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in Grant County · Grant County Community Corrections Advisory Board, August 18, 2026 · 2026-08-18 · full transcript
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    0:00  attending our Grant County Community Corrections Board meeting. I'm going to call to order. Uh the first order of business is the minutes. Is everybody
    0:08  had a chance to review uh the minutes from our May 19th, 2026 meeting?
    0:25  Everybody had a chance to review the minutes. Do I hear a motion? Motion to approve. All right, Judge Me. Motion to approve.
    0:34  Do we have a second? Second.
    0:36  All right, David Lickfield seconds that motion. We'll accept the minute. We'll move on uh to the financial reports.
    0:44  Yeah, the financial reports are in your packet. Um you'll see those are right after the minutes. If you got any questions on those, I'd be happy to
    0:51  answer them. But everything on our accounts is balancing correctly. Sarah does a great job of making sure our monthlies and our quarterlys are always
    1:00  ubmitted on time to the department. Um so uh answer any questions that you might have. Um if that we just if not
    1:09  then we just need a motion to um uh to approve those. Do I hear a motion?
    1:20  All move or second whichever I believe Greg Kitz was was uh thank you for that.
    1:28  Great. And then David Lfield on the second. So we'll move on to the next order of business. We have to vote on that.
    1:35  Oh, we No, that's true. We need to vote on that.
    1:37  All those in favor of approving the f Thank you. All those in favor of approving the financial reports, please say I. I.
    1:44  Those opposed say nay. Hearing no nay. Um, it's been passed.
    1:50  The next the next meeting is Tuesday, October 6th at noon. Uh, that meeting will also take place in the Grant County
    1:57  Council chambers. Moving on to new business uh, staff spotlights.
    2:04  Yes. Uh, thanks. And I'm going to turn that over to Melissa who's uh going to talk about our most If you recall our
    2:11  last meeting, we weren't able to do uh the other staff spotlight that we wanted to do because they were not able to attend. So uh we're doing that today.
    2:22  And so Melissa is going to talk a little bit about the person and present our token of appreciation. Okay. Go ahead.
    2:29  So uh this meeting we're proud to recognize Gary Dalton. Um he's back over here trying to hide out from the spotlight. This is probably his least
    2:36  favorite thing to do right now. Um but um we want to kind of recognize him for his outstanding commitment to
    2:43  evidence-based practices, uh staff development, and meaningful client engagement. So Gary is currently assigned as a probation officer to our
    2:52  re-entry court program, and he's going to celebrate 29 years with court services this year. Um throughout his career, Gary has consistently
    3:00  demonstrated professionalism, leadership, and a genuine commitment to helping justice involved individuals create lasting change.
    3:09  So, uh, kind of give you some data around some of the work that he's been doing. In 2025, Gary achieved, um, what's really an exceptional incentive
    3:18  to sanction ratio of 9:1 and best practice standards have historically recommended a minimum of 4:1
    3:25  um, with emerging research suggesting outcomes improve significantly when agencies reach at least six to one. So
    3:32  Gary is operating well above um even best practice standards but even emerging research um as well. Uh Gary's
    3:41  work consistently exceeds um uh all of those expectations and reflects a strong focus on
    3:49  reinforcing positive behavior change. Um during supervision meetings in 2025, Gary completed 479 targeted
    3:57  interventions addressing criminogenic risk factors. his average uh rate of contacts involving uh what we require
    4:05  people to teach um and address um evidence-based uh skills exceeded our agency policy
    4:13  standard by 8 and a half%. Uh he demonstrated both consistency and intentionality in his interaction with
    4:20  clients. So beyond direct supervision responsibility, Gary plays a major role in strengthening agency culture and
    4:29  staff development. He serves as a learning team facilitator helping staff to practice and strengthen evidence-based communication and
    4:37  intervention skills. He's also serves as a peer coach and that means he conducts uh direct observations of supervision
    4:44  appointments and facilitates follow-up coaching sessions focused on communication skills. gives feedback and
    4:51  he serves um as a essential role in our continued quality improvement uh process because of his leadership and
    5:00  professionalism and ability to connect with others. Gary's frequently sought out as a mentor um for our newer staff and emerging leaders within our agency.
    5:09  Uh he's also facilitates our in-house groups um programming designed to reduce recidivism and strengthen personal
    5:16  growth. And the two major groups that he focuses on are responsible thinking and traumatic stress and resilience which is
    5:24  uh targeted for men. Um and perhaps uh most importantly Gary's impact is clear
    5:31  clearly reflected in client feedback. Um so we began doing uh you uh anonymous uh
    5:40  session rating scales after supervision appointments. wanting to know how is the work that we're doing translated to uh the people that we're serving, right?
    5:48  So, is it meaningful? Is it impactful?
    5:50  Um you know, and so uh we want to capture that data to help us realize, okay, are we um matching the skills of
    5:58  our staff to the needs of the people that we're serving. Um and so, uh Gary maintains an exceptional I actually
    6:05  looked at this again this morning to make sure, uh I was giving the most recent data. Um, and it goes on a four
    6:12  uh 4.0 scale. And Gary maintains an exceptional average score of 3.94 as it relates to client feedback. Um,
    6:22  clients consistently report um that they uh feel heard, understood, respected, experience a supportive and caring
    6:29  approach, find Gary to talk to and non-judgmental.
    6:34  They receive practical guidance that helps them make better decisions and avoid future trouble. experienced meaningful growth in accountability,
    6:41  attitude, and life direction. Some common themes repeatedly shared um in these surveys include, "He listens, he
    6:50  helps me, he cares, respectful, understanding, easy to talk to, and the feedback consistently highlights Gary's
    6:58  ability to build trust, to foster accountability, and create meaningful opportunities for change. Uh clients don't simply rate him highly. They
    7:07  describe experiences that reflect genuine support, uh, personal growth, and hope for a better future. Gary's dedication to clients, staff
    7:15  development, and evidence-based practices continues to have a meaningful impact on our agency and the community that we serve, and we're grateful for
    7:23  his leadership, his consistency, and nearly three decades [laughter] of service to court services here. So, we
    7:32  just appreciate you, Gary. Thank you so much.
    7:40  So, we have a little little gift for Gary uh with all some of his favorite things in there.
    7:47  Thank you.
    7:50  So, one of the things that um Melissa does, and if you're wondering, hey, why is that? Why are those items in Gary's
    7:57  cup? is that um we uh she put out a survey to people like what are your favorite things, your treats, your
    8:05  snacks. So at different times in order to be able to reward people or appreciate we will give them the things
    8:13  that they like. So you know for me if she was going to give me something with coconut I would not want coconut but there are some people that like those.
    8:23  So um she's done a really good job of keying into what people like. And so Gary's favorites are are caramels and
    8:31  caramel and chocolate. So that's why he has that. And he also likes salty stuff. So yeah, that's what he likes.
    8:39  Thank you.
    8:40  Well, that's tremendous. Anybody who's worked with Gary, uh, knows Gary, met Gary, knows what a valued member of our community that is. So keep that.
    8:52  It's always nice to hear that. It's always the highlight of our meeting. Um
    8:56  [clears throat]
    8:57  the next uh agenda item is DOC updates um funding cuts grant updated vchul.
    9:05  Yeah. Um it's always good to lead with a little sugar before you get this all.
    9:10  [laughter] So uh um we uh and this is nothing that's not happening around the
    9:17  state. there are uh program funding cuts happening all over from uh and the
    9:25  results of those um when those community corrections grants are those that are funded from uh the department of corrections. So, uh, we just happen to
    9:35  be one of those that is, uh, looking at a, um, a loss of funding and, um, that
    9:42  funding for us, um, could have an impact as far as services have been are concerned. Um, we, uh, have asked for,
    9:52  uh, support from, uh, the commissioners, um, in the commissioner's budget to help with our benefits, and my understanding is that'll be considered at budget time.
   10:02  Um, our hope is that uh for as long as that we have been doing this, this will probably be the first time that I think
   10:09  we've ever asked for funding support from the county. And uh uh yeah, about
   10:16  almost 30 years uh since that's happened. Um I guess uh there are some
   10:23  there are some encouraging uh uh shafts of light about uh the the funding cuts.
   10:29  Um, just this last week, um, I spoke with Representative, uh, Lori Reeves,
   10:36  who has been advocating very, um, diligently at the state for, uh, funding restoration for us and, um, for other
   10:46  counties that she represents. And so, uh, she received an email from Representative McNamera, who is the
   10:54  chair of a study study committee that's meeting. and um she said that there's a
   11:01  uh strong possibility that we will receive uh additional funding yet for 2027.
