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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 02-23-2012PUBLIC:AF+E1'Y COORDINATING COUNCIL Minutes of Meeting February 23, 2012 Convened: 3:32 p.m. Adioarned~ 4:28 p.m. CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Mowery called the meeting to order at 3:32 p.m. in Conference Room # 3, 2300 Virginia Avenue, Fort Pierce, Florida. ROLL CALL Roll call was taken. Member: Pre:en~e Commissioner Tod Mowery Chief Judge Steve Levin,l9t" Circuit Judge Philip J. Yacucci,l9t" Circuit Justine Patterson, Department of Corrections Suzanne Caudell, CORE Program Ken Mascara, Sheriff of SLC Major Pat Tighe, SL SO John Romano, New Horizons Diamond Litty, Public Defender Member: Ab:snit: Bruce Colton, State Attorney Janet Collins, Bail Association Oither: Pre=enb~ Markr Godwin, SLC Criminal Justice Coordinator Broderick: Underwood, C11S Analyst Lisa Savage, SLC Pre-Trial Program Kristen Garrison, Clerks of Court Ethal Rowland, Tax payer Kevin Housel, Juvenile Assessment Center Trevor Morganti, SL SO Chief Sean Baldwin, FP PD lay Meisel, Hometown News Scott Harloff, CORE Program Chris Harris, Magellan Health APPROVAL OP MINUTE=: The minutes from January t9, 20t2 were unanimously approved. Pablie fafeity Coordinating Couneil Febraary Z3, ZOfZ Page Z UPDA'iE 6y fLC fherriff'f Offiee- Mayor Tighe behalf of fheriff Ma=eara: Major Tighe reported the population to be 1,267 with 49 US Marshal Prisoners. A graph of SLC Jail Inmates in Detox in 2011 was distributed and discussed (see attached). Major Tighe explained the detox relates to the OxyContin dilemma. Last year there were 303 individuals who went through the detox process which amounted to $84,952 in medical care. He suspected the numbers for 2012 will go up and partly because people do not have anywhere else to go without insurance. Major Tighe shared two cases in the past that involved overdue females who tried to turn themselves in to have their babies delivered using the jail for medical coverage. In both cases they were able to get a Judge to vacate the order for the violation of probation (VOP). Commissioner Mowery asked if what the Major described was a new trend. Major Tighe replied that he had seen. it in Broward ten years ago, but due the economy it seemed to be happening more. Major Tighe continued that in order to be a constitutional jail, services like medical, mental health, and dental have to be provided. He mentioned a few stories regarding a jail in New Mexico and how it cost millions when they had lawsuits because medical services were not provided. His point was it costs to run a constitutional jail, but it also costs to run an unconstitutional jail. Sheriff Mascara presumed and John Romano agreed (CEO of New Horizons) an average cost for a three day stay at Lawnwood Medical Center for detox would. be ten to twelve thousand dollars. If the three hundred they treated at the jail was treated at Lawnwood, it would cost three million dollars and since most patients would be considered indigent, eventually the tax payers would have to pay for it anyway. He compared that to the cost the jail was able to do it for which was $84,952 and felt it was a good. bargain. He also shared with the group that the Major and Chief went to Howey-in-the-Hills, FL and, received a second reaccreditation from Florida Corrections Accreditation Commission (FCAC). It was awarded for being 100 percent incompliance for all standards and policies. The Sheriff concluded by saying they are very proud of that and will continue to make sure they are running a constitutional jail. Judge Yacucci brought up a topic about having video cameras in law enforcement vehicles. He mentioned that because of television, jurors expect to see one and the question always comes up at trials. The Judge also mentioned he understood funding issues and it-was a wish he had and wondered how much money might be saved by not going to trial because of a video. The group spoke of which agencies had cameras and how they were used and the pros and cons along with it. Pablie faite~y Coordinaiins Coaneii Pebraary 23, ZOfZ Pase 3 UPDATE by Criminal ~w=dice Coordinator- Marh Godwin: Mr. Marks Godwin discussed the Criminal Justice budget briefly with it being budget time. He indicated that his budget will remain flat and he explained that funding for the Juvenile Assessment Center (JAC) is included. He reported that the Port St. Lucie Police Department contributed Ten Thousand dollars to the JAC this year. He explained since the grant that funded mental health and substance abuse expired in June after three years, services continue through the Criminal Justice budget. Over $500,000 tax payer dollars which goes through New Horizons and Mental Health Court, included in that is services of a Forensic Case Manager. Mr. Godwin informed the group that the Drug Labs and Pretrial programs are doing well. The Drug Screening Lab recently had another truckling company sign on with them for DOT testing. The St. Lucie County Drug Lab will be moved into the new lab space. in the weekts ahead. Lisa Savage, Pretrial Manager gave a brief overview of some cases involved in her program. Mr. Godwin informed the group that a letter written by Commissioner Chris Dzadovsk~y was sent to Tallahassee to oppose the proposed Health and Human Services Appropriations cuts. The letter was sent in February and Commissioner Dzadovskty was opposed to a cut to adult substance abuse and mental health services treatment (see attached). Marla complimented the Major on the Detox program Major Tighe spokte of earlier because not only are the numbers cost effective, but it saves lives. He also shared some information he