March 13, 2018 JDAI Committee Meeting

Audience

Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission JDAI Committee Members and Staff. The public is welcome to attend.

Date/Time

March 13, 2018

9:30a.m. to 11:00a.m.

Location

• 401 S Clinton
  2nd Floor DMH VCR
  Chicago, IL
• 823 E Monroe
  Springfield, IL
• Call In: 888-494-4032
  Code:  5329547331#

Agenda

1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Approval of Minutes
4. Approval of JDAI Committee Meeting Calendar
5. Chair's Comments
6. Proposed Statewide Strategy Discussion
7. JDAI Standards
8. Next Meeting
   May 1, 2018 at 9:30 a.m.
9. New Business
10. Adjourn

Minutes

1. Call to Order
   Meeting was called to order at 9:41 am.
2. Roll Call
   Chairman Rick Velasquez, Wendy Nussbaum, Tamela Meehan, Jacqueline Bullard, Stephanie Vetter. No quorum present. Guests: Olivia Wilks and Brian Woodson.
3. Approval of Minutes
   Minutes from May 1, 2017 were tabled due to lack of quorum.
4. Approval of JDAI Committee Meeting Calendar
   The committee decided to cancel the July meeting but otherwise agreed on the calendar.
5. Chair's Comments
   The Chair provided context from previous work done by the JDAI Committee. The Chair articulated that the committee had been struggling to establish its strategic direction. One goal of the committee is to determine what is going on at the policy level as well as the organizational level regarding detention in Illinois. There has been a lot of success in detention reform, including screening and assessment reform that have had a meaningful impact on youth. One of the strategies this committee had identified was to do outreach and education including a commitment to providing meaningful information and data to the state about detention. This effort has been improved through the Commission's ability to provide this information to individual sites. The Chair outlined that we have just begun offering technical assistance regarding what the data means. The Commission has been providing councils with a data profile and then helps them to set up a plan based on this information. The next step will be providing information regarding DMC that will support councils to prepare a robust plan and analysis around DMC. DMC is a driving force in how the Commission is considering funding. Olivia explained the new DMC reduction guide created as an abbreviated version of the OJJDP DMC technical assistance manual. She outlined the process of looking at DMC data, then idea generation amongst councils about DMC mechanisms, then intervention alignment. Olivia outlined that there are three types of DMC interventions 1) direct services 2) technical assistance 3) system change.
   The Chair reviewed the strategies identified last year highlighting that there has been progress made on these efforts including the publishing of another detention report. Lisa highlighted that Susan Witkin had also completed the transfer report for calendar year 2016. The Chair indicated that the committee will continue to build our ability to collect and analyze data. Another area of outreach included the judiciary bringing the issue of detention to IJJC leadership. Lisa presents to the Juvenile Justice Leadership Council which has led to the last leadership council meeting being held at the Cook County Detention Center. Lisa indicated that there sometimes opposing views in regards to data and detention. There is a strong need to incorporate community input regarding the detention population, but also a need to rely on the data as opposed to anecdotal data. There has been recognition by the leadership council and the supreme court to incorporate this data into decision making.
   Wendy reported that Patrick Keane began the efforts of reexamining detention standards. The detention standards review team has explained that having more transparent detention standards would remove some of the scrutiny. Wendy indicated that they hope to create an objective report with clear standards as to establish a common agreement on detention practices. The creation of the JDAI self-assessment has been critical in helping detention standards to move that forward. Wendy, Peg Robertson, Lisa Jacobs, Rob Vickery, and Patrick Keane are working to embed PREA standards into the detention standards and are hoping to complete these revisions by the end of April. Wendy highlighted that implementation will be a whole other process indicating that this will have to go to JCAR through the legislative branch. They are hoping that advocates will help push this forward and the connection with the leadership council will help move this even quicker.
   The Chair reported on the legislative work being done around detention. He indicated that they are awaiting HB 4543 which has a few components, holding kids for 40-48 hours, utilization of a statewide evidence-based screening instrument, and use of CCTV. The Chair also discussed the new change decided by the AIOC which will result in probation staff around the state discontinuing the use of the YASI and moving to the OYAS (Ohio Youth Assessment System). Within OYAS is a detention screening instrument that may be used across the state.
   The Chair reported that the Commission is going to write a report on the potential impact of raising the age of detention to 13 and corresponding recommendations. The Commission will formally take on that responsibility and begin a scan to see what other states are doing. He reported that currently the CCBYS system is not taking these kids because they feel they cannot remove them from police custody and because they haven't created a community placement alternative that takes youth under 13, furthermore there are very few licensed foster homes. The Chair asked Tamela what Cook County does in this situation. She indicated that there are very few, if any youth this age being detained. She highlighted that youth that age usually have stronger support systems.
   Wendy highlighted the funding of the Commission indicating that IJJC is funded through the federal government to monitor and improve 4 core requirements 1) Separation of Sight and Sound, 2) Deinstitutionalization of Status Offenders, Jail Removal Violations, and 4) Disproportionate Minority Contact. DMC is not nearly as measurable and there are not clear standards that indicate compliance. Another element of compliance that IJJC must monitor is its adherence with 28 assurances. Some of these include the provision that certain amount of money must pass through the state to serve youth directly, 66% needs to go to nonprofits, 75% should go to youth-serving programs. In the past, the Commission has included the jj councils in that percentage, but this year the Commission is working to strengthen the youth-serving element by creating an additional NOFO asking for applications from both councils and youth-serving organizations. Wendy highlighted that 1/3 of these funds will go into youth-serving programs and the intent is to divert them entirely from the system and provide an alternative. All applications are required to address DMC, but there were for areas of focus for applications including 1) detention alternatives 2) front end diversion 3) community-based services for youth with PSB 4) DMC. Once the NOFO is released, they will gage what the JDAI committee and the full commission will be doing regarding detention and detention practices it may be that we find ourselves in a technical assistance role.
   The Chair highlighted that there are 2 parallel reform efforts going on between Redeploy and IJJC. More and more these board are finding that they have common interests and concerns and that it is better to unite efforts and work more closely. Redeploy is currently looking at feasibility for sites who have met their DJJ reduction numbers, but may not have impacted their detention populations. There is some concern that some sites may be using detention as DJJ. RIOB does not want to punish sites who have reduced DJJ, but acknowledges that there is more to be done if they have not addressed the detention population. The Chair highlighted that Susan Witkin will be retiring and indicated the need to continue with the momentum created by her work.
   Wendy indicated that JJ council and system improvement NOFOs would be released soon and that the Youth-Serving NOFO would be out in the next few days. Wendy asked Tamela if she knows why their rate of girls is so much lower than the rest of the state. Tamela indicated that they have supportive services such as a freestanding girls unit, probation officer who works as a gender specialist, educational groups, expertise in trafficking, etc. Tamela highlighted that Keisha Roberts was their gender specialist and she has a good relationship with the community. She pointed out that a higher proportion of these girls are dually involved. The group indicated that they would cancel the July meeting.
6. Proposed Statewide Strategy Discussion
7. JDAI Standards
8. Next Meeting
   May 1, 2018 at 9:30 a.m.
9. New Business
   None noted.
10. Adjourn
    Chairman Velasquez ended the meeting at 10:50 am.