Kankakee Times

Kankakee County - Criminal Justice Committee met October 11. 

Here is the minutes as provided by the committee:

Members Present

Mr. Washington, Mr. Stauffenberg, Mr. Vickery, Mr. McConnell, Mr. Snipes, Mr. Einfeldt,

Ms. Evans, Mr. Payton, Ms. Parker, Ms. Dunbar, Ms. Parker, and Mr. Sirois

Members Absent

Mr. Byrne, Mr. Hess, Mr. Tholen, and Mr. Skutt

 Board Members

Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Liehr

 Department Heads

Kevin Duval, Jim Rowe, Sheriff Mike Downey, Gus Regas, Tom Latham, Brian Gadbois,

Bob Gessner, and Sandi Cianci

 Media

None

1. Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by the County Board Chairman, Mr. Wheeler, at 7:30 a.m.

2. Public Comment

None

3. Approval of Minutes: September 13, 2017

The minutes were not completed.

4. Judicial - Chief Judge Michael Kramer

Chief Judge Kramer was not present.

5. Circuit Clerk’s Office - Sandi Cianci

 Monthly Reports

Mr. Washington made a motion to approve the monthly report, and Mr. Stauffenberg

seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

Ms. Cianci reviewed and discussed the reports with the committee.

Mr. Wheeler asked about the possibility of collecting on recoveries seven years and older.

Ms. Cianci stated debt recovery can only attempt collection for the past seven years.

Mr. Wheeler asked for reports indicating dollar amounts which are collectible.

Ms. Cianci stated that she would provide that at the next meeting.

Mr. Wheeler inquired about trends on Court Security fees.

Ms. Cianci will report on Court Security fees in future committee meetings.

 Computerization Update

Ms. Cianci updated the committee on the e-appeal and e-filing mandates.

 Staffing Request

Ms. Cianci requested consideration of the committee for approval to hire a Floater Minute

Clerk with pay of $13 per hour.

Ms. Dunbar requested a financial breakdown for positions from Ms. Cianci to make an

informed decision when voting.

Mr. Wheeler agreed that a financial breakdown would be needed for final approval.

Mr. Snipes and Mr. Washington both agreed that this is a critical staffing need and

recommended the committee vote. If approved, Ms. Cianci could then provide the

information to the Finance Committee for approval.

Mr. Snipes made a motion to approve the staffing request pending financial

approval, and Mr. Washington seconded it. Motion carried with a roll call vote of 12

ayes and 0 nays. Voting aye were Mr. Washington, Mr. Stauffenberg, Mr. Vickery,

Mr. McConnell, Mr. Snipes, Mr. Sirois, Mr. Einfeldt, Ms. Evans, Mr. Payton, Ms.

Dunbar, Ms. Parker, and Mr. Wheeler.

6. Public Defender’s Office - Gus Regas

 Monthly Report

Mr. Regas reviewed and discussed the report with the committee.

Mr. Sirois made a motion to approve the report, and Ms. Payton seconded it. Motion

carried with a voice vote.

7. Probation Department - Tom Latham

 Monthly Report

Mr. Latham reviewed and discussed the report with the committee.

Mr. Stauffenberg made a motion to approve the report, and Ms. Dunbar seconded it.

Motion carried with a voice vote.

Mr. Wheeler asked Mr. Latham to briefly explain Senate Bill 2034 to remind fellow

committee members.

Mr. Latham stated that Senate Bill 2034 proposes that judges use the least restrictive

conditions of bail necessary to ensure a defendant’s return to court, be given access to an

attorney for bail hearings, and that non-violent defendants are given a second bond

hearing after seven days if bond is set and they cannot afford it.

Mr. Latham stated that the awarded grant for the Pre-Trial Program (SB2034) allowed for

approval of one staff member. He will have additional information regarding the Pre-Trial

Program at the November 2017 meeting.

Mr. Latham reminded the committee of the Drug Court Auction on Friday, October 27th

,and the Veterans Court graduation on Thursday, December 1st

.8. State’s Attorney’s Office - Jim Rowe

 Grand Jury Report

Mr. Washington made a motion to approve the report, and Mr. Snipes seconded it.

Motion carried with a voice vote.

Mr. Rowe reviewed and discussed the report with the committee.

 Diversion Report

Mr. Rowe tabled this report until the November Committee meeting.

9. Coroner’s Office - Bob Gessner

 Monthly Reports

 Monthly Receipts of Money

Mr. Snipes made a motion to combine and approve the reports, and Mr. Vickery

seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

Mr. Gessner reviewed and discussed the reports with the committee.

 Staffing Request

Mr. Gessner requested the committee’s consideration to approve changing a part-time

employee to a full-time employee. The Coroner’s office has a $225,000 grant to educate

the public. Each time the office makes a presentation, the office is paid out of grant

monies for presenting to the public. The office is currently under budget on salaries and is

continually adding to their general fund because of presentations. He projects being able

to cover the salary increase (estimated at $6,200 yearly) through grant deposits to the

general fund until July 2018. He also feels the office is on track to be awarded another

grant for FY 2018-2019.

Mr. Wheeler inquired as to the filling the part-time position should the current employee

move to full-time status.

Mr. Gessner is unsure, but stated he would discuss this with Finance and, if so, would

include it in next year’s budget.

Mr. Sirois made a motion to approve increasing the part-time position to full-time,

and Ms. Dunbar seconded it. Motion carried with a roll call vote of 10 ayes and 2

nays. Voting aye were Mr. Washington, Mr. Stauffenberg, Mr. McConnell, Mr.

Snipes, Mr. Sirois, Ms. Evans, Mr. Payton, Ms. Dunbar, Ms. Parker, and Mr. Wheeler.

Voting nay were Mr. Vickery and Mr. Einfeldt.

10. Sheriff/EMA Department - Sheriff Mike Downey

 Monthly Report

Ms. Parker made a motion to approve the report, and Mr. Stauffenberg seconded it.

Motion carried with a voice vote.

Sheriff Downey reviewed and discussed the report with the committee.

Sheriff Downey stated that the jail numbers are up significantly. September’s daily

average population is 267. Currently, they are not meeting the ICE standards for outdoor

recreation. He will come up with some ideas, plans, and costs of what it would take to

establish an outdoor recreation area along the Phase 3 portion of the property. It does not

have the baseball fields or football fields, just fresh air. He thinks this will make the jail

more attractive, as some judges tend to move inmates to jails with outdoor recreation.

Mr. Wheeler inquired if the plans for the outdoor area would be for next summer and if an

area has been identified.

Sheriff Downey would like to start and complete this project as soon as possible. ICE

wants detainees to have the ability to go outside, and an area has been identified. This

would make the facility more attractive to ICE, and specific plans are being explored at

present.

 4 Basin Sink in JCDC Phase 2 Kitchen

Sheriff Downey stated this is to be taken off the agenda. The cost of the sink far

surpasses the benefit, and other options will be explored.

Sheriff Downey reported that the Sheriff’s Department is required to serve those in

contempt of court due to not showing up for jury duty, but there is no reimbursement to the

department.

Mr. Wheeler asked if jury contempt is fined.

Mr. Downey deferred that question to Ms. Cianci.

Ms. Cianci stated they are fined, but minimally. The fines are generally $25-$100. She

indicated the cost to fine those in contempt far exceeds fines collected.

11. Old Business/New Business

None

12. Adjournment

Ms. Evans made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:09 a.m., and Ms. Parker

seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

http://www.co.kankakee.il.us/files/committees/101117.pdf