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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 07-29-2010 PUBLIC SAFETY COORDINATING COUNCIL Minutes of Meeting July 29, 2010 Convened: Adjourned: 3:33 p.m.3:55 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: Commissioner Chris Craft th Judge Philip J. Yacucci, 19 Circuit Scott Harloff for Suzanne Caudell, CORE Program Eric Gidland for Thomas Mark, Department of Corrections Ken Mascara, Sheriff of SLC Major Pat Tighe th Chief Judge Steve Levin, 19 Circuit Diamond Litty, Public Defender Janet Collins, Bail Association Members Absent: Bruce Colton, State Attorney John Romano, New Horizon Others Present: Mark Godwin, SLC Criminal Justice Coordinator th Tom Genung, 19 Circuit Administration Ethel Rowland, Taxpayer Broderick Underwood, SLC Analyst Allison Duffy, SLC Drug Lab Lisa Savage, SLC Pre-Trial Program Gaby Suarez, Rep. Adam Fetterman Assistant Carin Smith, SLC Clerk of Circuit Court Chairman Grande, SLC BOCC Mitch Hilburn, SLC Bail Bond Associates Gary Robinson, PSL PD Marcia Miller, Dept. of Juvenile Justice APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes from June 24, 2010 were unanimously approved. Public Safety Coordinating Council July 29, 2010 Page 2 UPDATE by SLC Sherriff’s Office- Sheriff Mascara: Sheriff Mascara brought a copy of an article about the: A Journey Forward Program. The program was instituted by himself and Public Defender, Diamond Litty at the SLC Jail in 2003. This article was in the American Jails Association Magazine. Please see copy attached. Sheriff Mascara also reported the jail had a visit from the State of Florida, DCF recently. A tour was given along with information on the history of the programs offered at the jail. A letter was sent to the jail from the assistant secretary of DCF complimenting the remarkable work being carried out at the jail and how the children and families were benefiting from the collaborate efforts of the staff at the jail. UPDATE by Criminal Justice Coordinator- Mark Godwin: Mr. Godwin went over the population of the Detention Center and the different data that is provided on the report. He stated for the next month the focus will be on how to identify the true average length of stay. Currently it is a combination of Pretrial cases that are pending Court and those who already have been sentenced. This causes the numbers to be skewed. As a result of the 2009 Sentence Legislation FL Statue 775 there was an increase of people sentenced to the County Jail as opposed to State Prison based on a point system. Mr. Godwin also reported all programs are going well. JUDICIAL UPDATE- Chief Judge Levin: Chief Judge Levin reported that the calendar for January 2011 is out and Holiday schedules are coordinated with all the agencies involved so that all are open or closed on the same days. The Judicial assignments have been determined, but they are not in writing yet. He mentioned that Judge Sweet is coming back here for Felony Court. OLD BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS: Commissioner Craft invited all members to attend a future meeting regarding how jail operations work. It would be great to have everyone’s input and it will help give the County Public Safety Coordinating Council July 29, 2010 Page 3 Commissioners a better understanding on how the jail operations work. Sheriff Mascara said that the date was set for September first, but he requested it be moved to the end of October because of schedule conflicts. Commissioner Craft commented that we are all struggling with budgets and looking at ways to save dollars. He mentioned that Major Tighe sent an email to him regarding a conversation that was had at the last Public Safety meeting on ideas to save money. Major Tighe explained that he took Commissioner Craft’s lead in regards to the concept to have all four Counties have a joint PSCC meeting to discuss strategies on doing things similar to save money. Major Tighe gave an example of collaborating with the other three counties to save money in the past. He explained when gasoline prices were very high Okeechobee, Martin and St. Lucie County changed their schedule to transport prisoners to State Prison on the same day using two staff and one bus. Indian River County is now on board with that as well. Monthly teleconferences are held with the four directors of Okeechobee, Indian River, Martin and St. Lucie Jail. Martin County is having their food service director at the next meeting to discuss the idea of purchasing the food in bulk to save money which would mean all four Counties will have to be on the same menu. Major Tighe found out that he can buy toilet paper direct from Miami and save ten dollars a case. This can branch out by working with the Finance Directors to buy things in bulk to save money. It is positive that the four Counties are all talking and working together and with that said he thanked the Judges for their constant cooperation and support. Lisa Savage, Pretrial Manager also thanked Judge Yacucci for handling an after hour situation. This saved the County from having to pay for an inmate’s medevac transport to Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Florida where major surgery was going to be preformed. They were able to get the inmate released on own recognizance (ROR). Commissioner Craft asked if there were any more comments from the group. Mr. Godwin recognized the Clerk’s office for the remarkable improvement regarding the inmate prison packets. It is at an all time low to just about zero compared to when he first started which were seventy five packets and it took up to five weeks to process. Mr. Godwin also inquired about how often this council was going to have the circuit wide meeting. It was agreed that it will be held twice a year. Commissioner Craft asked if there were any comments from the public. A citizen announced results regarding the National Criminal Justice Act (Senate Bill 714 and House Bill 5143) passed the House by voice vote as well as in the Senate. Gaby Suarez from Representative Fetterman’s office commented that the Pretrial Release Bill is not currently being worked on and it has taken a back seat this summer with the oil spill situation. She continued to say that nothing will be done until after election. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Craft adjourned the meeting at 3:55 p.m. Submitted by, Carlene Filippini THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD August 26, 2010 Public Safety Coordinating Council July 29, 2010 Page 4