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Home My WebLink AboutMay 26, 2011 MinutesPUBLIC fAFE'rY COORDINATING COUNCIL Minutes of Meeting May 26, 2011 Convened 3:34 p.m. CALL ?O ORDER Adiowrnede 4:09 p.m. Commissioner Craft called the meeting to order at 3:34 p.m. in Conference Room # 3, 2300 Virginia Avenue, Fort Pierce, Florida. ROLL CALL Roll call was taken. Member: Pre=ent: Commissioner Chris Craft, Chairman Suzanne Caudell, CORE Program Michael Davis for Thomas Marfz, Department of Corrections John Romano, New Horizons Ken Mascara, Sheriff of SLC Chief Judge Steve Levin,l9t" Circuit Pat Tighe, Major Janet Collins, Bail Association Tom Genung, for Judge Philip 1. Yacucci,l9t" Circuit Member: Ab=ent~ Diamond Litty, Public Defender Judge Philip 1. Yacucci,l9t" Circuit Bruce Colton, State Attorney OEl~erf Pretent~ Mary Godwin, SLC Criminal Justice Coordinator Ethel Rowland, Taxpayer Broderick Underwood, SLC Analyst Lisa Savage, SLC Pre-Trial Program Scott Harloff, CORE Probation AI Pigozzi, Pastor - Plant a Seed Ministry Lt. William McMahon, SLC SO APPROVAL OF MINUTE=~ The minutes from March 31, 2011 were unanimously approved. No April minutes due to lack of quorum. Public fafety Coordinatins Couneil May 26, =oft Pase Z UPDATE by fLC fherriff'= Offiee- Mayor Tishe~ Major Tighe reported the population total was at 1137 today. There has been a ten percent increase in Capital Crimes while the number of misdemeanors has decreased. Major Tighe added that 28 percent of the population is mentally ill and currently in custody are 90 confirmed gang members. UPDATE by Criminal ~w:tire Coordinator- Marh Godwin: Mr. Godwin introduced the executive director of the Palm Beach County Criminal Justice Commission, Mikte Rodriguez. Mr. Rodriguez was able learn about the data we process with Mr. Broderick Underwood, SLC C11S Analyst. Mr. Rodriguez previously was invited by Major Tighe to learn about the "front end" jail operations and the re-entry court cases. Chairman Craft raised the idea of having a Statewide Public Safety Coordinating Council meeting to share best practices. Mr. Rodriguez expressed that although Palm Beach County has a very collaborative structure, there is an issue with sharing data. Mr. Rodriguez expressed that he would lilxe to share with his colleagues that data can be shared successfully and securely. Marks also introduced Pastor AI from Plant a Seed Ministries. Pastor AI workzs with Mental Health and Drug Court to house mentally ill and drug addicted individuals. The Average Monthly Inmate Population report was reviewed and discussed. The report reflected a comparison of 2010 to 2011. Chairman Craft requested CJIS Analyst, Mr. Underwood to include prior years for the Miscellaneous Population Statistic graph. Mr. Godwin advised of seventy inmates housed in the jail over 365 days awaiting trial. It was indicated that data will be compiled for that. Misdemeanor cases have been moving quicktly. He also reported that the Mental Health Court Grant is scheduled to terminate on tune 30, 2011. Mr. Godwin is exploring options to modify the Jail Diversion contract with New Horizons of the Treasure Coat so that most of the services under the grant will continue to be provided through the County. Additional grants have been applied for and the outcome is unknown at this time. It was also reported that approval to expand the St. Lucie County Drug Screening operations into Okeechobee County will be brought to the Board in June. Mr. Godwin updated members that the Pretrial Bill did not pass in the recent Legislative Session. Lisa Savage, Pretrial Program Manager reported that cases are moving through very quickly. JUDICIAL UPDATE -Chief ~adse Levin The Chief Judge updated the group in regards to St. Lucie County remaining one Judge short. Governor Scott has six names that will be selected in forty days if not sooner. One of those selected will be over Juvenile Courtin St. Lucie County. Chief Judge has taken over Adult Drug Court and Pwblie fafeiby Coordinating Cowneil May z6, sort Page 3 Judge Cox still handles Mental Health Court with other Judges helping out. Chief Judge Levin reported that it has been a problem for some individuals to pay for drug testing. He has workxed with Drug Court participants with financial planning to prioritize recovery. It was indicated that it would be great if the Drug Screening Lab is able to obtain a Federal Grant to help sustain them when they do have indigent participants that cannot pay the testing fee. The State Courts Budget process has been complete and the Programs and Judges were maintained. Commissioner Craft, Chairman reported the BOCC had takren trips to Washington, DC to discuss FEMA issues. The last trip to Washington was successful and fourteen million dollars was secured for the County to fund the Courthouse Annex Building Project. One of the benefits of this project is more courtrooms. OLD BUfINEff~ None NEW BUfINEff~ Pastor AI Pigozzi commented about Plant a Seed Ministries workting well with Pretrial to house ill patients. These individuals require therapy and are able to pay for the housing with their social security and this saves the County money instead of them being housed in the County jail with medical problems. His program has been successful with getting these individuals to Court when they are required to appear. Plant a Seed also feeds 700 people a weeks in their Cafe. Pastor AI announced his program received a grant from Major League Baseball. Twenty thousand dollars of these funds will be utilized for Little League Baseball Clinic which will open on July 11, 2011. The clinic will run three days a weekr and is located at 13t" Street and Avenue M in Fort Pierce. He informed the group that the purpose of this clinic is to reach out to brokten families and teach children life skulls as well as get them excited about baseball instead of drug use. John Romano, CEO of New Horizons of the Treasure Coast thankred all involved who supported him when faced with a 215 million dollar cut to Mental Health Programs proposed by the Senate in the past Legislative Session. He advised that a new session will begin in January and he will be back at work: to ensure funding will not get cut. Mr. Romano was able to obtain two indigent beds for his Children's Crisis Unit. Chairman Craft askred if members were in agreement to nix the Circuit Wide Public Safety meeting previously done in June and hold a State Wide Best Practices meeting instead. All members agreed to have the Best Practices meeting within the upcoming months at Indian River State College if it can be workzed out with the facility. The group considered Attorney General Pam Bondi to receive an invite to speakr. Publie fafety Coordinating Couneil May =6, zo~~ Page 4 ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Craft, Chairman adjourned the meeting at 4:09 p.m. Submitted by, Carlene Busse THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD June 30, 2011 St. Lucie County Criminal Justice System Average Monthly Inmate Population looo 950 Jan Feb May Average Monthly VOP Population Inmates Housed Over 365 Days Housed Over 365 Days 1s 10 5 0 ~J`ae~ 0`~~5 4 e~ ~a ¢~a e~ ecw e~J LO Se+Ja\0a~~ e~J~\ e ~`a lac` ~r S\~Qa`~ ~oc~ 2\ 5 \ O a~ e~ c~ 0e' ywt