Kankakee Times

Kankakee County Criminal Justice Committee met Oct. 15.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Members Present

Mr. Carrico, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Lowey, Mr. Crutcher, Mr. Long, Dr. Nims, Ms. Andrade, Ms. Denise Turner, Mr. Lewellen, Ms. Rittmanic-Emme, Ms. Andrade, Mr. Marion, Mr. Benoit, Mr. Alexander-Hildebrand

Members Absent

Mr. Hess

In Attendance

• Board Members

Mr. Kerkstra

• Department Heads

Judge Cunnington, Tom Latham, Sheriff Downey, Jim Rowe, Teresa Goudie, Bob Gessner, Ed Pentuic, Anita Speckman, Kari Laird

Media

None

Call to Order

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

Public Comment

None

Mr. Hunter made a motion to amend the agenda and move Sheriff Downey and Bob Gessner up under the Chief Judge and Ms. Denise Turner seconded the motion. Motion carried with a voice vote.

Approval of Minutes: September 10, 2025

Mr. Long made a motion to approve the minutes and Ms. Amber Turner seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

Judicial – Chief Judge Thomas Cunnington

• Monthly Update

Judge Cunnington gave an update on the courthouse renovations.

Judge Cunnington stated that there are term limits of four years for chief judges and his four years is up on December 31. Bill Dickenson was elected as the new Chief Judge and his term will start in January.

Sheriff/EMA Department – Mike Downey

• Monthly Reports

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

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

Mr. Downey stated that for the Republican and Democratic Convention his deputies participated with the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System (ILEAS) and sent deputies to each of these conventions. They are reimbursed for the salaries as well as any cost of backfilling those positions while they are participating with ILEAS.

Mr. Hunter asked what information he can give on the ICE activity in the community.

Sheriff Downey stated that they find out the possibility of ICE being in town much the same way as everyone else and that is through social media. They are not told beforehand of them coming or who they are looking for but based on the information out there they are under the understanding that ICE is targeting specific individuals.

Coroner Office – Robert Gessner

• Monthly Reports

• Monthly Receipts of Money

Mr. Gessner reviewed the reports with the committee.

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

Mr. Hunter stated that he was elated to see Mr. Gessner’s attendance and presentation at the State Conference for the NAACP. He was also at the meeting where Mr. Gessner was honored with an award from the Garden of Prayer.

Mr. Gessner stated that he was very honored to receive the award from Garden of Prayer for bringing Narcan into the Kankakee County and for the number of lives that have been saved with its use.

Circuit Clerk’s Office - Sandi Cianci

• Monthly Reports

Ms. Cianci was not in attendance.

Mr. Long 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. Discussion was held.

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

Mr. Rowe gave a brief overview of the presentation that he, along with Judge Jones, conducted on the impact of trauma on youth in the juvenile justice system. They talked primarily on how adverse childhood experiences impacts kids and how proper intervention and prevention programs can interrupt those adverse childhood experiences or prevent them in the first place.

Mr. Hunter stated that a large group meets every other month out at the Sheriff’s Department in collaboration with the NAACP and he invited the board members to attend as it is very informative.

Mr. Rowe stated that their after-school program has been going on for about five or six years and they are starting to see the impact of it. Their recidivism with the youth involved in their program is under 10% while the recidivism rate for youth in Illinois is 87%.

Ms. Andrade asked about the Fresh Start Program.

Mr. Rowe stated that the Fresh Start Program allows individuals that are eligible under the law to expunge or seal criminal backgrounds which helps them get a job, housing, etc. It is not through his office; It is through Live Free Kankakee.

Public Defender’s Office – Ed Pentuic

• Monthly Report

Mr. Pentuic presented his report to the committee.

Mr. Pentuic stated that he received an authorized grant from the state for Mental Health Court

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

Probation – Tom Latham

• Monthly Report

Mr. Latham presented his report to the committee. Discussion was held.

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

Mr. Latham reminded the committee that October 24 is the Drug Court Auction.

Animal Control – Kari Laird

• Monthly Reports

Ms. Laird reviewed the reports with the committee.

Mr. Crutcher made a motion to approve and Ms. Rittmanic-Emme seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

• Declaration & Disposal of Surplus Equipment

Mr. Long made a motion to approve and Dr. Nims seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

Old Business/New Business

Mr. Long stated that 29 years ago this Friday Officer Anthony Samfay was shot and killed during a traffic stop and he wanted to remember him for his service and sacrifice.

Adjournment

Mr. Carrico made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:11 a.m. and Mr. Marion seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

https://www.k3county.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_10152025-2244