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1 McLean County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council October 10, 2013 Meeting Minutes Chief Judge Elizabeth Robb welcomed all to the meeting. ISU Stevenson Center Report Dr. Frank Beck discussed the statistical analysis of the jail population through September 30, 2013: 1. Number of Bookings, Length of Stay, and Total Bed Days - Comparing January through September, 2007 through 2013: a. Number of Bookings are up for Class 1, Class M, Class X, Class 2, and Class 3 Felonies b. Number of Bookings are down for Class 4 Felonies, Misdemeanors, DUIs, Traffic and Ordinance Violations, and those coming to the jail but not charged. c. Average Length of Stay is up for Class M or X Felonies, virtually unchanged for other felonies, and significantly lower for Misdemeanors. The length of stay for DUIs and other violations are flat across the years. d. The Total Bed Days used in the jail thus far in 2013 is up compared to 2011 and 2012, but lower than 2008 through 2010. e. The Total Bed Days used for lesser offenses decreased over time. So, overall the jail is being used more to house persons on felony charges than before. 2. Race and Ethnicity - Comparing January through September, 2007 through 2013: Bookings a. For 2007 through 2011, the majority of bookings into the jail in McLean County were of white persons b. The percentage of the jail population that is African American is larger than the same percentage in the County. So, the jail population is disproportionately African American. c. However, in 2012 and (so far) in 2013, African Americans began to comprise just over 50% of the jail bookings. a. Average Bed Days Used (without respect to severity of the charge) d. In 2007 through 2010 the length of stay in the jail was higher for Hispanic and Black inmates than it was for whites, and this difference was fairly consistent across those 4 years. e. In 2011 and 2012 the ethnic and racial difference diminished to almost nothing. The difference returned in 2013 (so far), such that African American and Latino inmates experience longer stays. 3. Average Length of Stay by Characteristics of the Charge and Ethnicity/Race - Comparing January through September, 2013: a. For all Felony Charge Categories, except Class 1, the majority of cases do not involve drugs or violence. b. There are more Class 1 Felonies that are tied to a drug charge than are not. c. Except for Class M or X Felonies, violence is involved in a minority of cases, regardless of charge severity. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 d. Though not true for every level of charge or every racial/ethnic group, usually charges alleging violence stay longer in the jail; but these differences are not staggering. e. With respect to the number of bookings, the majority of African Americans charged with a Class 1 Felony had at least one associated charge that was drug related. This is not true of any other group or any other charge category. There was discussion regarding the discrepancies in what may be considered a “violent” offense – A residential burglary is actually classified as a violent offense, but is not on the charge list used by ISU. Dr. Beck agreed to provide the list to Jason Chambers for review. Next Steps: • Now that cases begun in 2012 have worked through the system, the Stevenson Center will update the case processing analysis of Dr. Wells. Once understanding the basic patterns of 2012, we will develop a plan to analyze the data in more detail, making comparisons across years. • Using the method of measuring recidivism adopted by the Drug Court and Recovery Court, we will analyze recidivism among other persons in the system. We will do so by severity of charge, demographics, and prior convictions in McLean County. • The Stevenson Center staff will develop a multivariate approach to measuring length of stay, including charge severity, prior convictions in McLean County, demographics, whether the charges involve drugs or violence, and more. This will allow the CJCC to see the relative contribution of multiple factors, while holding the other items constant. • Using the standard tables and graphs to which the parties are accustomed, continue updating how the jail is being used. • ISU is also looking at the percent of those classified as mentally ill, and the length of stay of those who return to jail (since 2007). Work will be directed by the CJCC and its Committees. CJCC Strategic Plan The strategic plan was originally drafted in January 2013, and has been reviewed at the past two CJCC Council meetings. The September draft incorporates all previous edits and was distributed on September 11, 2013. There have been no further comments or edits to the document since that date. The Council adopted the CJCC Strategic Plan as presented. Kim Campbell discussed the development of the CJCC logo. The Commercial Art class at Normal Community High School was given the logo as a class project, and the result is a combination of some of the more appealing designs. Ms. Campbell and the CJCC Executive Committee have thanked the instructor for all his hard work on the logo. CJCC Bylaws The adoption of the CJCC Strategic Plan will necessitate some changes to the CJCC Bylaws: ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 o The voting membership will include a member from a McLean County Social Services agency (previously it was limited to PATH of Bloomington) o Members of any subcommittee may serve as long as they like (previously capped at 2 years) o The standing committees have been renamed Following a brief discussion, the amendments to the Bylaws were adopted. William Scanlon has sign-up sheets for all new committees and all members were encouraged to serve on any committee they choose. CJCC Meeting Schedule The meeting schedule was amended for 2014: Wednesday January 15, 2014 Wednesday April 16, 2014 Wednesday July 9, 2014 Wednesday October 8, 2014 All meetings will be held from 12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m. in RM 400 of the McLean County Government Center. Other Sheriff Mike Emery has received the National Institute of Corrections report on mental health services available in the McLean County Jail. He has provided the report to the County Administrator and to the Executive Committee of the County Board. Matt Sorenson has pledged to move forward with a study committee on the recommendations, and address the issue of the community impact of local mental health services. Any planning to remodel the facility, change programming or coordinate services will wait for the preliminary evaluation of the report. The Sheriff reported he is hopeful that the problems associated with the treatment of mentally ill defendants and the limited amount of community mental health services can be solved. The full NIC report is available on the County website and will be distributed to the CJCC members. Chief Judge Robb discussed the changes to Court Services. There has been a reorganization of the management, and Dennis McGuire is the new Deputy Director of Adult Court Services (with Mike Donovan). Randi Post has been appointed as the new pre-trial services officer. Meeting Adjourned: 1:55 p.m. Next Meeting: Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at 12:00 noon McLean County Government Center RM 400 115 E. Washington Street ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 Bloomington, IL 61701