   11:08  So that um obviously whatever we received we would go back to the commissioners to get approval for those
   11:16  additional dollars and then we would reduce the requests that we would need from the uh county to be able to support
   11:23  benefits. Um, in addition to that, for calendar year 2028, um, uh, um, our IAC representatives
   11:33  spoke at, uh, the last state JRACK meeting and Justice Goff, um, made the statement that he believes funding will be fully restored in 2028.
   11:44  So, uh, um, I think there's a recognition for the hard work that, um, community corrections does to be able to
   11:52  help, uh, local, uh, jail overcrowding and other issues in criminal justice.
   11:59  So, um, I we we have submitted everything that we needed from the state. They've approved all that. Um,
   12:07  but some of these cuts for some of these counties, I'm uh with the relationship that we have here in Grant County, um, I'm not sure that exists in other
   12:15  counties. And so I'm I don't know that the funding tells that they'll receive that from their local. I'm hoping that
   12:22  they will, but um but anyway, that's the uh I don't know if anyone else has any more information that they want to share
   12:30  or that they've heard from uh the state as far as funding is concerned, but that's where we're sitting right now.
   12:37  Yeah, Chris, I have heard from the actually had a conversation even today um about it. So everything I'm hearing is that there is a possibility of funding restoration.
   12:48  And so what what my council would be is that we don't change provision of services or make any drastic take any
   12:57  drastic actions as a result of the cuts that we're aware of now and that we you know um kind of uh move forward with
   13:06  what we've been doing and see what happens in the in the near future because it looks like the general assembly we got their attention and they
   13:16  intend to honestly it an unintended on behalf of the general assembly that these cuts would happen in
   13:23  this way um is kind of what we're hearing and so they want to restore the funding. So
   13:30  um so I would say let's not make any drastic steps at this point. If we can get help from the um commissioners or
   13:38  council in order to continue business as usual, I think we should do that. you know, it seems like that the um future is much brighter.
   13:49  Yeah. Restore the funding in 2027 or 2028. I think both.
   13:54  Okay. I think both. That was the the short-term discussion.
   13:58  Um is I think the I think the the people at the state are
   14:05  trying to find additional dollars that they can move to be able to support corrections.
   14:12  in the next budget cycle when they start that in January. I think there'll be a strong push to then restore all the normal funding.
   14:21  So there still could be there still could be cuts but not as dramatic.
   14:26  Some counties are got 49 50% or they've eliminated programs eliminating pre-2 eliminated
   14:33  problem solving course and luckily um if they can infuse some money in 2027 and
   14:41  then restore funding in 202 um things will be back on track because some the unintended consequences of decisions like that is once you
   14:50  remove problem solving boards it's difficult to get them back. Correct. Right. Correct.
   14:55  And that's the same for programming, you know, for, you know, for home detention for us.
   15:00  All of the programs 69 people then then restoring them is not as easy
   15:07  as just restoring, right? Eliminated.
   15:12  Anybody have questions regarding funding uh cuts for Chris? Any other discussion uh questions of any kind? money cutting.
   15:24  All right.
   15:27  And then the next item, judge, just to jump ahead there, please, is um uh an update to our fee schedule. Uh so uh
   15:36  that's in your packet and you'll see a grocery patch um a $50 UPS visa patch
   15:43  and uh we've had a few clients uh on home detention mainly that because of their work schedule and their hours they
   15:51  have asked to be able to go on um a drug screen patch which would then keep them from having
   15:59  to come in specifically at specific drug screen times. But since uh um but we did
   16:06  not have a method to be able to charge them a fee for that patch in order for it to be able to come. So it'd be at their request to be able to do that. And
   16:14  so we just want to add that to the schedule. And that really just barely covers our cost about what it would be.
   16:21  We're not um we're not making money off that. We're just covering all and I just
   16:28  need a if everyone's agreeable I just need a motion to to get that approved. So moved.
   16:36  Second. All those in favor say I. I. Anyone oppose say nay.
   16:43  The made the motion passed unanimously.
   16:52  And I believe the next is it the midyear performance measures.
   16:56  Yeah, I don't I don't need an approval of that. I just wanted to provide you that data and information. Um this is um
   17:04  as it's part of our grant performance measures that are required and as it relates specifically to our re-entry court. Part of our re-entry court
   17:13  funding includes um dollars for um programs thinking for a change for heat.
   17:20  And so we have data that's in there on that and our delivery. This is a minuscule amount of what the programs
   17:29  and in-house groups have delivered, but it does cover part of our funding for that. Um it also includes screening in
   17:37  our re-entry court. And so you can see we are meeting or exceeding the numbers required that we set for our performance
   17:44  measures. So answer any questions is for information only. I just wanted to make sure that everyone had that in their answer any questions.
   17:53  Any questions for Chris regarding performance measures?
   18:00  We no questions. Thank you Chris. The next item is SEA9Q2 submitted email and that'll be July 9th
   18:09  through 2026. That's also in your packet sent out.
   18:16  And just there's any questions that anybody had on that. That's always um it's a new requirement. um if it's
   18:23  necessarily new now, three years and running, but um it just covers the numbers that we mentioned earlier that would serve on on home detention.
   18:35  And if everybody's had a chance, I know you have to review that information.
   18:38  Does anybody have any questions for Chris regarding uh what's in your packet?
   18:47  Thank you, Chris, for putting also putting that in the packet for the committee to review. The the next item, this is under the local advisory council
   18:55  section of our agenda, detention center, jail riding work group update. I know we've got Mr. Polling here. Um, Sheriff
   19:03  Garcia, I don't know, he hasn't attended the last couple of our of our meetings, and I'm not sure why that is.
   19:09  I don't know. I can reach out to him and see see if a conflict a little bit. I know he's been the subject matter of the
   19:16  last couple agendas and not having his input um it affects how we conduct business. I
   19:24  think it'd be a good idea for either myself or Chris or both of us to reach out to Sheriff Garcia and let him know that your appearance here is important.
   19:32  You need to be here. Why you're not, I'm not sure.
   19:41  So Poland, did you want to step in or Well, as far as the Dome, we're working on it right now.
   19:47  So, we're going to have a one pod ready probably about a week all the way. Show you what looks like
   19:55  working on the rest of it, cleaning it and all that. But we're really going to the council on that council
   20:03  meeting and I'll have all the figures without the painting because I have I 10 companies. It's unbelievable if we can't
   20:11  get an ass and u but we're probably going to be looking around a million dollars
   20:19  with everything to get it open. That's not, you know, not that I mean that's just what we got to do to the building. We got to replace the boilers.
   20:28  We're turning around 400,000.
   20:32  We got some IT equipment. We got to update. So, I'll be going to the council to ask for all that. That's the next council meeting.
   20:42  It's very clean back there, Chuck, because we can smell the bleach.
   20:45  [laughter]
   20:48  Yeah. I kind of wondered about that. Can Can you guys shut that door to keep it from going into the other?
   20:52  Yeah, they try to shut the door and then they try to now today they probably can open them doors, but the humidity is so bad. The other days it makes the duck start.
   21:07  [clears throat]
   21:08  We do.
   21:12  I appreciate that, Chuck. Appreciate that update. One of the questions I have is we had met for a time. Um, and I was a member of the work group, the jail
   21:20  overcrowding work group. If we've met, I don't know that I've received notice that that we've met as an overcrowded
   21:27  jail. We used to meet uh Judge Spitzer in your courtroom and had a lot of open transparent discussions about what we can do to combat jail overcrowding. And
   21:36  as a part of those discussions, a lot of great ideas came out of those discussions. uh um home detention
   21:44  pre-trial release. We had a lot of uh um work the work of release. We have a lot lot of really uh good ideas were
   21:53  formatted in those committee meetings in your courtroom and a lot of those ideas uh made it past just talking about it
   22:02  and became ideas that we actually implement now. So, do you know if we still are having those meetings? Because
   22:10  if we're not, I think we should and I would certainly volunteer to attend.
