Circuit report: juveniles in residential placement, adult caseloads and client-service bills approved

Probation staff reported March statistics at the April 9 circuit meeting, saying the juvenile active caseloads were 114 in LaSalle County, 24 in Bureau County and 17 in Grundy County, for a circuit total of 155 active juvenile cases and 16 administrative juvenile cases. Adult active caseloads were reported as 766 across the circuit, with 530 administrative adult cases and 1,296 people on adult probation.

Staff also reported that LaSalle County currently has two juveniles in residential placement, at a stated cost of $250 per day for each placement; no release dates were provided at the meeting. The presenter noted that administrative caseloads generally reflect youth in residential treatment, where officers monitor treatment progress rather than day-to-day community supervision.

The meeting included review and approval of county bills that probation staff said were intended to support supervised people with immediate needs. LaSalle County March bills listed in the packet included $950 for emergency housing for a client, $180 for mental-health counseling and a $651.46 airfare to return a juvenile apprehended out of state; the packet also listed officer cell-phone reimbursements, mileage and office supplies. Grundy County bills included software maintenance ($3,600) and two months of cell-phone reimbursements ($440). Bureau County bills included a copier contract ($375.14), conference registration ($325) and cell-phone reimbursement ($160). The presenter noted that some cell-phone reimbursements are coordinated among counties.

During the meeting staff explained that the airfare was chosen after comparing options with sheriff’s-office ground transport costs; staff said ground transport for that juvenile would have cost roughly $7,000, making the flight a less costly option for returning the juvenile to the circuit.

Votes at a glance: the meeting took voice votes on routine items and carried them by voice vote with no opposed votes recorded in the meeting transcript. Documented actions recorded in the meeting minutes included:

• Motion to accept the March minutes — outcome: approved (voice vote).

• Motion to accept the department statistical reports — outcome: approved (voice vote).

• Motion to accept county bills for payment (March bills as presented) — outcome: approved (voice vote).

• Motion to adjourn — outcome: approved (voice vote).

Staff also noted personnel changes: Grundy County filled a secretary vacancy; LaSalle County reported a recent resignation in the intensive-probation grant program and said the posting will run internally for 10 working days before opening publicly. The presenter said the circuit previously had nine juvenile officers and now has six; LaSalle County was reported to have four juvenile probation officers, Grundy one and Bureau one.

The meeting closed with a reminder that the next circuit-wide probation meeting is scheduled for May 14, 2025.