Kankakee Times

Kankakee County Criminal Justice Committee met Dec. 13.

Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:

Members Present Mr. Byrne, Mr. Hess, Mr. Washington, Mr. LaGesse, Mr. Vickery, Mr. McConnell, Mr. Snipes, Mr. Einfeldt, Ms. Evans, Mr. Payton, Ms. Parker, and Mr. Fairfield Members Absent Mr. Skutt, Mr. Tholen, and Ms. Dunbar In Attendance

• Board Members Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Liehr

• Department Heads Sheriff Mike Downey, Jim Rowe, Brian Gadbois, Bob Gessner, Tom Latham, Kevin Duval, Sandi Cianci, and Gus Regas Media None

1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by the Committee Chairman, Mr. Byrne, at 7:30 a.m.

2. Public Comment None

3. Approval of Minutes: November 15, 2017 Mr. Hess made a motion to approve the minutes, and Mr. McConnell seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

4. Judicial - Chief Judge Michael Kramer Chief Judge Kramer was not present.

5. Circuit Clerk’s Office - Sandi Cianci

• Monthly Reports Ms. Parker made a motion to approve the report, and Mr. Payton seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote. Ms. Cianci reviewed and discussed the report with the committee.

• Computerization Update Ms. Cianci discussed and reviewed the computerization update with the committee.

6. Public Defender’s Office - Gus Regas

• Monthly Report Mr. Vickery made a motion to approve the report, and Mr. Washington seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote. Mr. Regas reviewed and discussed the report with the committee.

7. Probation Department - Tom Latham

• Monthly Report Mr. Sirois made a motion to approve the report, and Mr. Hess seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote. Mr. Latham reviewed and discussed the report with the committee.

• Declare Two Vehicles Surplus Mr. Latham stated that they are declaring one 2003 and one 2005 Chevy Impala as surplus vehicles. Mr. McConnell made a motion to declare the vehicles as surplus, and Mr. Sirois seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

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

• Grand Jury Report Mr. Snipes made a motion to approve the report, and Mr. Washington seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote. Mr. Rowe reviewed and discussed the report with the committee.

• Diversion Program Mr. Rowe stated that the diversion program will assist first time-time non-violent misdemeanor offenders and first time non-violent class 3 and 4 felony offenders. Violent crimes are not eligible. The goal is to reduce the Public Defender’s caseload, and the caseload of the State’s Attorney’s Office. The offenders will have the option to go into the program before the case is filed. The offenders will pay a fee for the program, which will cover program expenses. If the offender does not have a high school diploma, they are required to meet with GED counselors at KCC and, if they have a high school diploma, they are required to meet with a college advisor at KCC. There is no cost to taxpayers for this program.

9. Coroner’s Office - Bob Gessner

• Monthly Reports

• Monthly Receipts of Money Mr. Tholen made a motion to combine and approve the monthly reports, and Mr. Washington seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote. Mr. Gessner reviewed and discussed the reports with the committee.

10. Sheriff/EMA Department - Sheriff Mike Downey

• Monthly Report Mr. Payton made a motion to approve the report, and Mr. Washington seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote. Sheriff Downey reviewed and discussed the report with the committee.

• Mobile Radio Upgrade Sheriff Downey stated that, on January 1, 2020, their radio system will be digital. The handheld radios are already on a digital system, but the mobile car units will need to be upgraded.

• Surplus Vehicles Sheriff Downey stated that he has three surplus vehicles -- two 2011 Chevy Tahoes that are being replaced, and a seized 2001 Chevy Tracker. Mr. Hess made a motion to declare the vehicles as surplus, and Mr. McConnell seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

• DOC Releases Sheriff Downey stated that there are cases where an offender gets sentenced to the Department of Corrections (DOC), is paroled before the completion of their sentence, and ends up back in jail.

• Local Population Sheriff Downey reviewed and discussed the local population update with the committee.

• ODO Inspection Sheriff Downey stated that the Office of Detention Oversight (ODO) does inspections because we house ICE detainees. The inspection lasted three days, with nine individuals from across the country performing the inspections. This was the third inspection within the past year. We have had a lot of positive feedback.

11. Old Business/New Business

None

12. Adjournment

Mr. LaGesse made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:23 a.m., and Ms. Dunbar seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

http://www.co.kankakee.il.us/files/committees/criminal_justice_121317.pdf