   22:15  Well, I think our last um thing has been pre-trial home detention. Um and so we
   22:21  kind of um that was our focus and our deliverable at that point. And so we did
   22:28  the uh policies for that and then that has just been implemented and up and running. I've got or I should say
   22:36  Melissa has a report uh in terms we got last report I heard was is it 20 now it
   22:42  was 19 before so um so the focus was really on getting that up and running
   22:49  and so um you know we can certainly call another meeting um if need be to
   22:57  continue to to uh work on that. as you indicated, we have accomplished several things as a result of um the the efforts of that work group.
   23:06  And I think that's really what happened out of when we started talking about the juvenile detention and the jail overcrowding work group was this set to
   23:13  talk about jail alternatives, right? And so that that reason that meeting hasn't continued is because we
   23:21  have alternatives. And I so I guess it'd be I we got to figure out I guess
   23:28  some way judge to be able to distinguish we've got the detention center jail overcrowding work group. That's really about what are we going to do about
   23:38  people who are in what are we going to do about a facility. The second part is like what are alternatives that we could put in place that help eliminate um or aid in jail overcrowding witches.
   23:51  We had several ideas. I mean one was war crew and then that morphed into pre-trial home detention.
   23:57  It did. It did. And I think uh we'll hear for more from Melissa on that. But that's an exciting program that certainly I think uh is going to be a
   24:05  very very um effective program to address jail overcrowding. And I think having these meetings and I'm not you
   24:13  know I know that recognizing the fact that everybody's busy uh but um having these meetings might generate some more
   24:21  discussion about uh ideas and then subcommittees would be formed based on those individual ideas. uh but we could
   24:29  certainly come up with uh with with with even more ideas as to combating jail overcrowding which would then hopefully
   24:36  form additional subcommittees. And what what I really liked about the the meetings was that you had uh most if not
   24:44  all of the stakeholders at these meetings. And for any of these programs to be successful, there has to be buyin from the prosecutor's office, buyin from
   24:53  the public defender's office, buyin from the sheriff, buyin from the commissioners, buyin from the council, buy in from the judiciary. And having
   25:01  all of those voices in the room on a frequent or semi-frequent occasion, I think is only going to serve to to to
   25:10  knock out the bad ideas, to fully develop the good ideas, and then to make sure that everyone's on board. And if you're not on board, we should hear why
   25:18  you're not on board because there might be a valid good reason why you're not on board. Uh but you're either going to be part of the solution or you're frankly part of the problem.
   25:28  Um, judge, what I'll do, I'll work with Chris and Melissa to find a new date for a next I think it makes sense to level
   25:36  set where we at. What are we doing that's uh working and how it's working?
   25:40  What are some other ideas that are out there? So, um why don't we see if we can get a a new meeting on the on the calendar and um
   25:48  and we um next week we've got I mean 30 is our cap. Mhm.
   25:54  And so we're I think next week we have a couple that are on there set for intakes. So, you know, we're only six or eight away from that our 30.
   26:03  Well, Melissa, why don't you can you just bring everybody up to speed in terms of where we're at on their program? So, um, pre-trial, um,
   26:11  pre-trial home detention has been quite the adventure for us. Um, it's been, um, you know, anytime you stand up a program, it takes a lot of additional
   26:19  work and, uh, you you kind of go through some barriers that you didn't anticipate and you have to rework and and, uh, kind
   26:26  of reset and, um, we've had a great team that has been willing to jump up and say, "Okay, how do we make this work?
   26:33  How do we bridge what we know and uh, what works?" than um how do we you know kind of step out and do something that's
   26:40  kind of newer, right? So um for us pre-trial home detention is more about um more than just emptying out of jail.
   26:47  It's about helping people get access to care. And so um you know we just replace them with being detained in the home and
   26:55  don't do any services. We're not helping them. And so we're using this time to get them referred and um should should
   27:02  they so choose to take advantage of those opportunities. Um several of the people that we're working with are highly motivated and getting services
   27:11  which is encouraging to see. Um but what we've realized is um as of uh last Friday we had 20 people already in the
   27:19  program and that's really quick to stand up a program and get people in. Um and so in the process of doing that, we had
   27:26  to um screen about 164 inmates. So in the background, we're screening a bunch of people um and maybe they don't make
   27:34  it um into because of the charges. They don't fit the target population. Um the housing is an issue. Um and many of the
   27:42  individuals that we are able to to move into the program required addictional assistance before even getting in. And so um while uh so that's important to us
   27:52  in the sense that they're going to come out to the community anyway and so we are helping them establish themselves as they come out to the community and so um
   28:01  we're helping with um like housing resources and things like that. So we had as of Friday we had 20 in. Uh one
   28:08  person's already completed the program so they've already had their face resolved. Um so that's really quick. Uh we actually had some people um approved
   28:16  for the program and they ended up taking a plea so it got resolved and they were out of jail. And so uh you start to see different things um having um kind of which is a success.
   28:26  Yeah.
   28:26  Which is a success that you moved a case.
   28:28  Yeah. You're moving the case. So you're additional unintended benefits um coming that way as well too. Um and so uh we
   28:38  had one terminated just this week because not everybody's going to be successful. uh we took a different route with that individual. Um and then we had
   28:47  one um unfortunately returned to jail uh yesterday uh based on some significant violations that were u making it not
   28:55  safe for the the community at this point.
   28:58  We didn't talk about that. So, sorry I finished your report, but you know, um and uh we have two set for uh court
   29:06  appearances to be considered for the program next week, and then we have uh three additional ones that are pending housing. So, we're looking at being
   29:14  about 87% full soon. Um and so that's a
   29:21  big uh accomplishment considering all the steps and all the uh things that we've had to work through. um in a short
   29:30  period of time. Um so as people come in, we're assessing risk, we're assessing need areas, we are uh making referrals
   29:38  to services. Uh the participants do a self assessment that help us to kind of guide the conversation in terms of resources that they need in the
   29:46  community. We document all of the referrals. Um and um the about average
   29:54  referrals when I looked last of people that have completed all of those uh once being in the program is about five. So they're being referred to five community
   30:03  resources. And so um you're you're seeing um based on what we're seeing is a high-risisk high need population. Um
   30:12  which tells us two things. One, we have the right people in jail.
   30:16  [clears throat] uh we're not bringing out a bunch of lowrisk with low need individuals and two we are serving a population with that we'll see the
   30:24  greatest reward on right so if you can reduce the risk and reduce the need that's where you're going to see your biggest bang for your buck um it does
   30:32  mean also that it makes it a little challenging for our staff because they're high risk high need um but we also have some that you know may be
   30:40  higher need but maybe not as high risk and so it allows us to do what we do really well and It's this concept of
   30:47  risk, need, and responsivity. And so it's understanding uh what one person may need is not what the next person needs. And how I interact with this
   30:55  person may not be exactly the same as how I interact with that person because it needs to change based on the individual. So um it's not a
   31:03  one-sizefits-all. It's taking a look at the individual, which takes time and a significant amount of uh investment and
   31:11  skill on the staff's part. Um, so it's looking at what what does this individual believe they need uh in order
   31:18  to be successful. What we're seeing is also a high employment rate. So consider this, they're coming out of jail uh and
   31:26  then the the return on their ability to get a job really quickly um is is a positive thing. So um we're looking at
   31:35  things that are going to stabilize people when they're in the community.
   31:40  And so we're starting to see some of those positive trends kind of pop up for us. Um which will mean um it's setting
   31:49  people up better for success as they reintegrate. Um so there are some additional encouraging data points that
   31:56  are coming out that maybe we didn't fully anticipate when we said let's do pre-trial home detention.
   32:03  Um and so uh but what we're seeing is um some really prog you know progress in the people that were um serving and
   32:12  helping them have a more of a seamless reintegration from the jail. So, um, so that's kind of what we've been
   32:20  doing over the last month and a half probably. Um, focusing in on and, um, kind of
   32:28  readjusting some responsibilities within our office because, um, it it's, you know, if you think about trying to
   32:35  screen 160ome people, uh, [clears throat] it does require additional hands that we didn't anticipate. But our our staff have been really great to say, I'm willing, I'm
   32:44  help, I'll help. Let's go. Um, so people aren't sitting back saying, "Well, I didn't sign up for this." So, it's a testament to our team as well to say,
   32:52  uh, they're invested as well, whether they're serving in that role or not. So, Melissa, you shared, I know some some
   33:00  data that I thought was interesting with us. So, 100% having a high probability of substance use disorder in the
   33:07  screening. Um, 88% required placement in a sober living residential treatment or the mission. Um, so that tells me that
   33:17  we're hitting our target population. We talked about this being targeted towards people with uh SUD.
