Meeting Information
DOUGLAS COUNTY, KANSAS
Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
September 10th, 2019
11:00am – 12:30pm
Meeting at Douglas County Fairgrounds, Flory Building
1. Review and approve CJCC meeting minutes from 06-11-19 – Pam Weigand
2. CJCC Coordinator position – Sarah Plinsky
3. Kansas Leadership Center training update – Jasmin Moore
4. Trauma Informed Care Train the Trainer class progress – Julia Gaughan
5. Risk Needs Responsivity study proposal update – Subcommittee (Patrick Schmitz, Mike Brouwer, Bob Tryanski, Tamara Cash, Judge Miller, Edith Guffey, Pam Weigand)
6. Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center, SAMSHA GAINS Center – Mike Brouwer
7. Justice Management Institute (JMI) CJCC Survey – Pam Weigand
8. Law Enforcement Contact Study update – Robert Bieniecki
9. Public comment (if time permits)
2019 meetings
September 10th
November 12th
Criminal Justice Coordinating Council Meeting
Tuesday, September 10, 2019
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Attendance included: Judge Miller, Ken McGovern, Charles Branson, Mike Pattrick, Wes Lovett, Chris Keary, Gregory Burns, Pam Weigand, Patrick Schmitz, Lori Alvarado, Commissioner Derusseau, Jennifer Ananda, Sarah Plinsky, Mike Brouwer, Bob Tryanski, Melinda Wynn, Shaye Downing, Chuck Epp, Edith Guffey and Tamara Cash. Members not present: Emily Hail, and Judge Kittel.
MINUTES
Patrick Schmitz moved approval of the minutes for the June 11th, 2019 meeting. Motion was seconded by Lori Alvarado and carried.
CJCC COORDINATOR POSITION Sarah Plinsky
Sarah Plinsky, County Administrator, announced that Robert Bieniecki has accepted a position as Emergency Management Director for Douglas County. His first official day will be Monday, September 16, 2019. It was determined that the CJCC would set up a subcommittee to participate in the hiring process of the new coordinator.
*Member volunteers for participating in the hiring process of the CJCC Coordinator Position: Pam Weigand, Patrick Schmitz, Chief Lovett, Edith Guffey, Chief Burns, Jennifer Ananda and Michelle Derusseau.
KANSAS LEADERSHIP CENTER TRAINING UPDATE– Jasmin Moore
Jasmin Moore, Sustainability Director, conducted a presentation on the Kansas Leadership Transformational Training program based in Wichita, Kansas. The Sustainability Department applied for 40 grants and received 50. The grants were open to the Food Policy Council, Heritage Conservation Council, Board of County Commissioners, Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, the Behavioral Health Leadership Coalition and others in the community interested in leadership training.
Common goals throughout the program:
• Achieve common language,
• Grow leadership capacity in work life, volunteer life and personal life,
• Encourage collaboration with other organizations and boards in Douglas County.
TRAUMA INFORMED CARE: TRAIN THE TRAINER CLASS PROGRESS– Julia Gaughan
Julie Gaughan, Prevention and Education Manager at Bert Nash, conducted a presentation on Training the Trainer program, which targets being trauma informed specifically in the Criminal Justice System. The training was conducted by SAMHSA through a grant received by Douglas County. Fifteen people participated in the two day training, representing Bert Nash, DCCCA, Sheriff’s Department, Reentry, Parole and Probation. They learned what trauma is, how it impacts people who are in the Criminal Justice System, the prevalence of trauma throughout the system and what that looks like for people providing services. Also discussed; what to do when trauma is recognized, what activities are available, and what we can do as individuals when we interact with people that are in the system. Gaughan said we hope to learn skills and have opportunities for more discussion.
Gaughan stated she would like to offer the program to the CJCC. Classes have a maximum capacity of 40 people. There was discussion on setting up date options for the CJCC to participate. The dates are to be determined.
RISK NEED RESPONSIVITY STUDY PROPOSAL UPDATE –Sub Committee
Weigand stated there was a subcommittee established to review the “Risk Need Responsivity (RNR) at the Local Level” proposal. She asked if anyone from the subcommittee had comments.
