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Youth Justice staff report 11 new referrals in September and outline casework pressures
Summary
Sawyer County Youth Justice staff reported 11 new referrals in September, seven out‑of‑home placements and 36 open Youth Justice cases overall; staff described processes for deferred prosecution agreements, petitions to the DA and recommended a maximum caseload of about 15 given local risk levels.
Sarah, representing Youth Justice, told the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council that September brought 11 new referrals and that staff handled two through existing supervision orders. She reported one temporary physical custody, five recommendations to the district attorney to file petitions, one recommendation for informal supervision (a deferred‑prosecution agreement), and seven out‑of‑home placements during the month.
Sarah said the department currently had 36 open Youth Justice cases and described how referrals and case decisions progress: law enforcement sends referrals, staff assess risk using the YASI tool, and officers recommend informal supervision (DPA), diversion or filing with the DA. If a petition is filed, the DA has 20 days to decide whether to proceed to court. Sarah summarized options such as community service, restitution, counseling, random drug screens and, where necessary, temporary custody and detention.
She explained that Youth Justice work is time intensive given a local caseload of moderate to high‑risk juveniles, and recommended 15 cases per worker as a practical maximum based on local needs. Sarah provided staff caseload counts: she supervises three, Shannon Krauss has 15 ongoing cases, Kim Lambert 13 and Amy Thompson four. The council heard brief community‑services updates and adjourned without further action.
