LAW AND JUSTICE COMMITTEE
MINUTES
November 15, 2010
The Law and Justice Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Monday, November 15, 2010 at 6:30p.m. in the DeKalb County Legislative Center’s Freedom room. Chairman Marlene Allen called the meeting to order at 6:32 p.m. Committee members present were Riley Oncken, Michael Stuckert, Anita Turner, Derek Tyson and Steve Reid. All members were present. Others present were Julian Magdaleno, Margi Gilmour, Lt. Joyce Klein, and Dennis Miller.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
Moved by Mr. Tyson, seconded by Mr. Reid, and it was carried unanimously to approve the minutes from October 2010.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Moved by Mr. Tyson, seconded by Mr. Reid, and it was carried unanimously to approve the amended agenda
ESDA/CORONER’S REPORT – Dennis Miller
Mr. Miller advised that the ESDA office had received a $25,000.00 federal grant for emergency planning and logistics. There will be more planning in the coming months.
The Coroner’s office is busy. His office has had 477 calls to date. In 2009, there were a total of 532 calls. There have been 304 cremation permits issued to date and there were 332 issued in 2009. The state statute regarding the allowable fee for a cremation permit increased from $10.00 to $50.00. He reported that he is within his budget for 2010,notwithstanding the expenses associated with the recent death investigation in DeKalb. Because of the nature of the case, his office has utilized or will be utilizing a forensic anthropologist, DNA expert, and forensic anthropologist.
PUBLIC DEFENDER’S REPORT – Regina Harris
Ms. Harris was not present and had not submitted a written report for the month.
COURT SERVICES – Margi Gilmour
Ms. Gilmour reported that there were only 3 juvenile detentions in October. There are currently to juveniles in placement, however one is expected to be released by the end of 2010 and the other is expected to be released in early 2010. There is presently one juvenile in the safehouse. One male juvenile was removed recently because of conflict between him and the safehouse parents. The STEPS program is in its 12th of 22 weeks and the participants are progressing well. It is teaching them new cognitive skills. The community services coordinator vacancy was filled by a former intern, which the office had hired from Western Illinois University.
JAIL UPDATE – Lt. Joyce Klein
Lt. Klein reported that the jail is still full. October 2010 had the highest average daily population in DeKalb County history. She also reported that between 20-25% of the current jail occupants are incarcerated for sex-related offenses, including sexual assault, child pornography, and other serious crimes. She also stated that there were several mentally ill inmates. Those inmates present special problems for the jail, because of their special needs. There is no room for them in Illinois state hospitals and the counties who house our excess prisoners will not accept them because of the increased difficulties associated with them. She indicated that it often takes two or more months for prisoners in need of inpatient psychological treatment to get a bed in a state hospital.
ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Ms. Turner, seconded by Mr. Tyson, and it was carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
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Marlene Allen, Chairman
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