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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 09-09-2009 PUBLIC SAFETY COORDINATING COUNCIL Minutes of Meeting September 24, 2009 Convened: Adjourned: 3:33 p.m.4:08 p.m. CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Craft called the meeting to order at 3:33 p.m. in Conference Room # 3, 2300 Virginia Avenue, Fort Pierce, Florida. ROLL CALL Roll call was taken. Members Present: Bruce Colton, State Attorney Commissioner Chris Craft Scott Harloff for Suzanne Caudell, CORE Program Thomas Mark, Department of Corrections John Romano, New Horizons Ken Mascara, Sheriff of SLC th Chief Judge Steve Levin, 19 Circuit Trevor Morganti for Major Pat Tighe Mitch Hilburn for Janet Collins, Bail Association Judge Philip Yacucci Diamond Litty, Public Defender Members Absent: Janet Collins, Bail Association - Excused Pat Tighe, Major - Excused Suzanne Caudell, CORE Program - Excused Others Present: Mark Godwin, SLC Criminal Justice Coordinator Mayor Bob Benton, City of Ft. Pierce Ethel Rowland, Taxpayer Joe Smith, SLC Clerk of Court Allison Duffy, SLC Drug Lab Lisa Savage, SLC Pre-Trial Program Dan Rodgers, DJJ C19 Theresa Bailey, SAMH Gary Robinson, PSL PD APPROVAL OF MINUTES: It was agreed minutes from April, May, July, & August will be approved in October. Public Safety Coordinating Council September 24, 2009 Page 2 UPDATE by SLC Sheriff’s Office- Trevor Morganti on behalf of Sheriff Mascara: Trevor Morganti reported that jail population still continues to be lower than it was one year ago. Unfortunately the female population has risen to 18% and is attributed to prescription drugs. Commissioner Craft asked about crimes statistics that was reported in the newspaper that morning. Sheriff Mascara said crime was down 10 ½% for the county proper during the first 6 months in comparison to last year. This is in not the entire county it is unincorporated only. UPDATE by Criminal Justice Coordinator- Mark Godwin: Mark reported that Broderick Underwood, CJIS Analyst attended the Court Technology Conference in Denver which was BOCC approved. Any new technology and information he can bring back will help not only the PSCC but also the efficiency of the system. Mark distributed the St. Lucie County monthly summary report and it was discussed. (See attached). Mr. Underwood has been working with Major Tighe and Trevor Morganti on the booking and releasing information. After last month’s meeting Commissioner Grande asked some very detailed questions regarding the booking and release data vs. the inmate daily population. We are getting information from four different data sources and the classification folks from the Sheriff’s department are working with Mr. Underwood to formulate a process to explain a very complicated mathematical formula that has to be developed. A more detailed report on that will be done hopefully within the next month along with a forecast report. Mark and members discussed the JAC Center’s budget and how their funding works. Government entities give approximately $75,000 to them which is roughly $300,000. The City of the Fort Police department will not be able to give their contribution this year which leaves a reduction of $220,000 to $230,000.00. The Port St. Lucie PD and St. Lucie County does have that funding in the budget. We need to figure out a process of how to continue the screening and booking. Mr. Dan Rodgers from the Department of Juvenile Justice explained the budget historically. In the past they have operated on a $309,000.00 budget that covered JAC management and detention screening. All that money is gone. Mr. Rogers was given $100,000 after Representative Snider made phone call to Secretary Peterman in an effort to hold the operation together. There are some funds to be used next quarter to continue with the temporary screening staff currently there. Juvenile probation officers were brought in to cover the numbers. In the absence of that the juvenile probation officers staff will have to take over as st of January 1 2010. We will still have a detention screening unit however we will not have a Juvenile Assessment Center. Mr. Rodgers mentioned that we may have to go back to the days of old where we can only accept those kids we know meet detention criteria. As far as the retail theft, truant, and runaways we will have to find other avenues for dealing with them within the case management units in the various counties. Commissioner Craft made a recommendation to invite members of delegation on a tour through the jail. This would explain what would happen Public Safety Coordinating Council September 24, 2009 Page 3 to them if they were a juvenile and how that affects the time and resources the jail staff has available to them if we don’t have this facility. Commissioner Craft does not know of any other solution other than JAC at this point. Mark Godwin said he would follow up with him on this. Lisa Savage from Pretrial informed the group that more cases of GPS are paying for their cost of supervision. There are two major cases in trial that will be finishing up fairly soon. The numbers are staying at around 150 and moving along. Other cases go out and new ones come in. Allison Duffy from the Drug Lab met with Chamber of Commerce members to present a: Drug Free Work Place Program. This program can be customized for local business. Businesses that get federal funding are required to have a drug free work policy and smaller businesses are not. Mr. Godwin gave a brief update on the National Center for State Courts and their Differential Case Management Program. Mark informed the group the cost would be $8,000 for their people to come interview, and $10,000 for classes for all the Judges. Mark and members agreed this would be too costly and will not be pursued. Mr. Godwin informed the group of a discussion he had with Rodger Shinn from Central Services. th The bid for phase 1A will be advertised Tuesday, September 29 2009. This will provide 3 additional court rooms and 3 Judges Chambers on the first floor of the court house. JUDICIAL UPDATE Chief Judge Levin informed the group that Juvenile Drug Court is also tracking truancy. The St. Lucie County School Board is working with the courts on that issue. Truancy is a major problem. The court ordered some testing and found out that in some cases it is due to students using drugs and alcohol. As far as the Swine Flu there was a meeting with Law Enforcement, Clerks, State Attorney, & the Public Defender on getting a unified effort to deal with issues that may arise. Judge Levin mentioned a $1.00 fee that will be added to an administrative order. The fee is statutory and will be enacted mid October. Court coverage is being done without using Senior Judge Time. All the judges are doing their part and that saves money. Judge Yacucci added that all the programs that are in place to keep folks out of jail are working out extremely well. Things are running beyond smooth. Thomas Mark explained the $1.00 fee Judge Levin mentioned and what it is intended for. This is at no cost to tax payers. Every month a person is on supervision they would pay $1.00 to a nonprofit agency. The money is earmarked and will be for the benefit of offenders. These funds are intended for medical, house, and food assistance. It would be a win win for all if we can prevent one person from committing a crime for a basic necessity. Public Safety Coordinating Council September 24, 2009 Page 4 OLD BUSINESS Mark Godwin asked that members take a copy of past minutes that were provided. John Romano from New Horizons gave a brief update on the Children’s Crises Center. They are working with Senator Bill Nelson’s office and Congressman Alcee Hastings requesting a waiver for stimulus dollars for the mentally ill. Mr. Godwin briefly mentioned two articles sent to him by Major Tighe. The first article was an event that took place in Osceola County that funded 123 new positions. The second article is about bail bonds and release operations at the jail. Please see both articles attached. NEW BUSINESS Theresa Bailey announced and invited members to the Mental Health Court Graduation on th October 13 2009 at 2:00 pm. There will be 34 defendants graduating. Commissioner Craft handed out flyers at the request of a citizen. Please see attached. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Craft adjourned the meeting at 4:08 p.m. Submitted by, Carlene Filippini THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD October 29, 2009