DRAFT
Law and Justice Committee
Minutes
January 24, 2011
The Law and Justice Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Monday, January 24, 2011 at 6:30p.m. in the DeKalb County Legislative Center’s Gathertorium on the East Side. Chairman Marlene Allen called the meeting to order. Committee members present were Ken Andersen, Riley Oncken, Stephen Reid, Anita Turner and Derek Tyson. All members were present. Others present were Margi Gilmour, Clay Campbell, Marilyn Stromborg and Regina Harris.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
Moved by Ms. Turner, seconded by Mr. Tyson, and it was carried unanimously to approve the minutes from November 2010.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Moved by Mr. Oncken, seconded by Ms. Turner, and it was carried unanimously to approve the agenda as presented.
STATE’S ATTORNEY – Clay Campbell
Mr. Clay Campbell, DeKalb County State’s Attorney, introduced himself to the committee and those present. He said that he has been getting to know the people in his office and the judicial system department heads as well as the Sheriff and his staff. He is speaking with the Sheriff about the overcrowding issue and some mentally ill inmates in the jail. He stated that he is partial to the EHM Program (electronic home monitoring) and would like to expand that program if possible. He knows that if he does that it may, in turn, result in another person needing to be hired in the Sheriff’s Department to help with the increased numbers of people in the program.
Mr. Tyson asked Mr. Campbell if he knew what the costs are to jail someone versus the cost of putting them into the EHM program?
Mr. Campbell said that he did not know but that he could find out for the committee and let them know next month. He also said that he would let the Sheriff know what this committee is asking for.
Finally, Mr. Campbell then briefly updated the committee on pending litigation items.
DRUG COURT UPDATE – Ms. Marilyn Stromborg
Ms. Marilyn Stromborg, Coordinator for the Drug Court Program, briefly updated the committee on what she has been doing over the last few months. She gave the committee a handout that describes her department. Page 5 covers the grants that they have generated funding for her department with. She has splits costs with the funds from one of these grants with the Probation Department to fund one probation officer who helps with the people reporting to drug court. They received an EarMark Grant in 2008 totaling $171,000 and a $9,000 grant from the 708 Mental Health board for psychiatric medication and counseling. Drug Court fees are to be collected each month per state law. In three months, October 2010 amounted to $13,455.51, November amounted to $11,754.23 and December 2010 amounted to $10,273.68 in fees collected. They also received $2000 from the DeKalb County Foundation to purchase laptop computers for participants who are attending school.
In October 2010 the DeKalb County Adult Court Discretionary Grant Program (federal grant) awarded us with $199,981.00, she further said. The federal grant is for 2 years and funds a designated Drug Court addictions counselor at Ben Gordon Center, an aftercare coordinator and a research associate.
Ms. Stromborg also stated that they have held 5 graduations ceremonies for the Drug Court Program with 23 participants. There are now 26 people involved in the Drug Court Program.
The committee thanked Ms. Stromborg for a very good report.
PUBLIC DEFENDER’S REPORT – Regina Harris
Ms. Harris, DeKalb County Public Defender, said that in her report this month the committee will see that her office closed more cases than opening new ones. Overall her reports over the last year show that the numbers are lower than the previous year by around 500 cases.
COURT SERVICES – Margi Gilmour
Ms. Gilmour reported that there were only 2 juvenile detentions in December. The first young man is due to be out of placement by the end of this month. The second young man is due to be out of placement in February 2011.
JAIL UPDATE – Lt. Joyce Klein
The Sheriff was not present this month to give his monthly Jail Report for the month of December 2010, but it is attached to these minutes.
2011 ANNUAL REPORT SCHEDULE – Mary Supple
Ms. Supple, DeKalb County Coordinator for the County Board Office, passed out the 2011 Annual Reporting Schedule to the committee and those present.
Chairman Allen said that she has already cancelled the December 2010 meeting to count towards the two cancelled meetings for this year for this committee. There could be a cancellation of another meeting this year, but she did not know which one just yet.
Ms. Supple said that she would like to invite the DeKalb City Gang Unit to come before the committee again in June to give the committee an update regarding the number of gang members in our County Jail, that is, if those numbers have increased over last year’s figures.
The committee agreed with the meeting dates on the handout. Ms. Supple said that if anyone needed to change their individual time and date for a meeting due to a conflict - to contact her directly @ 815-895-7189.
The committee also agreed to keep the Law and Justice Committee meetings in the Legislative Center’s Gathertorium on the East Side and to reserve it for the rest of their meetings for 2011. They will also continue to meet every 3rd Monday @ 6:30p.m. unless a Holiday falls on their meeting date.
ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Mr. Andersen, seconded by Mr. Oncken, and it was carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
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Marlene Allen, Chairman
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