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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPSCC Jan 272011 Minutes PUBLIC SAFETY COORDINATING COUNCIL Minutes of Meeting January 27, 2011 Convened: Adjourned: 3:36 p.m.4:35 p.m. CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Craft called the meeting to order at 3:36 p.m. in Conference Room # 3, 2300 Virginia Avenue, Fort Pierce, Florida. ROLL CALL Roll call was taken. Members Present: Commissioner Chris Craft Suzanne Caudell, CORE Program Thomas Mark, Department of Corrections John Romano, New Horizons th Chief Judge Steve Levin, 19 Circuit Janet Collins, Bail Association Major Pat Tighe, SLC SO th Judge Philip J. Yacucci, 19 Circuit Members Absent: Ken Mascara, Sheriff of SLC Bruce Colton, State Attorney Diamond Litty, Public Defender Others Present: Mark Godwin, SLC Criminal Justice Coordinator Ethel Rowland, Taxpayer Broderick Underwood, SLC Analyst Lisa Savage, SLC Pre-Trial Program Chris Harris, Magellan Health Phill Brodeur, State Attorney Major Gary Robinson, PSL PD Scott Harloff, CORE Program Trevor Morganti, SLC SO Lt. William McMahon, SLC SO Kristen Trabulsy, Comm. Craft’s Aide APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Public Safety Coordinating Council Jan. 27, 2011 Page 2 The minutes from October 28, 2010 were unanimously approved UPDATE by SLC Sherriff’s Office- Major Tighe for Sheriff Mascara: Major Tighe reported inmate population has been low since our last meeting in October 2010 but st predicts it will go up. December 31 of 2010 the population was at 1,064, of those 64 were federal inmates. This was an all time low. Since the New Year the population has increased to 1,173 and is predicted to be 1,500 by March of this year. Major Tighe indicated that the increasing various crimes may be due to the high unemployment rate. The group was updated on the savings the County has seen since collaborating with Martin, Indian River, and Okeechobee County Jails to purchase products in bulk. St. Lucie County saved $10,000 on toilet paper alone. The efforts the four county jails have made to transport state prisoners over the past year has saved on fuel and staffing. Since the toilet paper purchase, decisions on other products have not been made. Commissioner Craft agreed to get the word out to the other Commissioners and speak with some key players to see if they can move forward and make more bulk purchases together. Major Tighe read an email sent to County Administrator, Faye Outlaw from Sheriff Mascara thanking her for her involvement in addressing maintenance issues at the jail. Since Don McLam was assigned the County Maintenance Coordinator of the jail, great strides have occurred. The Sheriff expressed his deepest appreciation on behalf of himself and his employees at the SLC Jail to Mr. McLam and his staff. A SLC Jail Mental Health Statistics handout was distributed and discussed (see attached). The mental health population has increased. Some of them have a duel diagnosis because of substance abuse. In addition to this some have chronic illnesses. John Romano added what he had seen at the adult crisis units. There are thirty beds and they are always full. The people there are even more “psychotic” than they have seen in a long time. The population is aggressive young males with ages ranging from twenties and thirties. Major Tighe requested to invite Judge Cox, Mental Health Court Judge to attend an upcoming meeting and share what she had seen. Major Tighe discussed a test Bill the United States Legislature is trying to introduce regarding Medicare and Medicaid. Six test sites across the country will participate in a three year study to see if jail population will slow down or keep people out if an inmate stayed on these benefits. Commissioner Craft mentioned that the National Association of Counties (NAOC) will have good sessions this year on this topic. He will be attending a session in March and Mark Godwin just attended one recently. Mr. Godwin explained that the session specifically dealt with this issue for inmates who have not been sentenced yet, but are denied Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. In addition to that when they do get released, it takes months to reactivate these benefits which cost not only the inmates and their families but the community as well. The NACO is trying to push the Federal Government to Public Safety Coordinating Council Jan. 27, 2011 Page 3 change this policy to benefits discontinuing when an inmate is sentenced to County Jail or State Prison and not at the point of incarceration. UPDATE by Criminal Justice Coordinator- Mark Godwin: Mark went over SLC Jail 2008 -2010 chart of yearly VOP averages. Violation of probation cases are being diverted to mental health court and has recently increased to 125%. The SLC Detention Center Population report was reviewed. The Average Length of Stay (ALOS) was discussed and Broderick Underwood, CJIS Analyst was thanked along with staff at the jail that provided pertinent information so that this now can be tracked. Mark reported in regards to reducing jail population at the NACO conference, there was discussion to offer alternative programs to offenders that the courts feel appropriate. Mark passed around a Captain Crime Watch Poster that the Treasure Coast Crime Watch has distributed to and is now displayed at the Juvenile Assessment Center, as well as the Detention Center. It was made to