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CJCC hears jail population and program updates; members praise truancy outreach but note gaps in mental-health services
Summary
Committee reviewed April jail statistics (average daily population 62) and jail programming, heard JusticePoint pretrial and diversion numbers, learned a $10,000 donation supports outreach after a DHS grant denial, and discussed truancy success and concerns about long school suspensions.
The Sawyer County Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee reviewed jail population and programming at its May 13 meeting, receiving statistics and updates on community-linked services.
Becky, presenting the jail report, said the April average daily population was 62 inmates — 13 female and 49 male — with probation incarceration at 39, pre-sentence incarceration at 14 and nine sentenced inmates. She reported zero individuals on electronic monitoring at the time the report was generated and an unemployment rate at the time of booking of about 70 percent. On programming, Becky said the jail currently has no new mental-health services scheduled and that most jail programs are run by vetted volunteers; she invited community members or organizations interested in offering mental-health services to contact her.
JusticePoint staff reported 110 active pretrial clients in April and 11 successful pretrial completions; diversion showed 11 active cases with 10 referrals pending. Committee members described the diversion process as moving more quickly than previously, and participants noted the role of case managers in preparing violation reports when someone is noncompliant with supervision terms.
Committee members discussed the recent denial of a state re-entry navigator grant to support deflection programming; Becky said the site received a supportive letter but the award was competitive and not granted. Members also noted a one-time $10,000 donation that will help sustain outreach and community events while other funding is pursued.
Members spent significant time on youth issues, praising truancy outreach led by Melinda Hoyos and others. Speakers described fewer truancy cases and stronger family engagement after wraparound outreach, GED programming and in-home contacts; the jail packet also highlighted 18 GED completions in the 2025–26 school year. Several members raised concerns about local school 'zero tolerance' suspension policies that can impose multi-week or multi-month exclusions, and asked to collect data from school districts on suspension frequency and lengths to assess potential counterproductive effects on attendance and youth outcomes.
The committee concluded by noting the next meeting would be June 10 and by planning outreach invitations for Salvation Army staff to discuss consolidated community resource coordination.
