Meeting Information
Inaugural Meeting of the Douglas County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
April 5, 2016
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
County Commission Chambers of the Douglas County Courthouse
1100 Massachusetts
Agenda
- Call to Order (County Commissioner Jim Flory, temporary chair)
- Introductions of Council Members, including voting and ex-officio members
- Review of Resolution establishing the Council as approved by the County Commission on March 9th. (Flory)
- Discussion of proposed By-Laws for the Criminal Justice Council; vote for adoption of the By-Laws, including amendments made during the discussion.
- Review of Officers’ roles and responsibilities and election of Officers (Proposed By-Laws provide for a Chair and Vice-Chair elected by the Council)
- Overview of the current criminal justice system issues in Douglas County: jail population; development of a problem-solving court; development of a community crisis center; implementation of CIT for law enforcement officers; Juvenile Justice reform (Severson/Khatib/Rowe/Weigand)
- Questions … Comments from the Members
- Conclusions; Location of materials on Douglas County website; Agenda for Session #2
- Adjourn
Note: We intend to end the meeting on or about 12:30, regardless of whether the agenda is completed. Any remaining items will become part of the agenda for the next meeting. This practice is recommended to make it easier for all of the members to attend almost all of the meetings.
April 5, 2016
Douglas County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council Meeting (CJCC)
County Commissioner Jim Flory, Temporary Chair, called the regular meeting to order at 11:05 a.m. on Tuesday, April 5, 2016.
INTRODUCTION
The council members and ex-officio members introduced themselves to the group.
Those in attendance included: Jim Flory; Robert Fairchild, Ken McGovern, Charles Branson, Shaye L. Downing, Tarik Khatib, Scott Miller, Pam Weigand, David Johnson, Lori Alvarado, Susan Hadl, Edith Guffey, Craig Weinaug, Tom Markus, Mike Brouwer and Michelle Roberts. Not in attendance were Leslie Soden and Bob Tryanski.
RESOLUTION
Flory stated the County is looking at funding a facility for crisis intervention, with a court to handle special needs including health issues, and a jail expansion to meet County needs and functions. He reviewed the steps the County has taken to date and asked the Council if there were any issues they would like to raise. No comments were received.
Flory asked the Council to review the Resolution 16-07 establishing the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council as approved by the Douglas County Commission on March 9, 2016. He drew attention to the purpose and goals of the Council being to provide an objective analysis to what the County is doing correctly and what gaps need to be addressed. The short term objective for this council is to do a thorough and objective review of the steps the County has taken to establishing a mental health court, crisis center and jail expansion; study, analyze and oversee the County’s criminal justice system to identify gaps or deficiencies; and to make recommendations to reduce or eliminate duplication of services.
CONSENSUS
The Council discussed the definition of the term “consensus” under Article VII: Voting in the proposed bylaws.
David Johnson, Executive Director of Bert Nash, stated consensus doesn’t necessary mean 100%. He suggested the Council clarify the term before we get in the process of making decisions.
Craig Weinaug, County Administrator, stated the bylaws set the definition of a “quorum” as 60%. But for regular voting, Weinaug suggested using parliamentary procedure which consists of the chair moving for unanimous consent. If there are no objections, the motion passes. If someone does object, then the motion fails causing discussion and a vote.
The determination of what percentage constitutes a consensus was unresolved.
BYLAWS
Flory opened discussion of the bylaws by opening discussion of a revision to wording to Article III iv proposed by Edith Guffey to include: Identify potential gaps or deficiencies in the criminal justice system; including intentional examination of factors that may be contributing to the high presentation of persons of color in the Douglas County jail and criminal justice system. The CJCC will make recommendations to address possible systemic inequities and concerns reduce or eliminate duplication of services and service gaps.
Flory said we want the council to look at the broadest of range of minority status as possible when considering looking at those involved in the jail system and to use whatever wording is needed to describe those involved.
David Johnson stated we are looking at people who are over represented in the jail which include people with low social economic status and persons of color.
Pam Weigand, Youth Services, added the council needs to consider not just those in the system but persons with any contact with the system, or “on the edge” of the system.
Ken McGovern, Douglas County Sheriff, suggested identifying needs of those using the criminal justice system first and then the jail second.
Edith Guffey, Community Representative, stated the proposed wording doesn’t capture the socio economic system.
Suggested wordings from Council members included: social economic status and color; racial ethnic disparity, those populations identified as being overpopulated in the system; and systematic inequities.
Flory suggested staff redraft portions of the bylaws and bring them back to the council for consideration at the next meeting.
OFFICER ROLES AND BYLAWS
Flory suggested Charles Branson would be an appropriate representative to fill the position of Chair for the council; and Susan Hadl to be Vice Chair.
Flory opened for discussion.
Tarik Khatib, Lawrence Police Chief, moved to appoint Charles Branson as Chair and Susan Hadl to serve as Vice Chair. Motion was seconded by David Johnson.
After discussion by the council, it was determined the preference was to finalize the bylaws before accepting the positions for leadership, that would include determining terms of officers.
The discussion of officer roles will be revisited at the next meeting. There were no objections.
OVERVIEW OF CURRENT CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ISSUES
Youth Services
Pam Weigand, Director of Youth Services, talked about the Douglas County role in juvenile justice. For the past five years, Douglas County has been a participant in the Annie Casey’s Juvenile Detention Alternative Foundation. Senate Bill 367 will bring significant changes to the juvenile justice system in Kansas starting in 2017.
Weigand briefly discussed the least restrictive portion of Youth Services (YS) as the truancy program of which YS took over from the Department of Children and Family Services (DCF). Youth Services supervise student interns from KU who provide mentoring to students in Douglas County who are truant in Douglas County schools K-8 grade and have been formally referred to DCF. Grades 9-12 are supervised by The Shelter.
When a child is brought to Youth Services, staff conducts a risk assessment to determine if the child qualifies for detention. She discussed alternative options used keep children out of the system.
Weigand provided an overview of what Senate Bill 367 impact.
Lawrence City Police Department
Chief Khatib discussed the Lawrence Police Departments’ approach to criminal justice by trying to prefile diversions. Officers meet with juvenile intake before filing a police report to minimize those needing to go to intake. For non-juveniles, officers try to write a citation when possible to keep people from going to jail.
He also informed the council that 64 officers have received crisis intervention training since 2012. They are looking at using a holistic approach and training, for fair and impartial policing. Khatib is also looking at Blue Courage a program for officer training reinforcement to keep them from becoming cynical and jaded in dealing with the public. Officers today have to be parents, social workers and general practitioners.
RECAP
• Get updated bylaws for review at next meeting;
• Next meeting, Tuesday, April 26 11:00 a.m., County Commission chamber.
Flory moved to adjourn the meeting. Motion was seconded by Johnson with no objection.
Time and Date