Kankakee County Criminal Justice Committee met Jan. 14.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by the Committee Chairman Mr. Hess at 7:30 am.
Roll Call
The following committee members were present: Mr. Hess, Mr. Lowey, Mr. Carrico, Mr. Long, Mr. Hunter (Zoom), Ms. Andrade, Ms. Amber Turner, Mr. Marion, Mr. Crutcher, Dr. Nims, Ms. Denise Turner, Mr. Lewellen, Mr. Benoit, Mr. Taden, Mr. Alexander-Hildebrand.
Members Absent
Ms. Rittmanic-Emme
In Attendance
• Board Members – Mr. Kerkstra
• Department Heads – Chief Judge Dickenson, Ms. Cianci, Mr. Gessner, Mr. Latham, Mr. Pentuic, Mr. Downey, Mr. Coghlan, Ms. Laird, Ms. Speckman, Mr. Cavender, Mr. Workman
Media – Not Present
Public Comment – None
Approval of Minutes – December 10, 2025
Mr. Carrico made a motion to approve and Mr. Marion seconded the motion. Motion passed with a voice vote.
Judicial – Chief Judge William Dickenson
Chief Judge Dickenson thanked the committee for allowing him to be present and report monthly. He is adjusting to the new role still and will have further updates at future meetings.
Circuit Clerk’s Office – Circuit Clerk Sandi Cianci
• Monthly Reports
Ms. Cianci provided some statistical information from 2025. There were a total of 17,875 new cases filed in her Office. In addition, Ms. Cianci held a key stakeholder meeting regarding the Tyler software conversion. The group has created a project schedule and identified key objectives that need to be addressed to resolve ongoing issues. Ms. Cianci is hopeful and optimistic the work of the group will solve current problems within the next few months.
Mr. Lowey made a motion to approve the report and Mr. Lewellen seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.
State’s Attorney’s Office – Assistant States Attorney John Coghlan
• Grand Jury Report
• Grand Jury Statistics Report
Mr. Coghlan had no comments about the reports and there were no questions from the committee members.
Mr. Carrico made a motion to combine and approve the reports and Mr. Crutcher seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.
Public Defender’s Office – Public Defender Ed Pentuic
• Monthly Report
Mr. Pentuic had no comments about the reports and there were no questions from the committee members. Mr. Lowey made a motion to approve and Ms. Andrade seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.
Probation – Director Tom Latham
• Monthly Report
Mr. Latham presented his report to the committee. For 2025, he added there were around 26,000 contacts, the adult division case load was up 28% and that juvenile detention days were down 40% over 2024.
Mr. Lewellen made a motion to approve and Ms. Andrade seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.
Sheriff/EMA Department – Sheriff Michael Downey
• Monthly Reports
Mr. Downey reviewed the reports with the committee. He reported the number of out-of-county inmates continues to slowly increase which should help generate additional revenues.
Mr. Lowey made a motion to approve and Ms. Andrade seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote. Mr. Downey provided the 2025 year end report for the Sheriff’s Department.
Animal Control – Director Kari Laird
• Monthly Reports
Ms. Laird reviewed the reports with the committee. Ms. Laird stated a new partnership with a rescue program has been beneficial and recently resulted in 32 animals being transferred as well as six recent adoptions.
Ms. Andrade made a motion to approve and Mr. Lewellen seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.
Coroner Office – Coroner Robert Gessner
• Monthly Reports
• Monthly Receipts of Money
Mr. Gessner reviewed the reports with the committee. There were two recent overdoses cases involving suspected Carfentanyl and the 2025 year end report will be ready for the February 2026 committee meeting.
Mr. Lowey made a motion to combine and approve and Ms. Andrade seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.
Old Business/New Business
None
Adjournment
Mr. Carrico made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:24 am and Mr. Crutcher seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.
https://www.k3county.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_01142026-2293
