The Law and Justice Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Monday, January 3, 2005 @ 6:30p.m. in the Administration Building’s Conference Room East.  Chairman Sue Leifheit called the meeting to order.  Members present were Pat Vary, Anita Turner, Roger Steimel and Eric Johnson.  Those absent were Richard Osborne and Pat LaVigne.  Others present were Ray Bockman, Sheriff Scott, Margi Gilmour, Ronald Matekaitis, Dennis Miller, Maureen Josh and Greg Millburg

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

          Moved by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Ms. Vary, and it was carried unanimously to approve the agenda.

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

          Chairman Leifheit had the department heads that were present introduce themselves to the committee members and briefly describe what their departments are responsible for.

COURT SERVICES REPORT

          Ms. Margi Gilmour, Director of the Court Services Department, reviewed her monthly reports for the committee.  She stated that the Adult Report reflects that it was a pretty productive year for their department.  In the Juvenile Report it reflects that there are two people in residential placement.  They had 12 detentions with 6 for the 1^st time, 4 for the 2^nd time, 1 for the 3^rd time, and 1 for the 7^th time. 

          The Intergovernmental Agreement with Kane County was entered into in 1997 for the detention center located in Kane.  Our County is currently paying $80 a day for per diem rates.  This agreement has been a Godsend for both her department, the Judiciary, and the Sheriff’s Department since the implementation of this program.  She hopes that the contract will be renegotiated with Kane County sometime this year.  We currently have approximately $150,000 left in the Intergovernmental Agreement and she still projects that we will be fine until early 2006 if we continue at the rate that we are going.  Chairman Leifheit said to remember that this will be an issue that will be looked at during the budget process to figure out where the money will come from. 

Chairman Leifheit explained to the committee that usually the committee also hears from the Public Defender’s Office each month with a report.  However, Mr. Ken Johnson is at a seminar today and could not be present for tonight’s meeting, she continued.  She explained that the report usually reflects what each attorney’s caseload is for that specific month.

STATE’S ATTORNEY DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE GRANT

          Mr. Ronald Matekaitis, DeKalb County State’s Attorney, explained what the Department of Justice Grant means to his office.  He said that about nine months ago the Attorney General’s Office approached his office about being a partner with them for a Domestic Violence Grant.  He said that only one or two counties have been invited to become a co-applicant.  He continued by stating that the grant was approved in September of 2004.

          The details of that grant are for a period of two years his office will be able to hire and pay a domestic violence prosecutor that will be dedicated to prosecuting domestic violence cases exclusively.  It also includes an investigator for their office, too, who will be investigating domestic violence cases. 

          This is a fully funded grant and they have currently hired someone for this position and she has begun working.  He has looked at retired law enforcement people to fill the investigation position but was not able to find someone who could work the full time hours that he needed.  Because of this, he has looked to the Sheriff’s Department to see if someone from this department could do the investigation work.  They will need a deputy who will be assigned to the detective’s division, who will work 75% of the time for the State’s Attorney and 25% of their time for the Sheriff’s Department.  He also mentioned that the funds include monies for benefits too.

          The salary for the prosecutor is $56,000 plus benefits and the salary for the investigator is $46,000 plus benefits.  They only have a two-year commitment from the people that they will hire for these positions.  There is no other commitment after the two years because the grant will be over.  They can only continue if the County Board agrees to continue them and fund them.  This grant will relieve his office from having to do this work, which will be great.

          Mr. Matekaitis also mentioned that his office moved into the new Legislative Center two years ago and they were out of space then.  They will be turning their conference room into two more attorney’s offices so that he can make room for the additional staff.  His office has handled 800 felony cases over the last year and the misdemeanor numbers were just below the years before at 792 cases. 

          Ms. Vary asked Mr. Matekaitis what is happening here in DeKalb County with drug court and mental health court?  Mr. Matekaitis said that Judge Stuckart chairs a committee that is studying the issue currently.  He is hoping that a recommendation will come from that committee soon. 

          Before adjourning Sheriff Scott mentioned to the committee that they are currently sending between 4 to 8 people to the Boone County Jail to be housed because we have run out of room at our jail.  It costs $50.00 to house them each and then there is the cost for their transportation too. 

ADJOURNMENT

          Moved by Ms. Turner, seconded by Mr. Johnson, and it was carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

                                                          __________________________   Chairman Sue Leifheit

__________________________________

Mary C. Supple, Secretary

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