Miller stated these proposals are expensive. He does not feel good ideas can be judged in isolation. Good ideas need to be compared to other good ideas. He suggested the Council pursue other providers as well, though he does not know what funding resources are available to the CJCC. This particular proposal would cost over $100K. He questioned how the Council could make a recommendation without a funding mechanism.
Guffey stated we do not have a way to judge anything systemically because things come to us and we do not know what pool of money we have to work with. She questioned how we can say “yes” to this proposal when we don’t’ know what else might becoming forward for consideration. She said she finds this problematic. She also stated concerns that it might be a bit intimidating for those from the outside to approach this board with ideas. Guffey said that is unintentional on this Board’s part but she wants the Board to be aware of it.
Patrick Schmitz, said he would have liked some more background and research on what this proposal was based on. There is not enough information to determine if the proposal will work for Douglas County.
Brouwer said the committee went into the meeting not knowing what we are wanting as a committee and the presentation was not clear on what the proposal would provide. We need to have another conversation with the council to determine what we want from the assessment.
Sarah Plinsky, Interim County Administrator, stated that the County Budget is similar to the City Budget process. Every year in the budget process, the County Commission earmarks money for projects, some for the Criminal Justice Coordinator budget, and the Board receives requests from agencies. The CJCC, based on a consensus from the group, can come to the Board with a request for funding.
There was discussion on requesting a RFP when the council decides what information they are looking for to get proposals from more than one company. The council needs a consensus from the group on their goals, formulate a plan for the coming years and what the group wants to spend money on, then approach the County Commission during budget. The council needs to review what is happening with other initiatives to make sure efforts are not duplicated. Also, the council should identify a process for proposals being brought before the group.
Michelle Derusseau stated that the Commission would like to see the CJCC take responsibility to bring recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners. It is difficult to prioritize a budget when things are brought forward individually. She suggested the council look at projects and studies for the next budget season, then prioritize the items and bring to the Commission with the top 2-3 proposals describing what the council feels is important. The Commissioners will determine what money is available in the budget. She said we need to look at the big picture.
COUNCIL OF STATE GOVERNMENTS (CSG) JUSTICE CENTER, SAMSHA GAINS CENTER – Mike Brouwer
• Bieniecki was hoping for a presentation of the final report from the Justice Center on our intensive technical assistance at this meeting, but it didn’t work out as the report has not been finalized and approved by BJA. We are now planning for a presentation at the November 12th meeting.
• Bieniecki received an email from the Council of State Governments who has been asked to put together a briefing for the White House on the Justice Mental Health Collaboration Program grants, which Douglas County has received in partnership with the Sheriff’s Office, Bert Nash and the University of Kansas; 1) was to start the mental health reentry case manager at the jail (since 2011); and 2) was to reduce the number of mental health bookings in the jail. This grant established the CJCC Council as one of the goals for this grant. The official briefing going to the White House will included all the initiatives set forth by Douglas County to reduce the number of people booked into the Correction facility. Douglas County is one of three counties recognized across the nation in this briefing.
• Douglas County will be featured in the SAMSHA newsletter for the Stepping Up Day of Action.
JUSTICE MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE (JMI) CJCC SURVEY – Pam Weigand
Weigand discussed the 2019 CJCC Survey Responses for Douglas County. The Justice Management Institute (JMI) conducted a study of local criminal justice coordinating councils in order to better understand the structure and nature of these councils, gauge the level of support within each council and across the country, and identify best practices. The study also supplied feedback to local council members on leadership, staff, membership and local stakeholders. There were 14 responses from our jurisdiction. Douglas County had a higher response than the average number of jurisdictions.
LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTACT STUDY UPDATE - Robert Bieniecki
Bieniecki stated the study team was back in Lawrence in August working on the Law Enforcement Study and conducting training to the staff at KU, City of Baldwin, and City of Eudora on Training the Trainers. Preliminary data collection started September 1. This dated will be analyzed for accuracy of collection and utilization of the collection tool. If necessary changes or additional education may be required before the official launch of data collection on January 1, 2020. The Team also conducted a public presentation attended by approximately 50 community members at the Library.
PUBLIC COMMENT – None.
NEXT MEETING
• Next Meeting: November 12th, 2019. Location: Flory Building at Douglas County Fairgrounds.
ADJOURN
Chief Keary moved to adjourn the meeting. Motion was seconded by Patrick Schmitz and passed.
Time and Date