   33:23  Um, 84% have multiple cases. So, you know, most of them are not just one case.
   33:30  There's um two or more. One of the changes we made at our last judges meeting was that we were it's not just multiple cases. We also are allowing
   33:38  people who have probation violation in a case then to come on to home detention as well. So kind of expanding that too.
   33:45  Um so I think you know good approach seems to be hitting the
   33:53  target um population. Um I think we're doing a pretty good job Jess in getting uh review hearing scheduled. Is that right?
   34:01  Yes. It's pretty seamless at this point.
   34:03  Yeah. So we're turning uh and we're getting I I think we've been trying to do those at least 90 days. Is that right? Or sooner.
   34:12  Yes. 90 days or sooner for that secondary review hearing.
   34:15  Okay. So, we'll start we're probably not into yet seeing some of those review here.
   34:18  I think we will have our first one on um September 15th will be our first one out of circuit court. So, okay. Out of all the courts, but it's in circuit court.
   34:26  Yeah. And I know I I set some earlier ones because I had some people that are looking at drug court. And so we we trying and then I'm prioritizing um
   34:35  people on home detention um coming into drug court and vet court on uh the home detention that we're paying for um coming into drug court and vet court.
   34:45  Then I think the other thing I wanted to talk about was um had a conversation with Mike yesterday sort of how we handle people who are violating and what
   34:53  is their status once they are violated and booked back into the jail. And a good question that Mike asked was, does that go back under their prior
   35:01  determination of bond or should it be no bond? And what my thought was when he
   35:08  and I just talked last night um was let's do it no bond and then um you know a request for a hearing date to to
   35:16  determine that. So I don't know what the other judges think, but I think we've given them the opportunity to be on home detention. they violated uh in some way.
   35:24  In this case, it was had left or had been kicked out um of the place that they were. Um you know, I think at that point,
   35:33  no bond is appropriate, but then you set a hearing, you know, to for redetermination if need be. So, I completely concur. We had the situation yesterday.
   35:42  Yeah.
   35:43  So, so we address it as no bond because, you know, that's just the appropriate way to address it because I I believe that we want folks that
   35:52  want to get be engaged and active in services, want to be gainfully employed, want these opportunities. And if you're violating, that's not my definition of
   36:01  you wanting to do this program. And and to build on uh what uh Joe Spitzer uh is saying is that I've been a judge for
   36:10  over 12 years and this is the most exciting program that I've been aware of since I've been a judicial officer. Uh to me, I can't even imagine the amount
   36:19  of work that goes into this program. I mean, just the little I mean, just a little bit that I know about the workload that goes into making this
   36:26  program uh function is beyond my ability to say anything more than thank you. uh
   36:33  because we're talking about uh transitioning uh folks back into our community through gainful employment, through drug and alcohol services, and
   36:42  we're going to see the impact of this program for generations. And so, this program is exciting. This program's needed, and the fact that we're doing
   36:50  it, I'm just so very proud of Grant County for for this program. And I guess my next question is knowing building up to this knowing the amount of work
   36:59  that's involved. There was some discussion at the meeting we're all at that maybe at some point we grow the program beyond third 30 folks that are
   37:07  in it. I is there is there any discussion about where we go from here?
   37:12  We are not quite at 30. We have 20. But is there thoughts about growing the program?
   37:18  I think that was originally part of the conversation if I remember right is let's let's figure out let's see if it's successful. let's let's see can we find
   37:26  30 are we doing well is it making an impact and then saying can we scale it and I think that was part of the initial conversation I think it goes back to
   37:35  funding resources you know if we say it is making an impact um it is helping um I it's really hard to to put a dollar
   37:44  amount on somebody's life that it's changed right and so as you think about saying um you know uh it costs this much
   37:52  money to run a program but If you think about like yes and these three people have changed their entire life because
   37:59  they had a benefit of starting sooner or got services or kind of stabilized early and had the the benefit of home detention while they're transitioning.
   38:08  Um it's hard to put a dollar amount on that. Um and so uh it comes down to a funding resource because it would
   38:15  require um an additional person. I can tell you that now uh now that we're living in it. Um, and so, uh, you know,
   38:25  one of the other things I think we need to see is how are we going to do in terms of cycling people on and off, meet the objectives, get them wherever
   38:34  they need to be, finish the case, move on to the next person. I think that's really important. We're only at about 85 days. Yeah.
   38:40  I mean, we've been running it now 85 days. So, you know, that uh um while that's a testament to all the hard work that everybody's put into it, it's still
   38:48  a short period of time to evaluate the success on. Now, if Tim Echerly was here, he would say this is fantastic because now they're worried about their
   38:57  own insurance and they're paying taxes again. Yeah. Right.
   39:01  So, you know, they're not a burden on other I mean other than the financial impact of having the staff to do it. They're not sitting in the jail.
   39:09  Mhm. and they're they're where they need to be when they're going to be in the community. Yeah.
   39:15  I I think too from the money standpoint, you you'd say otherwise these people would be probably shipped out so to speak and so it's having a
   39:23  definite impact, a cash impact uh for us. And so this is one of them that we can see an immediate right
   39:29  savings so to speak. Um and also the the other thing just has to do with the help. The main thing is though is expanding it too soon and then you start
   39:36  stretching what you're doing because we don't want to obviously implode the program. Yeah.
   39:41  So yeah, but uh I think um as we cycle through so we're close so we're not close to the 90day
   39:49  review hearings yet on a consistent basis, but it's it's looking at um do we have to establish a wait list? And I
   39:56  think if we have to find ourselves in a place where we're like, hey, we have a wait list of this long. they could have come in, but they can't really start.
   40:03  Um, so we've kind of been thinking about that ahead of time, looking at um, you know, scheduling our when we do a court
   40:12  a request for a court hearing, we also provide an intake date and that's our earliest availability to get them on the program. So when that gets further away
   40:21  from their court hearing date, we know we've got a wait list. Um, and so I think it's watching that. Do we maybe
   40:29  the wait list doesn't happen if we um kind of move them through at 90 days or if they take longer than 90 days or we
   40:37  have a bigger need. Um it might be one of those things where it's like we might think about do we add another 15? Do we
   40:45  add you know um but I think it's we won't know until we're in far enough to say are they are they coming in and
   40:53  going out fast. Um, so we we've had at least one come in and finish already, right?
   40:59  And so before their 90-day hearing, you know, so, uh, it is providing some additional motivation, um, about, um,
   41:08  you know, case satisfaction, you know, like case closures and things like that.
   41:12  So, I think we'll want some feedback too from from judges in particular is do you do you believe that the opportunity for
   41:20  pre-trial home detention then makes those people more willing to one accept a maybe accept a plea that looks at home
   41:27  detention or is it mo is it ex is it moving case processing more quickly. I think that would be great data for us to
   41:37  be able to see, hey, is that is that because the unintended consequence might be of that is that regardless of how
   41:44  many we have on, it's increasing the speed in which cases are getting processed instead of slowing it down.
   41:51  Great to hear from [clears throat] as we go forward. And [snorts] I think we've already started discussing expanding a little bit of the target
   41:58  population like Judge mentioned is um you know trying to look at it as another resource. So, uh, sometimes we have people sitting in, uh, the jail for
   42:07  technical violations for probation where it's like, you know what, they do really well as they p as their, uh, probation
   42:14  violation is in that pending state to get them back in the community kind of refocused and back on their conditions
   42:22  of supervision and into services. And so, it's looking at how else can this be utilized to reduce the impact on the
   42:29  jail. But also the second part of that is um which I believe is a big part is getting people access to care. So we
   42:38  don't want to trade locations. We want to be able to provide services and so this is our kind of our vehicle to be able to do that right now.
   42:48  Yeah. I just want to say thank you for getting it up and running and and also that mindset of how do we get this done as opposed to well we can't do this
   42:56  because or or that. It's it's like well okay this might be an issue how do how do we resolve it how do how do we get that done so thank you
   43:04  well and I think the learning from that is that collaboration working together getting everybody's input u getting all
   43:12  the stakeholders to which is we we had um certainly in this um you know this is this is a good example of what you can
   43:20  do when you got everybody working on pulling on the the ores in the same direction because that's really what happened with this is that everybody jumped in and um we got input from
   43:29  everybody and that's why it it worked everybody on board and things don't work
   43:36  and it was born out of the jail crowded committee and um it's the ultimate be careful what you ask for program because
   43:43  if you're asking for help you're going to you're going to get the opportunity for help and so and if you don't if you don't take the opportunity you violate
   43:52  that's why I'm 100% uh behind a no bomb respond because of the fact that we want if you if be you careful what you ask
   44:00  for because we're going to give you help. If you want help and you truly want help, you're going to be provided that opportunity. And that's what makes it exciting for me as a judge because
   44:08  the few hearings I've been involved in to have those conversations uh with individuals and say, "Look, I'm going to take a chance on you. I'm going to give you an opportunity for home detention.
