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The Law and Justice Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Monday, March 18, 2013 at 6:30p.m. in the DeKalb County Administration Building’s Conference Room East. Chairman Julia Fullerton called the meeting to order. Members present Anthony Cvek, John Frieders, Ruth Anne Tobias and Derek Tyson. Anita Turner was absent. Others present were Margi Gilmour, Thomas McCulloch, and Richard Schmack.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
Mr. Cvek wanted a couple of points added to the February 2013 minutes that he thought would be important for the overall discussion, they were 1.) The daily cost of housing an inmate that the Sheriff commented on regarding the costs, saying that the costs were similar, if not the same. The difference was the transportation costs and the staff time; 2.) and Mr. Hanson’s response to anticipated costs to operate the new expansion of the jail, which was, $1.7 to $1.8 million that they were working off of currently.

Moved by Ms. Tobias, seconded by Mr. Cvek, and it was carried unanimously to approve the minutes from February 2013 as amended.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Moved by Ms. Tobias, seconded by Ms. Tyson, and it was carried unanimously to approve the agenda as presented.

THE RIGHT TO SUCCEED PROGRAM AT KISHWAUKEE COLLEGE
Ms. Kim Green, Program Coordinator, for the Right to Succeed Program at Kishwaukee College gave a brief presentation of what her G.E.D. Program is about. She said that she works with young people between the ages of 16 to 21 years of age. She said that the classes are free for students who live in Kishwaukee College District. The cost of taking the testing is $50.00 at Kishwaukee College and the testing is for anyone who lives in DeKalb County. The students are usually referred to her program from either the truancy program or the County’s Court Services Department.

Chairman Fullerton asked Ms. Green how she knows when there is a need?

Ms. Green said that she can track the calls that they receive.

They offer a lot of classes in DeKalb. They have some volunteer teachers. Ms. Green said that the math and writing courses are the two classes that are taken more than once by most of the students. She said that the Writing Test is very difficult. They will be going to computer online classes. She said that the costs for the testing are going up to $120 to $130.

Chairman Fullerton said that she thought that this was solely funded by Kishwaukee College?

Ms. Green said that the program is funded through the ICCB Adult Ed Grant and the T.A.O.E.P. Grant.

Ms. Green said that a lot of the young people that are in the program are sole providers for their families right now. Some teens are parents. A lot of the students were on drugs and other students are moving here from Chicago and Aurora. There is a lot of turnover in these classes also because some of them try to get into Hope Have, some end up in Jail. The classes are also at the jail too. It seems that truancy is an early indicator of kids that may end up in Juvenile Court. Her office tries to keep the truancy numbers down by working with the Regional Superintendent of Schools and the DeKalb County Court Services Department.

Mr. Cvek asked Ms. Green, is there anything that we could do to help you?

Mr. Green said to just refer people to her and to her program.

COURT SERVICES REPORTS - MS. MARGI GILMOUR
Ms. Margi Gilmour, Director of the Adult and Juvenile Court Services Department, gave her monthly reports to the committee.
Ms. Gilmour said that in the Adult report they had 29 new cases this past month and 12 transferred cases.

In the Juvenile Report, in January there were 5 kids detained with one youth for the 1st time, 2 kids for the second time, and 2 kids for the 3rd time.

PUBLIC DEFENDER’S REPORT - MR. THOMAS McCULLOCH
Mr. McCulloch, DeKalb County Public Defender, said that his office is holding their own. He said that the numbers are going down with long term inmates.

ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Mr. Cvek, seconded by Ms. Tobias, and it was carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

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Julia Fullerton, Chairman

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Mary Supple, Secretary