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Home My WebLink About05-30-2013PUBLIC =AFETY COORDINATING COUNCIL Minutes of Meeting May 30, 2013 Convened: 3:34 p.m. Adjourned 4:11 p.m. CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Mowery 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. Me~nberf Presenb~ Commissioner Tod Mowery Bruce Colton, State Attorney Justine Patterson, Florida Department of Corrections Chief Judge Steve Levin,l9t" Circuit Gary Wilson for Ken Mascara, Sheriff of SLC Judge Philip J. Vacucci,l9t" Circuit Suzanne Caudell, CORE Program Major Pat Tighe, SLSO Mitch Hilburn for Janet Collins, Bail Association John Romano, New Horizons Members Absent: Diamond Litty, Public Defender Others Presenb~ Mark Godwin, SLC Criminal Justice Coordinator Allison Duffy, SLC Drug Lab Ivelisse Chico, SLC Pretrial Program Trevor Morganti, SL SO Scott Harloff, CORE Program Susie Caron, BOCC Ethel Rowland, Taxpayer William Lawhorn, SL SO APPROVAL OF MINUTEfe The minutes from April 25, 2013 were unanimously approved. Publie =afeby Coordinating Council May 30, 20f3 Page ~ UPDATE by =LC fherriff~: Office- Major Tighe on behalf of fheriff Mafcarae Major Tighe reported the population of the St. Lucie County Jail at 1186 with 58 Federal Inmates. Major Tighe introduced Captain William Lawhorn who replaced Captain Walsh after he retired. Captain Lawhorn was assigned as Commander of the Jail. He was formally from Vermont Corrections and Broward County Sheriff s Office with 23 years of experience. Captain Lawhorn was welcomed by all. Commissioner Mowery spol2e about the inmate programs offered at the St. Lucie County Jail and inmate graduations he has attended as a result of those programs and the positive effects from them. He was recently able to help promote what Sheriff Mascara and Major Tighe have developed to improve the system and reduce the recidivism rate. This was done through "Coffee with the Commissioner through the Chamber of Commerce, it was televised with a studio audience. They were able to highlight the results of the Jail Programs as well as what Mr. Godwin was able to develop with St. Lucie County's Pretrial Program. Commissioner Mowery said there was a good response from that and it was just another way to help people understand that the jail is not just a place to "store" people. Active programs have been in place with results favorable to those who have participated. Commissioner Mowery thankted those involved with developing those programs. UPDATE by Criminal ~u:nice Coordinator - Marh Godwin: Mr. Godwin introduced the County Grant Writer, Glenn Henderson. Mr. Godwin announced a possibility of obtaining a 1.2 million dollar Reinvestment Grant. This would amount to $400,000 a year for 3 years. The grant would help makte a 24/7 Mobil Emergency Response Team available to support law enforcement for those individuals in crisis. Mr. Romano, CEO of New Horizons explained he currently has a sF~eleton team funded through the State, but it is not operational 24 hours, 7 days a weelZ. Mr. Romano made a motion for the Public Safety Coordinating Council to endorse the application because St. Lucie County would be the lead county and handle the financial reporting. Major Tighe seconds the motion and all other members signified by saying Aye. The Monthly Population Report of the Detention Center was reviewed and discussed. Allison Duffy, St. Lucie County Drug Screening Lab Manager gave an overview of a handout she provided entitled, "Teens Mix Prescription Opioids with Other Substances". Ivelisse Chico, Pretrial Program Manager for St. Lucie County indicated things were going well with the program. Markz Godwin passed around an article that was written by, ton Silman in the Tampa Bay Times, entitled, "Pasco sheriff, judge trade ideas to address jail overcrowding". Mr. Godwin pointed out that this was the county that did away with their Pretrial Program three years ago and now they are facing jail overcrowding issues. Please see the attached article. Publie =afeby Coordinating Council May 30, ZO'3 Page 3 JUDICIAL UPDATE by Chief fudge Levin Chief Judge Levin reported Mental Health court and Drug court were doing well. On the civil side, funds may be given to the Circuit to hire a magistrate to help with the baclz log of foreclosure cases, he will Know by June 14t" 2013 if it does not get vetoed. Chief Judge Levin gave an update on the success of the Landfill Community Service program. When someone is assigned to community service at the landfill, it saves the County money. Bruce Colton, State Attorney and Vice Chair of this committee made a motion to meet quarterly and Gary Wilson who was Sheriff Mascara's designee second the motion and all members agreed. It was decided if an urgent matter arose a meeting could always be called together. Mr. Colton suggested meeting quarterly because of how well things have been going and often times there has not been any crisis. He spore about how well all the members cooperate and worl~ together. Mr. Colton said that in the beginning when it was first started there was a lot to get accomplished. He also suggested the monthly data reports can be sent via email. Chief Judge Levin added that they are always accessible to one another. Commissioner Mowery announced that the quarterly meeting schedule will begin in October. OLD BU=INE=f -None NEW BUfINE:f -None AD~OURNMENI': Commissioner Mowery adjourned the meeting at 4:11 p.m. Submitted by, Carlene Busse THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD October 31, 2013