   44:17  I'm going to release you from the Grant County Jail, but I fully expect in 90 days to be be hear good progress reports. I expect to hear good things.
   44:25  this is what I know is going to happen and and to see the light in the eyes to see the kind of engagement that they have when I've had these few
   44:33  conversations. Uh you're going to have folks that are going to violate you.
   44:36  You're not everybody's going to make it through the program and that's certainly for sure and that's unfortunate. But if you can help one person then the entire
   44:44  program is worth it. The entire program is worth one person changing their life.
   44:53  All right. Anything else before? I mean, this is great and thank you, Melissa.
   44:57  So, I didn't want to dominate the conversation, but I I I really uh believe in what we're doing here. Uh and so, does anybody have anything else to
   45:04  add on on uh the agenda item, which is u pre-trial home detention update? Anything else?
   45:13  All right. The next um item that I see here is pre-trial policy team updates.
   45:20  What's the [snorts] Jess and Mike?
   45:22  Yes. So, our policy team actually met about mid July. We did a pretty data heavy meeting. Um, it was kind of our midway through the year meeting to go
   45:31  over all of our data. One of the things that stood out the most was pre-trial release provides supplement a supplement
   45:38  report to the courts for bail review hearings. Um, that's something we kind of do on the side just to provide the courts with the most information possible for any bail review hearings
   45:46  that are set. And roughly from January this year until July this year, we've completed 71 bail review reports for the
   45:54  courts. Um so that's just kind of an extra task that we do. Provides the information. It also indicates on the report if they've been screened for
   46:02  pre-trial home detention and what the outcome um is for that would be. That way the courts are also aware maybe this individual is not appropriate for
   46:10  pre-trial home detention based on the target population or they are in the screening process. Um, additional
   46:17  additional data for basically this year to date is we have completed 622
   46:25  assessments with individuals that are currently incarcerated. Of those um, assessments that were complete, I'm sorry, we've screened 622 and we've
   46:34  completed 313 assessments as of today's date. And then we have completed 27 meaningful first hearings, which those
   46:42  are primarily held in Superior Court 2 with Judge Meeks. And so we're pretty on target for our normal es and flows of screening and court hearings throughout
   46:50  the year. Uh, additionally, one key point that we always like to track is the length of stay. And so this is for
   46:57  individuals that how long individuals that are released to pre-trial remain incarcerated prior to their release. And then also how long individuals that are
   47:06  not released to pre-trial are remaining incarcerated. from August of 2023 until August 1st of this year, the average
   47:15  length of stay for individuals that are released is 14 days. And then the average length of stay for individuals that are not released to pre-trial
   47:22  supervision is 94 days. And so we're seeing that individuals not released at their meaningful hearing or remaining in for a substantial substantially longer
   47:31  period of time. Um other than that, we do have our national conference coming up in August. um that is it's about a
   47:40  4-day event where it's every pre-trial agency throughout the United States comes and uh I will have the opportunity to be presenting on a panel discussion
   47:48  for crisis communication within the pre-trial system. Um this is the first time for this presentation so it'll be an exciting one as far as crisis
   47:57  management and then we will have our regular policy team meeting coming up in October. I don't have that date yet, but
   48:04  everyone that is part of that will be receiving the little calendar invite soon. So, um, pre-trial release is still around and we are working really closely
   48:13  with pre-trial home detention also, uh, specifically individuals that are not released at meaningfuls. Pre-trial home detention is notified immediately if
   48:20  they may fit the criteria for pre-trial home detention also. So, we have that collaboration going. Also,
   48:27  might add, uh, Grant County pre-trial is going on the road show. Jess and I are going to be presenting at the annual judicial conference um in September and
   48:36  uh I think last I heard earlier this week there were last week there's 93 judges that are signed up for our sessions. So should have a good
   48:45  um a good audience and so we're presenting with a large county and a small county and we're a mediumsiz
   48:51  county. Sorry. No, I have a question more for judges. This
   48:58  pre-trial or excuse me, this bail review, how do you how do you guys view that?
   49:07  Because to me, you're receiving information that's outside potentially an evidentiary hearing and it seems like
   49:14  you're if you have this information which nobody else really knows because they've taken the time to do it and that's not put into evidence. Are you
   49:23  using the fact potentially sent to the lawyers? I'm sorry. It's sent to the lawyers.
   49:26  Well, I know it is. But if nobody puts any evidence in on say someone missed a hearing because obviously if someone missed a hearing before we're not going
   49:35  to bring that up as defense council if the state doesn't bring it up. Do you still view you have the right to use
   49:42  that as a reason to keep bail where it is or if you think the information is wrong, you should be bringing that up at the hearing.
   49:50  I understand.
   49:51  And then I and then I'm listening to that.
   49:52  I I understand that completely. But my question is, you're theoretically receiving information outside of a
   49:59  hearing and are you using that information outside that if it's not brought into that hearing, are you using that information to determine bail?
   50:08  Because that to me doesn't seem to be right. I'm not saying anyone's doing that. I'm just asking a general question because this is very new.
   50:14  I mean, you do that with a pre-sentence investigation report. you do that. I mean, there's lots of ways you get information from your um court services
   50:25  to that help you make a decision, but as long as it's being shared amongst the parties, I don't see any issue with it because you have the opportunity to challenge it if you don't agree.
   50:34  So, if if we as defense attorneys get it the day before, how do we have an opportunity to even
   50:42  go through any of that before the hearing?
   50:44  If you need a continuence, ask for a continuence. I know, but then someone just jail and we I mean we're setting those
   50:51  hearings very quickly for bail review and so I mean it's you know I was just curious what
   51:00  So it sounds like I know I'm just me talking I'm getting them like four or five days. Yeah. Not not the day before.
   51:09  Just curious what your perspective was on that information. Same as Chuck Spitzer for me.
   51:16  complicated if you you you always have the ability to challenge it and I but you can understand from the defense
   51:23  perspective sometimes there might be information in there the state doesn't bring up why would we want to challenge [clears throat] it
   51:31  why do we even want to bring it up because in my mind you review it you're ruling on the evidence you hear at the hearing you're not ruling on evidence
   51:39  outside of the hearing which is not brought in the hearing you're discussing tactics with me and what I'm concerned about is not whose
   51:47  tactics I'm concerned about getting the right decision. So, um, very good. Yeah.
   51:52  So, your suggestion is bring it up in the hearing. Yes.
   51:56  Yes. I would I absolutely if there's something in believe you believe is incorrect, then bring it up. I'm sure Jess would [clears throat] um like to hear that as well. So yeah,
   52:05  I can just envision a scenario where let's say someone had missed some hearings in the past and nobody no
   52:12  evidence is put on during the hearing yet. You cite that as a reason for denying bond. That to me seems like that should not be correct.
   52:20  Well, here's an example. So I if I I mean I know that for example um our city
   52:28  courts have had a policy of citing people in for fines and costs later
   52:36  on after their case is completed and then there's failure to appears for that. I don't give that a lot of weight because I understand that there may be a
   52:43  a bad address and things like that. So, you know, I mean, I I I we we do try and
   52:51  exercise some perspective when we make those decisions, believe it or not.
   52:54  David Jess, are those filed into the case or are they just emailed? They historically have not been efiled, but that is
   53:02  absolutely something that we can start completing to ensure that they're received in a timely manner because I know the last one I had I saw
   53:10  right before like you I saw the morning of or and I was very surprised that it was there because I'm thinking this should not be happening as a defense
   53:18  attorney. That's my thoughts. I'm getting this right before and I don't think any of this should be considered
   53:25  as evidence because it's not put into a hearing. We get in several days and e file both. No, I can absolutely do both.
   53:33  Yeah, that's how I got it was you e file it. It's on the record of the case. We just take judicial notice of it whether
   53:40  if you do that that's that's fine. But I'm not I don't know if that's something you could take I I don't want to get into a big legal discussion here, but
   53:49  I'm not sure that's something that could judicial notice could be taken care of, taking a notice of, but I haven't thought that through yet.
