorsch asked what the Committee wants from the Coalition’s report. Comm. Weatherwax-Grant stated the Committee wants to know how the community partners would use the facility space. The Committee discussed this issue further.
Ms. Hill-Schorsch stated she would draft a proposal in the next few days. She also stated she has sent out an email seeking people’s interest in the space. People want to know what they would have to pay for the space. Comm. Holman stated that is the type of information the Committee is seeking.
Chairperson Bahar-Cook stated the County is committed to this facility and wants to know if the community partners are also interested. Mr. Paparella stated a concept paper is needed from the CCY. The County could then determine the hierarchy of what can be accomplished.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Absent: Comm. Schafer
5. Controller’s Office – Summary of Juvenile Justice Millage Expenditures
Mr. Neilsen distributed a revised copy of the Summary which includes a financial footnote. He then reviewed the Summary.
Announcements: None
Public Comment: None
The meeting adjourned at 9:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Debra Neff