learned from a webinar given. by The National Association of Counties (NACO). There was a brief discussion on what may come in January of 2014 regarding healthcare reform and the eligibility of individuals who are in custody pre-detention for Medicaid. JUDICIAL UPDATE -Chief ~adse Levin Chief Judge Levin agreed about the Detox Program. A few defendants in Drug Court requested to go to the "drug dorm" in the jail because they knew they needed help. He complimented the Sheriff and Major on their involvement with that. The Chief Judge announced that there was a new bond schedule set for St. Lucie County and would be available soon. The previous one was set by road officers and had been around for twenty years or so without ever being changed. There are about two hundred and forty pages of charges; the order is in the process of being signed. Major Tighe supplied all the charges and what the bond was currently listed at. Chief Judge Levin and Criminal Division Administrative Judge Mirman adjusted the numbers to the cost of living over time. He stated the schedule is a starting point/guidance and the Judges have full discretion to raise or lower them as they see fit. Major Tighe added that there was another aspect of the project because there were a lot of FL Statutes that had no bond set because of some computer crimes that did not exist before and changes that tookt place over the last twenty years. He explained, to maintain consistency with law enforcement agencies in SLC the officer will be able to type in Pablie fafety Coordinating Coaneil Rebraary Z3, ZO~Z Page 4 the Statute number and the verbiage will automatically appear. This will also help when an analysis is done on certain charges and so forth. Major Tighe and Chief Judge Levin agreed that it will be a benefit to everyone including the Clerk's office. Chief Judge Levin remarked that Juvenile Drug Court was going well. He noted that Kevin Housel, the Director of Juvenile Detention was in attendance and how Mr. Housel's reports of the juvenile's behavior at staff meetings have made a major difference. Chief Judge Levin announced as of March 1St 2012, the new courtrooms will be in use on the first floor of the main courthouse. Two Dependency Courtrooms will be there and then once the holding cell is finished the Juvenile Delinquency Court will be open. With that move Seventh Street will be closed which will alleviate issues it had security and otherwise. Sheriff Mascara asked Chief Judge to speak about the tour he and Clerk Smith along with Chief Judge took regarding security issues for the Courthouse Complex and how it would be resolved. Chief Judge explained on Second Street he refers to the new Courthouse as building A, the old Courthouse as building B, and the Clerk's building C. Sheriff Mascara elaborated that the concern was people who have access to the Clerk's building would now have access to the "B" building and how would they secure that. He explained that access would have to be cut off and direct those people to the front of the new courthouse, the "A" side and have them go through security there. The Sheriff indicated with the closing of Seventh St. he had anticipated some cost savings by releasing the two Wackenhut security guards there. In light of the security concern, it was decided to continue the Wackenhut contract and bring them and the security devices over to the entrance of the Clerk's building during operating hours. The Sheriff hoped the cost would have been passed on to the Clerk's office but it remains a part of his budget. Commissioner Mowery asked about the cost of the two security guards and the Sheriff replied it was just under ninety thousand a year. On a side note, Commissioner Mowery commented that he had an opportunity to watch Judge Vacucci's court in session. He and other members complimented on how timely and efficient Judge Yacucci was. OLD BUfINEff -None NEW BUfINEff Mr. Romano, CEO of New Horizons brought an informative report for members regarding Mental Health and Substance Abuse cuts that are being recommended by The Senate for Health and Human Services Appropriation. Please see attached. Mr. Romano touched on some facts throughout the report. The group offered a support letter to be sent to our entire delegation to oppose the cuts on behalf of the Public Safety Coordinating Council. Ail members agreed any cuts would have a very negative impact on our community. Pwblie fafeity Coordinating Coaneil Pebraary Z3, ZOtZ Page ~ Commenits: Diamond Litty, Public Defender complimented the packet Mr. Romano put together by saying it was easy reading and something they all need when people ask questions. She also commented that it is not smoke and mirrors, mental illness is real bad and all of them around the table have seen it and something has to be done. Justine Patterson, Department of Corrections Director, shared that as of today, there are 1600 offenders in St. Lucie County on one type of supervision or another. In January they collected close to $30,000 in court costs and approximately $23,000 in restitution from the offenders. Susan Caudell, CORE Program Director, mentioned a recent article about DUI arrests being down about twenty percent. She thought it may have more to do with the economy and arrests being down than people not drinking and driving. She also announced that Scott Harloff, CORE Program Supervisor, was interviewed about the SCRAM bracelets (Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitoring) with News Channel 12 and would be aired later that evening. AD~OIlRNMENT: Commissioner Mowery adjourned the meeting at 4:28 p.m. Submitted by, Carlene Busse THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD March 29, 2012