February 24, 2011 Communications Subcommittee

Date

February 24, 2011
2:00 - 4:00 pm

Audience

Open to the Public

Locations

  • Chicago Metropolis
    30 W. Monroe
    18th Floor
    Chicago, IL

Agenda

  1. Welcome and Introductions
  2. Call to Order / Roll Call
  3. Approval of minutes
  4. Review of mandated reports: Status updates
    1. Annual report
      1. Review of draft
      2. Discussion re: Site and Sound
      3. Presentation to full Commission
    2. SB1725 Parole Study
      1. Debrief Parole Study Briefing
      2. Review draft recommendations
      3. Plan March 1st Meeting
      4. Presentation of full recommendations on March 16th
    3. Raise the Age
      1. Status
      2. Next Steps
  5. Communications strategies
    1. Dissemination of Annual Report and Parole Study
    2. Response to State Budget
  6.  Other Items / Next Steps
  7. Next meeting date
  8. Adjournment

Minutes

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Chicago Metropolis 2020
30 W. Monroe, 13th floor
Chicago, IL 60603

1:00pm - 4:00pm

I. Welcome and Introductions

II. Call to Order / Roll Call

Meeting called to order at 1:13pm.

Commissioners: Esther Franco-Payne, Julie Biehl, Lisa Jacobs. No Quorum.
Guests: Heather Renwick, Steve Bychowski, Stephanie Kollman.
Staff: Julie Stremlau

III. Approval of minutes

No quorum, unable to approve minutes.

IV. Review of mandated reports: Status updates

  1. Annual report

    1. Review of draft 
      The report will cover recommendations, concerns, etc. with the intent of examining the master plan as well as the transition team report, and including the DCFS /DJJ transition merger process.
    2. Discussion re:  Sight and Sound 
      This issue will need to be discussed further at the full Commission meeting. We are currently out of compliance due to the new interpretation by OJJDP. The dilemma is whether this should be reported in the annual report now or the next report. The majority of 09-10, the Commission was in compliance. Commissioner Jacobs will work on further interpretation and get back to the group.
    3. Presentation to full Commission 
      Waiting to finalize edits. Commissioner Biehl shared comments and suggestions that will be added to the report.

  2. SB1725 Parole Study

    1. Debrief Parole Study Briefing
      Commissioner Biehl provided the group with copies of materials for review. Illinois should retain indeterminate sentencing for juvenile offenders. Commissioner Jacobs stated that the Commission needs to pick the battle we believe we can win. We don't want a massive legislative overhaul that doesn't get through and then we are no longer able to move on other issues. Legislators will not change their minds unless something drastic happens as they want to be considered tough on crime. Determinate sentencing is when a judge can only commit a youth for up to 2 years. There are tight guidelines on this. Commissioner Jacobs added that there are hard core protections that we can put in place.
       
      There was a discussion about DOC pulling away from supporting DJJ in July but this cannot be verified. Strategies were discussed to implement a due process system within DJJ. DJJ could hire train and put all the necessary methods in place to ensure accountability. As part of the reentry planning, DJJ will be conducting assessments and making clinical recommendations based on rehabilitation. Commissioner Biehl stated the issue is with 'who' makes the revocation determination. The primary problem what happens when youth parole is revoked. There was a long discussion about how the system works, the issues within the system and how to improve the system. The group expressed frustration on the lack of feedback they have received on the status of the project. There have been ample opportunities for comment on the findings of the study. There was a recommendation to meet with Director Bishop to further define the goals. Final recommendations will be presented to the Commission March 16th.
    2. Review draft recommendations
      The group reviewed and discussed each recommendation thoroughly to offer feedback and suggestions. The Northwestern team will gather the notes and revise the recommendations as necessary and present a final document for review prior to the full Commission meeting.
    3. Plan March 1st Meeting
    4. Presentation of full recommendations on March 16th

  3. Raise the Age

    1. Status
    2. Next Steps
      Further information will be gathered and final report decisions will reside upon those findings.

V. Communications strategies

  1. Dissemination of Annual Report and Parole Study
  2. Response to State Budget

VI. Other Items / Next Steps

Due to the importance of finalizing the Parole Study, no further topics were reviewed at this meeting.

VII. Next meeting date

Next Communications Committee meeting will be March 31st.

VIII. Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at 3:51pm.