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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPSCC 01302020 - Minutes PUBLIC SAFETY COORDINATING COUNCIL ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA Regular Meeting January 30, 2020 Convened: 3:29 PM Adjourned: 4:19 PM 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 3:29 PM by Chair, Commissioner Cathy Townsend. Roll call was taken. Members Present Commissioner Cathy Townsend, BOCC Bruce Colton, State Attorney, 19th Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Lawrence Mirman, 19th Judicial Circuit Judge Kathryn Nelson, 19th Judicial Circuit Mike Davis, Circuit Administrator, DOC Suzanne Caudell, Director of CORE Program Chief Garry Wilson for Sheriff Mascara, SLSO Major Chris Cicio, SLSO George Shopland, CEO, New Horizons Timothy Kozlowski, St. Lucie Bail Agents Assoc. Members Excused Diamond Litty, Public Defender, 19th Judicial Circuit Others Present Roy P. Hudson, SLC Atty/CJD Trevor Morganti, SLSO Captain Petri Hayes, SLSO Anita Cocoves, FPPD Ethel Rowland, Taxpayer Joseph Cowan, SLC Atty/CJD Alicia Foster, SLC Atty/CJD Laura Mejia, SLC Atty/CJD Colleen Hamilton, BOCC Regular Meeting Thursday, January 30, 2020 3:29PM 2 | Page 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes from October 31, 2019 were unanimously approved. 3. UPDATE by SLC Sheriff’s Office: Major Chris Cicio Major Chris Cicio shared an update on the ransomware recovery progress indicating the Sheriff’s Office was about 85% to 90% recovered. He shared that anything computer related had to be done by hand and thanked their community partners for helping ensure that functions still worked smoothly. Major Cicio thanked Judge Mirman for working with them to simplify the bond schedule similar to that of Martin and Okeechobee counties schedule. He explained that now the bond schedule will apply to statutory changes that take place. Major Cicio also shared that Sheriff’s Office worked with the Public Defender, State Attorney, and Judiciary to streamline the process used to release some inmates on their own recognizance that have high risk medical conditions and low risk charges so the cost is not paid by the County. He gave an example of an inmate that had a high risk pregnancy and was in jail for a misdemeanor. Major Cicio mentioned that dialysis is taking place offsite currently due to the pH of the water run eating away at the pipes under the jail. He noted the County is working diligently to resolve the issue so dialysis can be brought back onsite. 4. UPDATE by Criminal Justice Director: Roy Hudson Roy Hudson shared that the Pretrial offices have relocated in the Courthouse allowing for a majority of the Criminal Justice division to be in one location and providing a better work environment. He also mentioned a new employee will start Monday bringing the Pretrial Program to full staff for the first time in almost 2 years. 5. JUDICIAL UPDATES: Chief Judge Mirman Judge Mirman shared that there is a bill at Legislature he thinks will pass that will restructure the way court security is handled throughout the state to ensure more organization and uniformity. He also shared that he attended the PSCC meeting in Okeechobee where jail overcrowding was a concern which led to him reviewing the jail population in Okeechobee. He explained that he looked at the jail population with a focus on reviewing the Judiciary side to ensure all is being done that can be done responsibly. He gave the Judges in Okeechobee a few recommendations for their consideration. Judge Mirman added that he also looked at a sampling of the Saint Lucie County jail population and confirmed what was previously discussed in that the judges are making prudent sentencing decisions. He also explained there is political dynamic between the State and Counties in terms of cost and moving inmates to prison and the judges are caught in the middle. He explained the point system involved in deeming an inmate to be prison eligible and unless the inmate exceeds the required points the judge has to find the inmate a danger to the community to send them to prison which requires a jury to determine. Bruce Colton noted there has been Legislation introduced this year to try to increase the number of points an inmate has to get to be prison eligible which, if it passes, would mean more inmates going to jail versus Regular Meeting Thursday, January 30, 2020 3:29PM 3 | Page prison. Mr. Colton also shared that Legislature raised what qualifies as grand theft to $750 or more; making more crimes eligible as misdemeanors. Judge Mirman shared another challenge is with funding and management of Specialty Courts. He explained that Legislature has largely left it to the Counties to fund the management of these courts and when the State does provide funding it is tied to following specific Best Practices. He explained that recently this has led to a realignment of Case Managers from Mental Health Court to Drug Court which created a bit more tension in Mental Health Court. Major Cicio shared, referring to jail overcrowding, that they recently researched why some inmates who have not been sentenced have been in jail for an extended period of time and found that there were legitimate reasons for their length of time in the jail. Judge Mirman noted that during his analysis of the jails in the two counties he discovered that some inmates are simply not bonding out even with reasonable bonds. Discussion ensued regarding various reasons why inmates have extended stays at the jail. Chief Wilson shared the jail has roughly 300 inmates there for violation of probation being held without bond. He explained that a former judge used to hold what was called a rocket docket in which he would either send the inmate to prison or release them for time served. He questioned if there was a way to look at those types of cases. Judge Mirman expressed that it was something to think about and indicated if they see violation of probation cases that are languishing to bring to his attention for review. Judge Mirman noted there was a big decision made on the death penalty recently that may have an impact on our burden of cases. 