   53:57  If something pops up on that, I mean, I usually try and ask the parties about it and get a response, you know, that if we get it several days ahead of them, that would be very helpful.
   54:06  I think that's that's the well well taken issue is the the attorneys getting the information. Yes, in advance of the hearing so we can prepare for it.
   54:14  And if you and again if you don't feel like you have adequate time or you get it and you need to request a continuence then I'm not
   54:23  I would typically grant that and and and then but still make sure that we get it in a hearing quickly set. So very good
   54:30  and even set it the next day whichever time was requested find time the next day.
   54:36  Thank you.
   54:39  David, you wanted to talk about invasion of privacies, didn't you?
   54:42  Yeah, I I guess I was curious why invasion of privacies are excluded from pre-trial detention. And the reason I
   54:50  ask is I've got a client who might be potentially the least violent person you're ever going to meet. Just as in love with her boyfriend, and they want
   54:58  to be together, but yet she's sitting in jail taking up a jail space in my mind for no reason whatsoever because she can't get on home detention. she can't
   55:06  get on pre-trial because she's got an invasion of privacy charge. And I was curious what the logic was why those
   55:13  people are being ruled out. And if if they are ruled out, is there a way that we can investigate or give the judge the
   55:20  ability to at least get it to a hearing where they can make that decision whether they should be ruled out rather than just a flat denial up front, if that makes sense.
   55:28  Yeah. I think probably what you're talking about is an exception to the rule because most of them are not like that. Most of them are pretty violent, pretty persistent.
   55:37  I would disagree with that and have not followed the stay away the no contact, the direct order of the judge, which is
   55:44  kind of important when you're putting I agree, but you're still I think there are
   55:52  nonviolent people out there. I think you I think the judge should have the ability to be able to hear that and make that determination for themselves rather
   56:00  than just flat out and reviewed up front and we don't even get the right to do that.
   56:04  So part of our ability to do is to take referrals so the judges can then in turn say I'd like this person considered for
   56:11  pre-trial home detention that can also come from attorneys.
   56:15  So even though even though the person's denied, we could still ask they be reviewed. So if they're outside of the the parameters,
   56:24  yes, are probably if it comes to us that way, we're most likely going to look at it and say probably not the best
   56:31  candidate. If there were extenduating circumstances, we might be able to to kind of look at those, but they could come like if the judges want to say, I'd
   56:39  like this person considered for pre-trial home detention. Um could that could be an option. It really comes down to the safety of the community, right?
   56:47  So they're out on pre-trial release. uh pre-trial home detention. If they decide that, you know what, I'm done with this
   56:54  and I'm gonna cut my strap and I'm gonna go see that person, we have no ability to stop that from happening.
   57:00  I understand that in in some cases, but there are also cases, and I see this every day where it's way overblown in my
   57:08  opinion. And I think these are the types of cases which the judge should be able to be able to hear the evidence and make
   57:16  a determination. well, this person probably is okay, rather than just a flatout denial up front because of the label of a charge.
   57:22  Yeah, I think it certainly could be something that we talk about when we reconvene the um work group to discuss what are because we've already had
   57:30  discussions about how do we expand the the target population, you know. Um but I think it could be part of that discussion that we
   57:37  at least a case by case basis set up for future meeting. I will say it is not just at face value.
   57:43  It's that and specifically that case was not looked at just the charges. I was the one that actually looked thoroughly through the circumstances around that
   57:52  case, the criminal history, the pending matters. And so just to say that we are just looking at the charges and making a determination, I I wouldn't say that was
   57:59  is accurate. Um I thought it was just because of the charge you were ruled out automatically.
   58:04  That was the number one indication and then there was further review.
   58:09  Sometimes you might get just that as the reason for the denial just like regular home detention denials. But
   58:17  once that's addressed, there's four or five other things that that are are part of it. We're just giving you the the meat of what
   58:25  if we have the ability to go back and ask for the judicial review, that's fine. That solves the problem.
   58:31  And it sounds like everybody's fine with that.
   58:33  Yeah. I mean, I think we we will have to set up a way to to do that, but I think maybe that's probably part of the discussion at the future.
   58:40  Could we do that at the future? Yeah, let's talk about future meeting. These cases are what we do.
   58:45  These cases are difficult, you know. I mean, we've all found PC on one where they're riding around together in a car, you know. Is that
   58:51  is that invasion of privacy? Yeah. But, you know, that's the situation that I'm talking about. Um, so so I you know, I don't know.
   58:59  There the cases are difficult and
   59:02  [clears throat]
   59:03  You know, obviously the smart thing to do would be to say, "I don't need this protective order anymore. Court, can we please remove that so we can ride around
   59:11  together in a car?" But that's not what people do. So then you got to pick up the pieces and then actually give more time to deal with that.
   59:18  I think too, David, as we as we convene this meeting to look at again jail alternatives and review that, it would
   59:26  be good if you brought specific examples or maybe even gave us notice before the meeting. Then we'd have an opportunity to be able to look at it and say, "Okay,
   59:34  sure, Jess listed that one, but here were the other things that were involved." Then we can look at it and see, is there a proper is there an opportunity to change?
   59:42  Sure.
   59:43  But I like the idea of a hearing, and I'll tell you why. Yesterday I override overrode a home detention denial, but it
   59:51  was because we had a hearing. The state of Indiana didn't object. There's a lot of factors in that, but that that's an example of having a hearing and how a
 1:00:00  ituation where the state did not object. And so that would give an opportunity for the state to weigh in at that hearing as well.
 1:00:05  I know all the judges have done it on after or at sentencing or whatever and they get to the evidence to make that
 1:00:12  determination. This specific issue was pre-trial though. So, but if we can do if we can make that adjustment, then
 1:00:20  that would be and that helpful 85 days in.
 1:00:24  I know 85 bringing up an issue. We're 85 days.
 1:00:31  We're talking about policy. Maybe a minor tweaking of the policy. That's all. Nothing more.
 1:00:38  We'll put on the agenda. Thank you.
 1:00:41  Good input. All right. Then, uh, do anybody else? We've certainly heard from Jess and and Mike and Melissa want to
 1:00:49  weigh in on pre-trial policy uh, team updates. I don't want to leave anybody out.
 1:00:54  I think Jess does a good job covering all those things for us.
 1:00:57  Uh she would she wouldn't uh admit it, but she does a great job. And I think um you know, I think one thing
 1:01:04  that um probably means she she slid it in there that she's speaking at a national conference. But I think what's important is Grant County, Indiana is
 1:01:12  speaking at a national conference, meaning that people have uh seen that there's value in what's happening here
 1:01:19  locally that they want to put it on the national platform. Uh they're also getting it at the state level as well.
 1:01:26  So um that's kind of uh representative of the work that Jess and her team do every day um following best practice
 1:01:34  standards as it relates to pre-trial services. So, um, you know, it's not just something that we're doing in the background. It is something that we're
 1:01:42  doing really well and it has kind of caught the attention, uh, at the national level. But, um, Jess does a great job leading her team.
 1:01:51  Got her second staff spotlight.
 1:01:54  Thank you. All right. And so, uh, the next thing, the member reports, public defender.
 1:02:00  Um, two things. Number one, um we're gonna have major turnover at the end of the year. Mr. Elliott's leaving. He's
 1:02:08  going to retire and he's been a true advocate for the um public and it's going to be a big
 1:02:17  loss. Losing another public defender, the county council and commissioners have been great and getting the pay
 1:02:25  where it needs to be where I think those positions are going to get filled thanks to the work they've done. And [clears throat] secondly, I just want to comment on Gary. I've worked with him
 1:02:34  for the first 15 years of re-entry court and most of the people in here know
 1:02:41  re-entry court went from being a program people coming out of prison. God, do I have to do that? Why do I want to do that? To where now they understand it is
 1:02:49  something that truly help them get on their feet when they get out. If there's a better one in the state of Indiana, I'd like to see it.
 1:02:56  And the case workers, including you, Gary, are fantastic. in that program.
 1:03:01  They deal with people who are difficult to deal with and it's not easy trying to get someone who has criminal thinking to
 1:03:08  to do that. Judge Todd spends a lot of time with them every Friday morning and truly remarkable that program drug court
 1:03:16  which Judge Spitzer oversees those programs are invaluable to what we do. So I just Gary keep up your work.
 1:03:26  Thank you.
