The Law and Justice Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Monday, January 28, 2008 @ 6:30p.m. in the DeKalb County Administration Building’s Conference Room East.  Chairman Rich Osborne called the meeting to order.  Members present were Marlene Allen, Sally DeFauw, John Hulseberg, Howard Lyle and Ruth Anne Tobias.  Ken Andersen was absent.  Others present were Ray Bockman, Josh Boies, Regina Harris, Margi Gilmour, Russ Josh and Alice Elliott.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

          Moved by Ms. Allen, seconded by Mr. Lyle, and it was carried unanimously to approve the minutes from December 2007.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

          Moved by Mr. Hulseberg, seconded by Ms. DeFauw, and it was carried unanimously to approve the agenda as presented.

PUBLIC COMMENT

          There was no public comment.

JUVENILE DETENTION AGREEMENT    

          Ms. Margi Gilmour, Director of the DeKalb County Court Services Department, said that the current Intergovernmental Agreement with Kane County to use the Kane County Juvenile Detention Center will expire in April of this year.  The County of DeKalb entered with Kane County in the first Intergovernmental Agreement in 1997 and this is the 3^rd Agreement with Kane.  She explained that it basically is the same as the first one except we changed the term of 2 years to 3 years, with either party able to exercise an option for an additional one-year period.  The costs remain the same as $80 a day, per resident, and if we exceed the 7-bed limit the cost is still $80 a day, per resident.  She also reminded the committee that the County expended the original $1 million dollars in June of 2006.

          Mr. Hulseberg questioned item #6 on the last page of the Agreement, which states “either party may cancel this agreement for juvenile detention beds at the discretion of the parties with sixty (60) calendar days written notice….”  What is the backup if the County decided to do this?

          Ms. Gilmour said that there is no backup, that’s a good question.

          Mr. Bockman said that we would take them to the nearest center.

          Mr. Hulseberg suggested that this committee needs to get the word out there to the public, who needs to understand, that we aren’t doing this in lieu of the Safeway House.  We still need it.  There is some confusion out there with the public.

          Moved by Mr. Hulseberg, seconded by Ms. Allen, and it was carried unanimously to forward the resolution to the full board for approval.

COURT SERVICES REPORTS

          Mr. Russ Josh of the Court Services Department updated the committee on the Safeway House issue.  He said that he, Ms. Gilmour and Ms. Alice Elliott of the Court Services Department attended the Sycamore City Council meeting to discuss the Safeway House.  He felt that it went well for them besides the point that they did not get the Engh Farm.  However, many people came up to them afterwards saying that they wanted to help yet.  Mr. Ken Andersen and Ms. Anita Turner, both current County Board Members spoke on in favor of the Safeway House at the meeting, too.

          They have met with Mr. Nicklas, Sycamore City Manager and a couple of other people regarding what was their Department looking for?  What was their plan?  What were the costs?   Mr. Josh and Ms. Elliott will be putting together the preliminary costs of this project and get back to the City of Sycamore with these figures.

          At this meeting they were told that there is another piece of property at the end of Route 64 going west at the edge of Sycamore.  It is another farmstead that someday would probably be developed, but for now it may be available.

          Ms. Tobias asked Mr. Josh how many kids would stay here?

          Mr. Josh said about 2 to 6 kids could stay there, it would fluctuate from a stay of 72 hours all the up to 1 month’s stay.

          Mr. Josh said that they would come back, to this committee with a plan and then approach the City of Sycamore.

          Ms. Gilmour said that she wanted to commend Mr. Josh and Mr. Elliott for all of their hard work on this issue.

          Ms. Margi Gilmour, Director of the DeKalb County Court Services, then discussed her Adult and Juvenile Court Services Reports with the committee.

          She said that in the Adult Court Services Report for last month the numbers remained consistent.  She said that they now have five (5) officers splitting the caseload of 750 cases. 

          The CRS hours remained consistent also.

          In the Juvenile Court Services Report for last month, Ms. Gilmour said that there were four (4) detention admissions for December, which is a little increase over November.  They have one (1) residential placement.  Of the four (4) admissions, 1 child detained for the 1^st time, 1 for the 2^nd, 1 for the 4^th time and 1 for the 15^th time. 

          Ms. Tobias asked if the families pay anything towards the residential placement?

          Ms. Gilmour said that this is one of the issues that they are currently working on with the State’s Attorney’s Office.

PUBLIC DEFENDER’S REPORT

          Ms. Harris, DeKalb County Public Defender, reviewed her monthly report with the committee.  She said that her office and caseload is on track with what has happened in the past. 

          One new attorney has joined her staff in January 2008. 

          She is very happy with the realignment of the assignments and having the fifth judge has made a big difference for everyone, it’s going really well.

JAIL REPORT

          Chairman Osborne mentioned that the average daily population in December was 100 inmates with 46 transports.  

ADJOURNMENT

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

                                                 Respectfully submitted,

                                                 _________________________________

                                                 Richard Osborne, Chairman

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