Sawyer County CJCC reviews jail population, diversion programs and TAD grant resubmission

Vice Chair Julia Lyons called the Sawyer County Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee to order at 12:12 p.m. July 10 in the county board room and members approved the June 19 minutes on a motion by Marc Helwig and second from Kathy McCoy.

Lt. Mike Woller reviewed a written jail report that listed an average daily population of 75, one person on Huber work release and three on electronic monitoring; the report recorded a total population of 53 on the day of the report and listed an "unemployment rate" of 73% without additional detail.

Criminal Justice Coordinator Becky Barry told the committee the Treatment Alternatives and Diversion (TAD) pre-application was submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice, returned with three follow-up questions, and has been amended and resubmitted. Barry also summarized caseloads for diversion and recovery programs: 151 people in pretrial supervision, 11 in diversion and eight in treatment court, with three successful completions reported this year. She said the county plans to expand treatment court if the TAD grant is approved.

Barry provided a verbal list of jail programs and noted 18 jail diplomas were received this year. She also said the county is participating in a Rural Community Funding Workgroup to identify and administer funding for rural criminal justice projects.

The committee did not take further formal action on jail programs; discussion focused on program counts, the pending grant application and potential expansion if funding is secured. The meeting adjourned at 1:05 p.m.