January 13, 2016 Planning and Grants Committee Meeting

Audience

Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission Planning and Grants Members and Staff. The public is welcome to attend.

Date/Time

January 13, 2016, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Location

• 823 E Monroe
  Springfield, IL
• 25 E. Pearson
  11th Floor
  Chicago, IL

Agenda

1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Approval of Minutes
4. John Howard Association/Cook County Public Defender:  Legal Literacy Program at Cook County JTDC
5. Expungement Report Costs
6. Fiscal Update
   1. Grant Expenditures
   2. ICOY Update
7. Scheduling Meeting to Score Local Applications
8. SFY 2017 System Improvement Grants-Process for Reviewing
9. New Business
10. Public Comment
11. Adjournment

Minutes

1. Call to Order
   Meeting was called to order at 9:06am.
2. Roll Call
   Planning and Grants Chairperson, Lisa Jacobs; IJJC Chairperson George Timberlake; Commissioners Julie Biehl, George Hill, Esther Franco-Payne and Rick Velasquez. Quorum present.
   Guests: Susan Witkin, Senior Research Program Coordinator; Peter Parry, Cook County Public Defender's Office and Jennifer Vollen-Katz, John Howard Association. Staff: Karima Douglas and Julie Stremlau.
3. Approval of Minutes
   Commissioner Hill motioned to approve the minutes from the December 9, 2015 meeting. Commissioner Velasquez seconded the motion. Minutes approved.
4. John Howard Association / Cook County Public Defender: Legal Literacy Program at Cook County JTDC
   Chairperson Jacobs introduced the guests for the literacy program. Ms. Vollen-Katz began by explaining what their program does. The program was started about 3 years ago to provide basic legal education to youth held in the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center awaiting trial and sentencing on adult charges, and they are finding it hard to continue providing services. She believes their services help clients feel more at ease with the legal process and less intimidated. Funding is necessary to recruit more attorneys and to maintain the business structure. Commissioner Velasquez inquired as to how they plan to sustain their work moving forward and how many youth they anticipate serving. Peter Parry of the Office of the Cook County Public Defender indicated that their office is fully supportive of this project and that they intend to work with JHA to institutionalize and sustain it within their office after an initial grant period. He also indicated that they will focus the services initially on transferred youth, but hope to expand to reach other groups of youth in detention. Commissioner Biehl wonders if this plan would take more time from the attorney's for education that they could be spending with the youth they represent. She also added that the IJJC does not have an abundance of funding readily available, at this time, to assist this project. She agrees that this type of work is very important but is hiring another attorney the only option. They explained that another attorney is needed. Commissioner Hill believes the Public Defender's Office should be able to provide some funding and/or to match money and get others involved. IJJC Chairman Timberlake summarized the discussion and requested the Commission receive further programmatic and financial information on the program. Commissioner Velasquez moved to approve the solicitation of a proposal from John Howard and Cook County. Commissioner Hill seconded the motion. All in favor, motion passed. Commissioner Biehl abstained from the vote.
5. Expungement Report Costs
   Commissioner Biehl explained the information they compiled in reference to the cost and release of the Expungement Report. She explained the bids received to a) format the report itself and design graphics and infographics to present the complicated legal and process issues discussed; b) to develop and implement a report roll out / communications strategy; and c) to print copies of the finalized report and infographics. She announced the final draft will be complete January 18th. She has been working closely with Jim Bray and they will consider the bids received. Current bids are: Yippa $12,000; Start Interaction $12,000; Greater Good Studio $25,000 and Zane Sheuerlein $1,000. The bids will be reviewed by the full Commission on January 20th.
6. Fiscal Update
   1. Grant Expenditures
      1. ICOY Update
         DMC Coordinator, Karima Douglas gave the fiscal update. She explained we are currently on track with spending. The JJC proposals are due February 19th. Anyone who would like to participate in the review process, please contact Karima. Planning and Grants Chairperson Jacobs announced that Rob Vickery, the current Executive Director of the Commission will be leaving his post and taking a job with the Department of Juvenile Justice. We are very sad to lose Rob and appreciate the outstanding job he did for the Commission. We wish him the best of luck in his new position.
7. Scheduling Meeting to Score Local Applications
   Notices will be sent out to plan for scoring applications.
8. SFY 2017 System Improvement Grants - Process for Reviewing
   Will share information as necessary for review.
9. New Business
   The request for annual membership to the Center for Juvenile Justice was received. We need to vote to approve payment for membership. Commissioner Hill motioned to approve and Chairperson Jacobs seconded the motion. Motion passed. IJJC Chairman Timberlake abstained from the vote as he is the current Chair of CJJ's executive board.
10. Public Comment
    None noted.
11. Adjournment
    Commissioner Hill motioned to adjourn. Commissioner Franco-Payne seconded the motion. Meeting adjourned at 11:58am.