6. OLD BUSINESS Commissioner Townsend questioned if the PSCC would be willing to make a motion and pass it to decriminalize possession of under 20 grams of marijuana. She explained that in past meeting it has been discussed that individuals are not being arrested for having under 20 grams of marijuana and instead were being issued warnings. She further clarified that the petition for decriminalizing possession of under 20 grams did not get the petition signed and did not go on the ballot. She explained if this Council would be willing to make a motion and pass it then it could go to the Sheriff’s Office and to the BOCC to vote on. The response from the Council was that no one would make such a motion. Bruce Colton shared that there are people being arrested with possession of under 20 grams in certain cases. He also indicated the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has developed a way to test for marijuana that complies with the new law. Mr. Colton explained that no one within the Criminal Justice system has said it is never going to be enforced again. Major Cicio explained the issue was more about hemp being legalized, not marijuana, but the test was not able to distinguish between the two previously. Chief Wilson shared that our lab will have this testing capability in the beginning of February. Commissioner Townsend conveyed the numbers of calls regarding possession of under 20 grams of marijuana coming into Administration and Legal have increased since it didn’t make it on the ballot. She explained this is what led to discussion of bringing the matter before the Council. Judge Mirman asked if there was ever an expansion to the Saint Lucie County Jail. Chief Wilson commented the Delta wing was added on in 2004 or 2005. Bruce Colton shared that at that time the jail population was around 1800 inmates and indicated it was encouraging to be around 1200 when considering how much the population of the County has grown. Commissioner Townsend agreed it was Regular Meeting Thursday, January 30, 2020 3:29PM 4 | Page impressive. Timothy Kozlowski questioned if there had been any rendering on a new jail and, if so, what the capacity of a new jail might be. Commissioner Townsend explained it has gotten to that point yet. Anita Cocoves asked if any inmates being released that have medical needs utilize the County’s indigent healthcare fund. Commissioner Townsend shared that some do utilize it, however, many are not aware the fund is available. She also shared she has requested to have an additional employee in the department that handles that fund to try to acquire some grants. Commissioner expressed that she feels if some of our homeless population could utilize that fund to for a hand up they may not be homeless. 7. NEW BUSINESS Commissioner Townsend shared there is talk in Tallahassee of getting a bill up to allow inmates in jail to keep their insurance until they are convicted. She explained this would take the burden off the taxpayers. She shared that both she and Commissioner Bartz had conversations with Senator Mayfield and Senator Harrell expressing that is a big concern in Saint Lucie County. Commissioner Townsend also explained that she will be putting together a roundtable to discuss a homeless shelter pilot she wants to initiate which she thinks may positively impact the jail population. Anita Cocoves questioned if the PSCC has developed a Baker Act Transportation Plan. Roy Hudson explained the plan in place is that the Sheriff’s Office is responsible for Baker Act transportation. Ms. Cocoves shared in the last couple of years the statute has been modified so that the person can be taken to the most appropriate or nearest facility. Commissioner Townsend indicated it can be discussed and brought back to the PSCC for conversation. Bruce Colton asked Suzanne Caudell how the deferred prosecution program is going in Martin County. Ms. Caudell shared that everyone who has come through the program has completed it successfully. Judge Nelson indicated in Saint Lucie County a few have come back but overall is has been good. Suzanne Caudell offered to bring in statistical data to share at the next meeting. Commissioner Townsend agreed that would be welcomed. Commissioner Townsend also commented the more the group shares collaboratively the better it will be to try to fix concerns; it is just knowing what everyone’s needs are to get there. 8. COMMENTS 9. PUBLIC COMMENT Ethel Rowland, taxpayer, shared she thinks the most dangerous drug market is when possession is decriminalized. She explained this is because the market is there and if possession is decriminalized but selling is not decriminalized there is more motivation to provide the product due to demand. She shared her concern in this period of moving from prohibition to accommodating is the safety of the community. 10. ADJOURNMENT Regular Meeting Thursday, January 30, 2020 3:29PM 5 | Page Commissioner Townsend adjourned the meeting at 4:19pm. Submitted by, Kellie Harris The next meeting will be held on April 30, 2020.