 1:03:27  So I don't know that we have anybody from the prosecutor's office. Radiant Health. Sure. Yes.
 1:03:35  So we recently learned there is a delay getting individuals once they're released into medication management
 1:03:43  services at Radiant. So in October we're launching a more direct access for those individuals in to see a prescriber with
 1:03:51  Dr. Khan at our north location. And I think last meeting, Jenna talked about having a therapist available seven days
 1:03:59  a week at our north location for people to walk in and have assessments done and start in treatment immediately. We'll be
 1:04:07  expanding that for a targeted population of those that are released and are referred in to get in with Dr. Con more
 1:04:15  quickly so medications can start and we can remove that barrier. Another thing at Radiant for everyone to be aware of
 1:04:22  is [clears throat] you may have heard on the news that the changes around Medicaid are occurring. Um so to date
 1:04:31  we've seen an 18% decrease in number of individuals who qualify for Medicaid. Um Medicaid has not ran in the black from a
 1:04:40  cost perspective at the state level. So they're looking at how do we how do they control cost? As of January, the there
 1:04:48  will be a segment of the Medicaid population, those individuals that are likely undermployed, so their pay is fairly low that traditionally has been
 1:04:57  on what is considered a Medicaid HIPP plan. So, they pay to be on Medicaid.
 1:05:02  Um, there will be work requirements that are rolled out as of January for those individuals. Um, so often they are
 1:05:09  working, but they will have to report that data back to the state. if they don't report, they will lose their Medicaid. So, we're working with it
 1:05:18  impacts about a thousand of our the people we serve to make sure they understand they're responsible to go to
 1:05:25  the state website to submit evidence of working, volunteering, or education that's occurring so they don't lose
 1:05:33  their Medicaid when they're undermployed and and trying to be successful and engage in treatment. So, just FYI.
 1:05:41  Great.
 1:05:42  Yeah. Stacey, are you getting I'm sending you a list of who we have advanced releases coming. Is that helping? That is helping. Okay.
 1:05:49  Yep.
 1:05:52  Thank you for that. Marian Health task force.
 1:05:58  Grant County Sheriff and I will reach out to Sheriff Garcia
 1:06:06  about needing to attend these meetings and I know for the last I don't know three, four, five meetings he's been on the agenda and not up here. All right,
 1:06:14  moving on. Uh Marian Police Department, anybody from Marian Police Department?
 1:06:19  You we might do the same with the chief, right? Just to see check on him too.
 1:06:25  Be happy to do that. I don't know that she's been on our agenda, but I'd definitely be happy to do that. Grant County uh court services.
 1:06:33  Um the only thing uh other thing I think uh is important to add is talking about the Justice Partners Grant. So um the
 1:06:41  Justice Partners Grant has uh said that there's going to have an eighth and final year of funding. Um and so it's a
 1:06:48  reduced amount um compared to previous years. Um we use that uh funding. Um we have used it for several years to do a
 1:06:56  couple of things. Um one is to uh for training. So the state cut funding for training, we've used that to help um
 1:07:05  kind of shore up some uh training opportunities for us uh you know um to continue to to help equip our staff to
 1:07:14  do the work that we're asking them to do. Um, and then, uh, we also use it to help fund the purchases, the purchasing
 1:07:23  of all of the materials for our in-house groups. So, all of the groups that we're running, um, I was looking at September
 1:07:29  and I think we're going to have about 26 or 27 groups running in the month. So, those are opportunities for our
 1:07:37  participants, people on community supervision to go into what's an evidence-based skill buildinging group um, to learn skills. Um some of them are
 1:07:46  uh for what's co-occurring mental health and substance use. Some of those are uh like one of them is what Gary runs for
 1:07:53  responsible thinking. Um and there's uh trauma specific that are you know groups
 1:07:59  that are gender specific as well. Um so we've just looked at the needs of the populations we that we are serving and
 1:08:07  started aligning those with these particular groups. um and has allowed us to really kind of expand the dosage of
 1:08:15  supervision exponentially. Um we're getting good um kind of results from uh those efforts as well in terms of uh pre
 1:08:24  and post tests that we're using. Uh we're starting to see that it's not just changing the way people are thinking, but it's actually translating to
 1:08:31  behavioral change. Um and so uh that's promising as well. So, we've used this funding to pay for that um in a way
 1:08:38  because that that curriculum can be a little pricey because each one has a a workbook with it. Um but we do that at
 1:08:47  no charge to our clients. So, we're not charging our clients to participate in these groups. It is a service that we're
 1:08:53  um giving to them. Um and so, uh we've been fortunate enough to be able to kind of stock up on some of those groups and
 1:09:02  expand the ones that we're doing and offering Um and so we put in for funding for training, we put in for funding for u
 1:09:10  more of those materials and um with the addition of some of the things that we're doing like with pre-trial home
 1:09:17  detention and um uh the importance of gathering evidence-based assessment tools. So we've uh been able to uh get
 1:09:26  funding for that to be able to purchase things that help us to look at very specific domains. So substance use,
 1:09:34  mental health. Um so some of those scales that you do, they all um the uh
 1:09:41  ones that are kind of been around for a while generally cost some money um to purchase. So we've been able to to buy those um because we know everything
 1:09:49  hinges on understanding the person that we're working with. So um if I know what your uh risk needs are, I can better
 1:09:58  align the services that um are going to be recommended for you. So um you know looking at assessment driving case
 1:10:05  planning um for us and so uh we've been able to um have funding in the past for those as well. So uh this year the grant
 1:10:14  was a quick turnaround um but it does require you know um making sure that our local JRA is um aware of the that
 1:10:23  particular grant. Um and so we just continued with the same route. um we didn't see ourselves um stopping
 1:10:30  in-house groups or stopping assessments or stopping the need for training and so uh it just allows us to have some
 1:10:37  funding to continue those. Uh [clears throat] but I wanted to make the um the team aware of that as well. They
 1:10:44  did say it's the final year um after eight years. So um that's just a a funding source from
 1:10:53  external to us. So, um I think it's a federally derived that comes down to the state and then gets broken out to the
 1:11:00  counties. So, um but it's um helped us tremendously in being able to start and sustain some things.
 1:11:10  Don't know if you have any questions about that particular grant or anything, but
 1:11:23  the grant Uh well, so when the when it first started out, they capped it at 60,000 a year. Um and then it's kind of dwindled.
 1:11:31  I think this year was like 38,000 I think is what we got. Um I think they're going to do another reduction again uh this year just because the funding is
 1:11:40  just getting smaller. So um we'll utilize whatever they give us
 1:11:46  for those um items, but uh I would anticipate a smaller amount this year, too. Yeah, but if the rain goes away, what are you going to do?
 1:11:57  So, what we would do is uh a lot of times we try to figure out how to work that into like user fees or um trying to
 1:12:04  figure out how to make that happen. Uh right now we're look for more grants. Look for more grants. Try to find more money.
 1:12:12  Y we did we do buy so when we get the opportunity we get a grant check, we buy
 1:12:19  as much as we can. So, we've got uh quite a few file cabinets filled with material, but we go through them
 1:12:27  quickly, but we try and buy ahead to make sure that we can meet the need for the future.
 1:12:32  So, what basically kind of like balance do you got to have to make it be efficient? You know what I'm saying?
 1:12:40  Yeah. Um, it's a great question. And I think what we'd have to do is look at like um the number with we would break
 1:12:47  down the number of groups and individuals served and we'd be able to because each one of them cost different amounts of money. You know the uh if we
 1:12:56  do we're going to start a financial literacy class and um those books are quite expensive compared to some of the other groups but it's much longer group.
 1:13:06  So, um, you know, they could run from anywhere from $3 a workbook up to,
 1:13:13  I want to say some of them that we're using for, uh, veterans court and, uh, court could run up to close to $15 a
 1:13:22  book. So, I think what we would do is just reevaluate which ones are we gaining the most uh, benefit out of. So, uh, one of the
 1:13:31  things that we've been doing is capturing data, uh, and so we can measure which ones have the biggest impact and so then we'll focus probably
 1:13:40  if we have to focus only on those, that's the ones we'll focus on.
 1:13:45  Did you have an update to as our commissioner? Thank you for coming. You're the next on the list.
 1:13:51  Not really. We're just uh working away at the de home, you know, trying to get through till we get this third commissioner,
 1:13:58  which will hopefully be third day and we'll go from there.
