March 18, 2015 Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission

Audience

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

Date/Time

March 18, 2015, 9:00a.m. to 12:00p.m.

Location

  • 401 S Clinton
    1st Floor Conference Room
    Chicago, IL 
  • Call in:  888-494-4032 
    Code:  5329547331# 

Agenda

  1. Call to Order
  2. Roll Call
  3. Approval of Minutes
  4. Funding Approvals
    1. Title II - Juvenile Justice Councils (motion from Planning & Grants)
    2. JABG - Formula & Discretionary (motion from Planning & Grants)
    3. Title II - Systems Improvement Grants
  5. Committee Updates & Motions
    1. DMC/RED
    2. Executive Committee
    3. JDAI
    4. Planning & Grants
    5. Youth Advisory Board
  6. Other Project Updates
    1. Alternatives to Transportation to Court
    2. Expungement Study
    3. Youth Who Offend Sexually
    4. Other Projects
  7. Notable Legislation
  8. New Business
  9. Public Comment
  10. Adjournment

Minutes

  1. Call to Order
    The meeting was called to order at 9:16am. Commissioner Franco-Payne chaired the meeting as Chairman Timberlake was participating by phone.
  2. Roll Call
    Commissioners: Rodney Ahitow, Jacqueline Bullard, Shelley Davis, Veronica Dixon, Esther Franco-Payne, George Hill, Toni Irving, Arnetra Jackson, Brendan Kelley, Patrick Nelson, Michael Rodriguez, George Timberlake, Rick Velasquez, Dana Weiner. Quorum established at 9:41am. Staff: Ron Smith, Julie Stremlau, Robert Vickery, Jeff Bradley, Karima Douglas. Guests: Kanako Ishida, Susan Witkin.
  3. Approval of Minutes
    Commissioner Weiner motioned to approve the minutes. Commissioner Velasquez seconded the motion. All in favor minutes approved.
  4. Funding Approvals
    Executive Director, Robert Vickery explained the enclosed budget request brought forward from the Planning and Grants Committee. The group reviewed the state level system improvement partners. There is a budget example in the packet. The group discussed the current compliance monitoring and believes reductions are necessary due to decreasing federal dollars. It is a federal requirement to meet the core requirements and Illinois currently meets those requirements. However, we need to maintain compliance regardless of any changes to how we monitor compliance. We need a clearer plan on how to make any required reductions or changes to our compliance monitoring plan. Commissioner Hill motioned to approve the presented funding plan for systems improvement grants. Commissioner Velasquez seconded the motion. All in favor, motion carried.
JJ Systems Improvement 2015 2016
Criminal Justice Information Authority $60,000.00 $30,000.00
University of Illinois CPRD $217,000.00 $215,000.00
IL Department of Corrections $179,000.00 $185,000.00
ICOY $225,248.00
Best Practice Youth Who Sexually Offend $50,000.00
DMC Systems Improvement $100,000.00
Training, Technical Assistance and Support
ICOY $600,000.00 $500,000.00
  1. Committee Updates & Motions
    1. DMC/RED
      DMC Chairman Franco-Payne gave the DMC update. She indicated that all projects are moving forward. Efforts continue to get the Youth Advisory Board (YAB) back up and running. It has been stagnate for the last 8 months due to members moving and/or starting careers.
    2. Executive Committee
      Executive Director, Robert Vickery gave this update. The last Executive Committee meeting was canceled. No updates at this time.
    3. JDAI
      JDAI Chairman Velasquez gave the JDAI update. Chairman Velasquez noted a topic of interest for JDAI is the Transportation bill-HB 2933. Executive Director, Robert Vickery explained the current action on this bill. Rob explained that they met with the bill sponsor, Rep. Brian Stewart. At this time the bill has not passed through both houses. We are providing some data analysis and best practice research on the topic. Susan Witkin, Jeff Bradley, and Peg Robertson are assisting in this process. Commissioner Hill asked if this will move forward without legislation. It will not. Commissioner Bullard noted the cost and process issues. One issue is cost and who is it cheaper for? Attorneys don't go to detention centers. An attorney's time is expensive. She noted that youth currently do not have enough opportunity to speak with their counsel. There is also the concern about which types of hearings are appropriate for this process. She noted that adults are better candidates for these types of hearings as we must ensure the youth understands the process. Youth need the in-person process. IJJC Chairman Timberlake agrees with Commissioner Bullard's comments about the cost analysis and believes Rep. Stewart is responding to information from the Sheriff and the Sheriff's Association. Commissioner Bullard is going to reach out to the Public Defenders Association to ensure they are aware of this bill and the implications. IJJC Chairman Timberlake explained that the IJJC has no financial responsibility but does have a role to provide information to legislators and advocates. Executive Director, Rob Vickery added we will provide as much data to Rep. Stewart as they would like but did explain that they are no longer in need or in favor of a formal report from the Commission. The IJJC's course of action is to continue to gather additional information and provide information to advocates. The only alternative noted at this point is for the Sheriff's department to transport the youth. Commissioner Bullard commented that maybe if the county has to absorb the transportation cost they will think twice before locking youth up. Jeff Bradley, JDAI Coordinator added that it is our plan to point out the issues with this bill. The JDAI Committee will follow this bill and make recommendations on behalf of the IJJC as necessary. Commissioner Hill made a motion that the IJJC take a position that the use of video conferencing is inappropriate for youth due to economic issues and consider the procedure as against youth's rights. Commissioner Velasquez seconded the motion. All in favor, motion passed.