encourage juveniles to call in or report illegal activity witnessed at their school to a Resource Officer, teacher or parent. Mark received notice SLC earned a credit of $315,000 from the Juvenile Assessment Center based on a cost share formula. He was thankful for that because these funds go back into the fine and forfeiture fund. Our local Florida Association of Counties is considering developing a relationship with the Department of Juvenile Justice and Legislature for a state wide detention cost share work group. If Mark is appointed to the Board, he would keep this group informed on the new transition team. The team includes Governor Scott and the new Department of Juvenile Justice Director, Secretary Wilson. Funding issues regarding the Juvenile Assessment Center was discussed. At one time the center received $300,000 of state funding, but due to budget cuts that has been eliminated. The County has a contract with the Department of Juvenile Justice to run the Juvenile Assessment Center which dropped to $186,000. Invoices have been sent to the city’s police departments and we have not heard back yet if they are able to contribute their share. Last year their share was about $75,000 and this year because of reduced budgets and costs it will be about $42,000. The police departments use this valuable facility and it is something we need open at all times. Mark reported the three year Mental Health Court Grant that we have with the Department of Children and Families was due to end March 31, 2011. Our request to extend that grant until th September 30 2011 was granted. New grants have been applied for to keep it going. Drug Lab testing has increased dramatically. Susanne Caudell thanked Mark for Drug Lab Manager, Allison Duffy’s presentation to the probation staff at CORE. All was reported well with the Pretrial program. Mr. Godwin also gave an update on the theme of our booth at the St. Lucie County Fair this year. The theme has to do with the courts through the years and there will be information for the public about the court programs offered and Clerk’s information. Public Safety Coordinating Council Jan. 27, 2011 Page 4 JUDICIAL UPDATE Chief Judge Levin went over the judicial assignment changes for the New Year. Senior Judges are still handling the foreclosures. He mentioned that the SLC Drug Lab has done a great job handling the high volume of testing and keeping up with the court system. Once a year Chief Judge Levin has Daniel Nippes from the Indian River State College Crime Lab inspect the different Drug Labs and reported that SLC received rave reviews. It was very positive feedback. Juvenile Drug Court drug of choice is Oxy but kids are also smoking anything they can get their hands on including the synthetic marijuana, spices/salts and herbs and it is killing them. Major Tighe mentioned that the Attorney General had just passed legislation banning these synthetic drugs. Chief Judge Levin also announced once the first floor of the courthouse is ready the seventh street facility will be moved back there. Commissioner Craft mentioned that the Medical Examiner appointment is coming up and informed the group that the Board of County Commissioners will send them information requesting any letters of support or recommendations. OLD BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS Mr. Romano passed out information pertaining to legislative proposals on Medicare reform. That information is what he will be presenting to our legislative delegation as well. He reported concerning news from Tallahassee, the Senate Health Human Services Appropriation Committee is targeting cuts to mental health and substance abuse funding. Baker Act funding specifically which includes the adult crisis stabilization unit. Mr. Romano indicated there would be a direct effect on the jail population as well as the court rooms and ERs. Judge Yacucci suggested drafting a letter to all members on the Public Safety Board for their support and bringing it to the BOCC in the form of a resolution. Mr. Romano agreed to do that immediately. Mr. Mark from the Department of Corrections announced a training provided by Appriss, Inc at th the Indian River State College February 16 2011. This training is for information and notification for victims. Agencies can benefit from this training to learn about program offered to victims of a crime. Also reported was information from a teleconference with Interstate Compact, a federal entity. Effective February first of this year is a mandatory retaking of violators of probation in other states who left Florida. The State may have to take them back. It could be a cost impact to the county. Mr. Mark estimated that twenty percent of offenders on probation go out of state. Public Safety Coordinating Council Jan. 27, 2011 Page 5 A citizen, Ms. Rowland distributed a hand out on Collateral Costs: Incarceration’s Effect on Economic Mobility as well as one on Right on Crime. For more information on Right on Crime please visit: www.rightoncrime.com. Please see attached. Ms. Rowland also announced an upcoming adolescence conference in Orlando hosted by: Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse ththth Association on February 14 and 15 2011 with additional training on the 16. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Craft adjourned the meeting at 4:35 p.m. Submitted by, Carlene Busse THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD February 24, 2011