 1:14:05  Sounds good. Thank you. Um Schz, you are next.
 1:14:08  Yeah, probably um the one thing that was discussed at our most recent meeting, I don't know if anybody had seen it, was
 1:14:16  um that that local jail lit had been passed and approved, which is now in
 1:14:23  place for 2026 and moving forward. Um and some members of the council felt like that was only for a new jail. Um
 1:14:31  and and as I recall, and I don't know if it was discussed publicly or not, but um the thought was is that if we didn't
 1:14:39  build a new jail, there may be maintenance issues that needed to be performed [snorts] at our old jail so
 1:14:46  that that could be used for it. Um, so I don't know if if uh we're going to do some type of a um reaffirming uh that we
 1:14:56  would say yes, this is in place, but we're going to leave it in place maybe for two years or three years to have six or $9 million so that could be used on
 1:15:05  our facilities. Um, and actually according to uh what I read in there, and David, you can correct me if I'm
 1:15:12  wrong, but I uh I had read in there that it could be even used for operations uh should that need arise. Um, and
 1:15:20  something very interesting that's happened this year, um, only being my second year on the council, but for the last three years, uh, we've had in there
 1:15:27  the juvenile detention center uh, operating salaries and all those expenses of about 1.4 million. Uh, and
 1:15:35  that is gone this year. Uh, uh, a couple people took it out. Um, which, um, is kind of surprising to me that that just
 1:15:43  disappears. Um, but, uh, we still have the out of county funding. So, if this local facility was open, um, we do have
 1:15:52  in the budget 1.1 million that funds out of county. Instead, we would employ people to be in county. Um, and that
 1:15:59  might also be a potential drug treatment center. um that could be run over there as well. Uh which which I think we we
 1:16:09  kind of had a discussion on that. Um some of us did and I was looking to have a maybe a second discussion about it as
 1:16:15  well. um just because it might be a a gap that that maybe we're missing is kind of what it sounded like uh to
 1:16:23  helping some of our um citizens who are struggling with with drugs uh to have a a real good um in jail treatment
 1:16:32  program. Um so anyway, those are some of the things that I'm obviously the council's working on and all these things are you know take take funding
 1:16:40  and things like that. I Dr. Dr. Payton Scott had done a presentation at our last meeting talking about drug programs or issues that we have in our community.
 1:16:49  Uh and I and I did actually talk to Randy Atkins before I came here uh and asked him, you know, where are you at on this? And he said, you know, I'm on
 1:16:56  board. He said, you know, we we we need to do this. We we really need to help our community. And and so um I I was
 1:17:03  encouraged by that. Um again that just because we always have you know turnover and things like that on the council and every elected position potential um that
 1:17:12  we might have some of that continuity because [clears throat] I think hearing from Judge Spitzer it's it's you know if you're going to do it do it right um and
 1:17:20  we don't want to do a a stop start and so I kind of one of those things where you're trying to make sure everybody's on board and um and also not step on
 1:17:28  toes and upset anybody as well. So it's uh definitely [clears throat] a balancing act. So yeah,
 1:17:35  and I believe if you do read that jail tax, too. We could also use it for rehab. You know what I mean? I think that could help you, you know, because I am like a [clears throat] like a res.
 1:17:46  I read it. I mean, it says you can use it for rehab, too. Yeah, it does.
 1:17:50  I thought it was rehabilitation and programming, but I'm I'd have to look at it again.
 1:17:55  Right. I can tell you that the uh association of Indiana counties is have they have a lot of information in terms of the changes in the tax structure and
 1:18:04  how that and they will even you know come and talk to us about it if there are questions about that and they've also they're putting up some uh webinars
 1:18:12  and things like that on their site as well explaining uh the changes and what the c the different options are to fund local government. And so, um, as I heard
 1:18:21  that, I was thinking that might be something we we might want to take advantage of as a county to get that information so we have a better understanding of what you and
 1:18:29  particularly obviously you guys who have the checkbook. Um, what the options are in terms of funding local government with all the changes that are coming.
 1:18:36  Yeah, absolutely. Appreciate that.
 1:18:38  Yeah. Well, that meeting was well attended. It was at 7 in the morning and thank you for putting that together and if there's any further meetings, just let us know because Thank you.
 1:18:47  All right. Uh, next updates. Uh, Judge Todd reported.
 1:18:56  I didn't see my name.
 1:18:57  It says Grant County Judges. I was Oh, so you picked on me. From left to right. I was going to go run. I have nothing new to report.
 1:19:05  Okay. This is a fine report. Judge Meeks. We I just more on the agenda. Uh, I don't think I have anything other than
 1:19:11  Magistrate Lawson and myself have had, I think, three meetings with Judge Felix from the Indiana Court of Appeals. Uh,
 1:19:19  we're looking to rejoin the juvenile detention alternatives initiative program. Apparently, that was something
 1:19:26  Grant County was in long before my time on the bench and they gave it up for, I don't know, good reason, I'm sure. Uh,
 1:19:35  so we're trying to find out. Is that something we want to get back into or not? And I get the deep rest on that,
 1:19:41  but more info coming. So, thank you for that report, J. Spitzer.
 1:19:47  Um, we, uh, drug court is full and vet court is full now. We have weight lists. Um,
 1:19:57  we've got a graduation coming up in um, uh, November 3rd, I think, election
 1:20:03  election day at 6:30. Um it's at First Christian Church, the the one with the ark on in front of it on Yeah.
 1:20:12  So everybody's welcome to attend if you'd like. That's drug court graduation. Um should have we got several people that are getting ready to graduate in vet court as well. Um so
 1:20:21  we'll schedule something for vet court coming up pretty soon, too. So um and then as soon as we get those people graduated, we've got people waiting to
 1:20:29  get get in again. So thank you for that update. Um the only thing I would add is that um not having
 1:20:38  a operational elevator creates a lot of problems being on the third floor. Yes.
 1:20:43  Because we've got folks that just can't take the stairs of any kind. And so what we're doing uh is using our referee
 1:20:51  space, our referee courtroom, uh at at whenever wherever we can to make accommodations for folks that can't take
 1:20:58  the stairs because denial to access the justice is unacceptable. Now what does that do? is that requires our staff to go up and down the stairs more times a
 1:21:06  day than I can recall. Uh but that's what we're doing. Uh because we'll have folks that we need to go downstairs and address their hearing and and our
 1:21:14  referee core is is very busy Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday as Mr. Blickfield knows. And so we can't get in there on
 1:21:22  Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays typically because uh we have hearings uh around the clock those three days. But
 1:21:29  having that space, having that referee court, thank you uh for building that courtroom because um having it now is
 1:21:39  vital uh to addressing cases that are pending before my court and having a ground floor space to do it. So, thank
 1:21:47  you, Mr. Fing. I know you were we contacted they're say they're coming. They're building them.
 1:21:53  So, hopefully they'll be here. Well, having that courtroom and you were instrumental in providing that courtroom to our court. Thank you for that. Having that referee courtroom's been
 1:22:01  invaluable. All right. I know our meetings run long, so I want to make sure that we stay on time if we can. The last thing I have other than concerns other businesses, State JR Spitzer.
 1:22:11  Yeah. And we're just um looking at um the next legislative session and thinking about some uh about legislation. And so this there's a lot
 1:22:20  of new legislators. the legislative session is going to be a little bit different I think than we've seen in the past. Um maybe not different in a good
 1:22:29  way. Who knows? Um so it's just something to keep in we're monitoring. We're monitoring that situation.
 1:22:36  Um and trying to mitigate uh as much as possible any things that happen like this community corrections kind of
 1:22:43  snafu. Um so uh we we shall see. All right. Judge, you provided that too. I
 1:22:51  didn't know if that was part of the bail or I didn't know if that was part of that or that was something that you wanted to talk about.
 1:22:58  Yeah, that's uh it's just um it's CJ uh I uh the Criminal Justice Institute did a um bail pre-trial release and rearrest
 1:23:08  report. It's just for information purposes only and some data with regards to pre-trial release um in the state.
 1:23:17  And so if you're interested in that, uh, it's it's worth looking at. I just wanted to share that with you. Be in all your packets, I think. Yes.
 1:23:25  Yep. Thanks for reminding me. Yeah. Like concerns, other business hearing? None. Uh, adjournment. Motion.
 1:23:32  Motion made. All right. By judge me.
 1:23:34  Second. Second. Foley. Meeting adjourned. Thank you all. Right.