Kankakee Times

Kankakee County Criminal Justice Committee met May 14.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Members Present

Mr. Hess, Mr. Carrico, Mr. Long, Mr. Hunter, Ms. Munday, Ms. Amber Turner, Mr. Lowey, Ms. Andrade, Ms. Rittmanic-Emme, Mr. Crutcher, Mr. Nims, Ms. Denise Turner, Mr. Alexander Hildebrand

Mr. Lowey made a motion to allow Ms. Munday to attend by Zoom and Ms. Amber Turner seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

Members Absent

Mr. Swanson, Ms. Armer-Irps, Mr. Marion

In Attendance

• Board Members

Mr. Kerkstra

• Department Heads

Anita Speckman, Eric Cavender, Judge Cunnington, Kari Laird, Tom Latham, Sheriff Downey, Jim Rowe, John Coghlan, Ed Pentuic, Ted Workman

Media

None

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by the Committee Chairman, Mr. Hess at 7:30 a.m.

Public Comment

None

Approval of Minutes: April 9, 2025

Mr. Hunter made a motion to approve the minutes and Mr. Lowey seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

Judicial – Chief Judge Thomas Cunnington

• Monthly Update

Judge Cunnington discussed a new law called Corina’s Law that went into effect Monday which allows a judge to issue a search warrant pertaining to an order of protection, if certain criteria is met.

Judge Cunnington stated that the Mental Health Court received a grant for $107,348.00.

Circuit Clerk’s Office - Sandi Cianci

• Monthly Reports

Ms. Cianci was not present.

Ms. Andrade made a motion to approve the report and Ms. Rittmanic-Emme seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

State’s Attorney’s Office – Jim Rowe

Mr. Rowe reviewed the reports with the committee.

• Grand Jury Report

• Grand Jury Statistics Report

Ms. Andrade made a motion to combine and approve the reports and Mr. Hunter seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

Mr. Rowe reminded the committee of the Police Memorial that will be held tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. on the courthouse lawn.

Public Defender’s Office – Ed Pentuic

• Monthly Report

Mr. Pentuic reviewed his report with the committee.

Ms. Andrade made a motion to approve and Ms. Amber Turner seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

Probation – Tom Latham

Mr. Latham reviewed this report with the committee

• Monthly Report

Mr. Carrico made a motion to approve and Mr. Lowey seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

Mr. Latham discussed the probation fee and the new policy issued by the Supreme Court regarding the use of those fees.

Mr. Latham stated that the grant they received for the Mental Health Court will really help with expenses associated with the Mental Health Court.

Sheriff/EMA Department – Mike Downey

Mike Downey reviewed the report with the committee.

• Monthly Report

Mr. Hunter a motion to approve and Ms. Andrade seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

Mr. Downey stated that they do not know yet what the effects of Corina’s Law will have on his department.

• Declaration of Surplus Vehicles

Mr. Downey stated that they have some older vehicles that they need to declare surplus.

Ms. Denise Turner made a motion to approve and Mr. Lowy seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

Mr. Carrico thanked Sheriff Downey for helping to facilitate the tour of the new jail. He asked how starting to provide physical therapy in-house to the inmates will impact the County financially.

Mr. Downey stated that the benefit to having the treatment providers come out to the jail instead of transporting the inmates for treatment is that it is less of a security risk because it keeps the inmates inside the jail and it also keeps the staff in the jail where they are needed. The providers are not county employees.

• Warrants

Mr. Downey discussed with the committee what is happening with warrants, the issue with warrants, and the ramifications of the elimination of cash bail because of the passage of the Safety Act.

Mr. Downey stated that while they have low numbers out at the jail they are doing some much needed maintenance.

Mr. Downey stated that he would love to see everyone out at the Police Memorial tomorrow.

Animal Control – Kari Laird

• Monthly Reports

Ms. Laird was present and discussed the report.

Mr. Crutcher made a motion to approve and Mr. Lowey seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

Ms. Laird started that since they have moved to the new building the number of animal that they have handled has increased.

Ms. Laird stated that she is partnering with Representative Haas for an adoption event that they are hosting this Saturday from 9-12. They have about 12 animals that are adoptable.

Coroner Office – Robert Gessner

Mr. Gessner was not present.

• Monthly Reports

• Monthly Receipts of Money

Mr. Crutcher made a motion to combine and approve and Ms. Amber Turner seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

Old Business/New Business

Adjournment

Mr. Carrico made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:22 a.m. and Ms. Denise Turner seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

https://www.k3county.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_05142025-2188