Kankakee Times

Kankakee County Criminal Justice Committee met June 11.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Members Present

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

Mr. Lowey made a motion to allow Mr. Hunter to attend by Zoom and Mr. Crutcher seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

Members Absent

Mr. Swanson, Ms. Armer-Irps, Mr. Marion, Mr. Long, Ms. Rittmanic-Emme, Mr. Nims

In Attendance

• Board Members

Mr. Kerkstra

• Department Heads

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

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: May 14, 2025

Mr. Carrico made a motion to approve the minutes and Ms. Andrade seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

Judicial – Chief Judge Thomas Cunnington

• Monthly Update

Judge Cunnington discussed the issue of people not showing up for their court dates which has been an increasing problem since the Safety Act went into effect.

Circuit Clerk’s Office - Sandi Cianci

• Monthly Reports

Ms. Cianci reviewed her reports with the committee.

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

State’s Attorney’s Office – Jim Rowe

• Grand Jury Report

• Grand Jury Statistics Report

Mr. Rowe reviewed the reports with the committee.

Mr. Rowe stated that he contributes the increase in drug cases to the large increase in meth cases. He is getting more meth cases than heroin and probably about equal to cocaine. When he first got in office in 2016 there had not been a single meth case in ten years come in but there has been a huge increase. He has spoken to some local treatment providers and they have said that it is easier to treat one hundred people who are addicted to cocaine or heroin than one person that is addicted to meth because of the additive properties of meth. When individuals are using meth they have seen it connected to extremely violent crimes.

Mr. Rowe reminded the committee that they are having their Senior Expo tomorrow at the Quality Inn from 9:00 to 1:00.

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

Public Defender’s Office – Ed Pentuic

• Monthly Report

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

Mr. Pentuic stated that the Fair Act passed but the time table for implementation is very slow and there are a lot of questions regarding it.

Probation – Tom Latham

• Monthly Report

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

Mr. Latham stated that the state budget that passed reduced the supreme court’s budget by seven million dollars. Once it is signed in about two or three weeks they will find out the impact that it will have on their department.

Mr. Latham stated that the senate bill that would expand the use of probation fees did not move out of committee so their association will work on it for next year.

Sheriff/EMA Department – Mike Downey

Mike Downey reviewed the report with the committee. Discussion was held.

• Monthly Report

Ms. Munday a motion to approve and Mr. Lowey seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

Animal Control – Kari Laird

• Monthly Reports

Ms. Laird reviewed the report with the committee.

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

Ms. Laird started that they had an individual donate $5000 to their office which they will use to purchase new vests for their officers, more cages, and more beds.

Ms. Laird stated that they are seeing an increase in their population; they are about at the max that they can hold.

Ms. Munday asked if they have any adoption fairs coming up.

Ms. Laird stated that they will do some in the future. They are doing a micro chip clinic at the Farmer’s Market this Saturday and they do bring pictures of their adoptable animals and applications to the clinic.

Coroner Office – Robert Gessner

Mr. Gessner was not present.

• Monthly Reports

• Monthly Receipts of Money

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

Old Business/New Business

Adjournment

Mr. Carrico made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:04 a.m. and Ms. Amber Turner seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

https://www.k3county.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_06112025-2198