    4. Planning & Grants
      Executive Director, Robert Vickery gave an overview of the Committee's recommendations. There were 22 applications received for Juvenile Justice Councils and Juvenile Accountability Block Grant programming. The group discussed each one and moved for a final vote to approve/reject them. These are the recommendations:
Applicant JJ Councils Recommendations 3/19/15 JABG Formula JABG Discretionary Total Funding
Effingham County $42, 600 $20,000 $62,600
Champaign County $26,510 $26510
Ford County $2100 $4100 $6200
Peoria County $40,000 $40,000
Union County $30,000 $20,000 $50,000
St Clair County $49,000 $49,000
Sangamon County $20,165 $20,165
Will County $26,529 $26,529
Second Circuit Youth Council $1416 $33,256 $34,672
DuPage County $50,000 $25,939 $50,000 $125,939
DeKalb County $50,000 $51,000 $101,000
Lake County $40,000 $29,038 $21,000 $90,038
Kane County $30,000 $12,394 $35,606 $78,000
Macon County $35,000 $50,000 $85,000
Ogle County $15,000 $15,000
City of Chicago $144,073 $144,073
Cook County $461,574 $461,574
  1. Discussion:  Effingham, yes; Champaign-The group discussed this application further as Champaign currently has a high number of compliance violations. The Commission wants to ensure the funds given to Champaign are used to decrease and/or eliminate their compliance issues. The Commission would like an update in 6 months to ensure Champaign continues to work to improve its compliance, yes; Ford, yes; Peoria-has some of the same issues as Champaign and we want to ensure we address concerns for this grant as well. Union, yes; St. Clair, yes; Sangamon, yes; Will, yes; Pioneer/McHenry no; Second Circuit, yes; DuPage, yes; DeKalb, yes; Lake, yes; Kane, yes; Macon, yes; Ogle, yes. The group also discussed Cook and The City of Chicago as they had the highest requested funds. The Committee recommended limiting them. The total is $461,000 in federal dollars in Cook County and $51,000 in match. Commissioner Bullard inquired as to why training for the Cook County State Attorney's office was denied as she believes the overcharging of youth that occurs is due to their lack of understanding and a need for training. Executive Director, Rob Vickery explained that the Planning and Grants Committee denied this as it was a conference for 5 employees and there appears to be a better way to spend those funds and train more people. Commissioner Kelley noted the work with the St Clair teen court and its positive results. He was asked to share the success story. Rob Vickery thanked all those Commissioners and staff who took the time to review the proposals. Commissioner Franco-Payne commented for future proposals she wants the IJJC message and goals stated more distinctly. Commissioner Velasquez noted that this proposal was our first attempt at making a focused request.
    George Hill motioned on behalf of the Planning and Grants Committee to approve these applications. No need for a second but Commissioner Velasquez seconded to verify that those applicants not covered by Planning and Grants were covered in the vote. All in favor motion passed. 
    1. Youth Advisory Board
      No updates at this time. As stated previously, they continue to work to get the board operational again. There has been a pause with board activities due to recent changeover and committee participants moving away and/or acquiring employment.
  2.  
  1. Other Project Updates
    1. Alternative to Transportation to Court
      Discussed earlier during Planning and Grants updates. IJJC will continue to monitor this bill.
    2. Expungement Study
      No updates at this time. They met recently and legislation is moving forward.
    3. Juvenile Sex Offender Study
      No updates at this time. Continue with best practice and standards. Consideration of a workgroup to work legislation.
    4. Other Projects
  2. Notable Legislation
    Commissioner Franco-Payne updated the group on the most recent legislation that concerns the Commission. A list of the bills is included in the packet.
  3. New Business
    Executive Director, Robert Vickery, updated the group on a letter from Senator Grassley in reference to OJJDP Compliance and DMC in Illinois. Illinois is one of the states noted in this letter. We have addressed all the issues to the DMC Compliance they reference. We will continue to work with OJJDP to address any additional issues.
  4. Public Comment
    None noted. Commissioner Franco-Payne announced there is a Pay For Success meeting in Springfield, in April 2015.
  5. Adjournment
    Commissioner Velasquez motioned to adjourn. Commissioner Rodriguez seconded the motion. Meeting adjourned at 11:32am.