Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Jail Operations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sawyer County CJCC reviews jail population, shift to electronic monitoring and JusticePoint budget cuts
Summary
At its March 11 meeting, the Sawyer County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council heard that the jail averaged 59 inmates in February, traditional Huber privileges have moved to electronic monitoring, and JusticePoint’s deflection budget dropped from $280,000 to $158,000, eliminating a systems navigator role.
The Sawyer County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council met March 11 and received updates on jail population trends and community reentry services. A jail report presented an average daily population of 59 inmates for February (11 female; 48 male) and noted the report’s total-population snapshot was 55 and the unemployment rate at booking was about 67%.
The council discussed operational changes to Huber privileges. A jail staff member said the program shifted in January 2024 from traditional work-release that allowed residents to leave and return to an electronic-monitoring model. "We put them on electronic monitoring so that they can work," the staff member said, adding the change reduces the risk of bringing drugs into the jail and improves safety for staff and other inmates. Staff outlined Huber eligibility criteria: either 32 or more hours of community service or documented employment plus other stipulations; the report showed one person on electronic monitoring when the report was generated, with staff noting that number can change.
JusticePoint, the county’s deflection partner, told the council it has trimmed staff in response to budget cuts. Becky, representing JusticePoint, said she will remain in a three-quarter-time role and that the deflection program’s operating budget was reduced from $280,000 to $158,000, which led to eliminating one systems navigator position. "We eliminated one of our pure systems navigators positions," Becky said. She said the organization will pursue alternate grants and meet with Department of Justice and Department of Health Services contacts to explore options.
Becky also presented February program statistics: 109 people active on pretrial services with 13 referrals pending and three successful pretrial completions during the month; diversion showed six active cases and 12 pending referrals, which staff attributed to the time needed for a two-hour assessment and case-plan development. For treatment court, she reported several active cases and a small number of pending referrals. Becky said deflection outreach and community events are continuing despite the staffing reduction, and staff are restructuring responsibilities to maintain services.
Council members highlighted transitional services for people leaving custody. Staff said Pathways’ Matthew issues phones to released individuals so they can connect with reentry case managers and employment supports. Members also discussed the local partnership with the tribal clinic and a peer recovery coach engaged through Americaore, and they plan a first-week-of-June event to acknowledge professional visitors who provide counseling and services in the jail.
The council did not take a formal vote on these items. Members asked staff to continue pursuing external funding and to return with updated program and staffing information at a future meeting. The CJCC scheduled its next meeting for April 8.
