ITEM 5.110
Ot§egoF
MINNESOTA
DEPARTMENT INFORMATION
Request for
City Council Action
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT:
REQUESTOR:
MEETING DATE:
Administration
Lori Johnson, City Administrator
September 24, 2012
PRESENTER(s):
REVIEWED BY:
ITEM #:
Lori Johnson, City Administrator
Lori Johnson, City Administrator
5.1 Wright County Court Services
AGENDA ITEM DETAILS
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommend that Wright County Court Services be allowed use of the Wright County Sheriff Office at
Prairie Center for probation meetings with Otsego residents for misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor
offenses unless the offenders do not pass the Court Service risk assessment.
ARE YOU SEEKING APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT?
No
ISA PUBLIC HEARING REQUIRED?
No
BAC KG R O U N D/J U ST I F I CATION :
When the Wright County Sheriff's Otsego office moved to Prairie Center recently, the Council requested
that Wright County Court Services probation meetings with Otsego residents no longer be held at City
facilities. Subsequently, Michael MacMillan, Court Services Director and I discussed the situation, and I
decided to have Mr. MacMillan meet with the Administrative Subcommittee in September to reconsider
the decision.
At the September meeting Mr. MacMillan, Tom Feddema, Adult Unit Supervisor, and Chris Jahnke,
Career Agent for Otsego, explained what Court Services does, which offenders are seen in Otsego, and
the benefits of providing this service at in Otsego. The Administrative Subcommittee discussed the
types of offenders, risk assessment and other Court Services procedures, building security, and the
appropriate location for this service. The Administrative Subcommittee felt that, based on the
information from Mr. MacMillan, the Council should allow the use of a City facility for probation
meetings. The Subcommittee further recommended that Mr. MacMillan and I determine the best
location for Court Services.
We have agreed that Court Services will meet in the Sheriff's office as it is large enough to accommodate
both departments and will facilitate communication between them. Although we do not feel it is
necessary at this time, if in the future it becomes necessary, a temporary, movable gate will be
purchased to fully secure this office.
Finally, the Administrative Subcommittee was comfortable that this use was compatible with future
Prairie Center activities. If that changes in the future, the Council may at any time relocate Court
Services to another location or terminate the use of City facilities by Court Services.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: XD ATTACHED ❑ NONE
• Documentation from Michael MacMillan, Director of Wright County Court Services
MOTION: (Please word motion as you would like it to appear in the minutes.)
Motion to allow Wright County Court Services the use of the Wright County Sheriff Office at Prairie
Center for probation meetings with Otsego residents for misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor offenses
unless the offenders do not pass the Court Service risk assessment with the understanding that the City
may terminate this use at any time.
BUDGET INFORMATION
FUNDING: BUDGETED: YES
N/A
❑ NO
ACTION TAKEN
❑ APPROVED AS REQUESTED ❑ DENIED ❑ TABLED ❑ OTHER (List changes)
JNTY c,�. WRIGHT COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF COURT SERVICES
mF-#-*%Z
Tenth Judicial District
47 Michael J. MacMillan
dy Director of Court Services
X855
History:
In 2008, Chris Jahnke was introduced to Mike Robertson (former City Adm.) while attending a Wright
County Sheriff's Dept. District Meeting. Chris talked to Mike about the prospect of Court Services
(Probation) utilizing a City of Otsego facility to meet with offenders on Probation in collaboration with
the Wright County Sheriff's Dept. Space was already occupied at the Public Works facility by WCSO.
Chris was directed to Brad Belair-Public Works. Brad arranged for Chris to use office space in the facility
which Court Services has used until recently.
Local Statistics:
There are 13 total offenders residing in the Otsego Community on probation for Misdemeanor and/or
Gross Misdemeanor offenses:
- 5 DWI offenders
- 3 Obstructing Legal Process
- 2 Assault
- 2 Violate Order for Protection
-1 Criminal Damage to Property
Offenders currently meet with a Chris at the City of Otsego about two days per month. In addition, Chris
uses the facility 1-2 days per month for very short periods of time to complete paperwork, make
telephone calls, and paperwork while in the community. Court Service offenders are given a risk
assessment to identify volatile offenders. Those that are deemed not a risk to the community are given
the opportunity to meet in a public setting. Of the thirteen offenders referenced above, three of them
are met at the Wright County Government Center because of risk. Offenders are given specific
appointment times that are staggered to prevent offenders from lingering within the facility. Also
offenders are always escorted from the front door to a meeting room. When probation meetings are
completed they are escorted out of the building. Offenders are always instructed that they are to
refrain from smoking cigarettes on city property.
Probation has a good working relationship with the Deputies that serve in the Otsego area as a means of
holding offenders accountable. Chris has made a point to refer offenders to Brad for community
service work and to target offenders with various skills that due to the struggling economy were
otherwise out of work. Several offenders have provided numerous community service hours to the City
of Otsego.
Wright County Government Center • 10 2"d Street N.W., Rm 402 • Buffalo, MN 55313-5061
(763) 682-7308 • 1-800-362-3667 Ext. 7308 • Fax (763) 682-7943 • www.co.wright.mn.us/department/courtservices/crtsrv.htm
Equal Opportunity /Affirmative Action Employer
City Halls currently being used by Wright County Court Services Staff:
1. Annandale City Hall
2. Clearwater city Hall
3. Cokato City Hall
4. Hanover City Hall
5. Albertville City Hall
6. St. Michael City Hall
7. Howard lake City Hall
8. Rockford City Hall
Adult Unit
The adult unit supervises adult offenders convicted of Misdemeanor, Gross
Misdemeanor, and Felony (reduced from Gross Misdemeanor). Additionally, the unit
supervises all felony DWI offenders. Probation agents are assigned by specific
communities to the supervision of offenders. Their duties include conducting pre-
sentence investigations, drug/alcohol testing, preparing and submitting probation
violations. Agents work closely with a number of community members that include
prosecutors, law enforcement, human services, schools, local businesses, and mental
health and drug/alcohol treatment providers.
The adult unit consists of a supervisor and eight probation agents, all supervising active
caseloads.
Staff
Title - Major Responsibility
Tom Feddema
Adult Unit Supervisor
Darnell Brethorst
Career Agent - Annandale, Clearwater, Monticello,
South Haven
Ryan Busch
Senior Agent — Buffalo, Montrose, Waverly, Howard Lake
Ben Ehlinger
Senior Agent - Intensive Supervision Program (ISP)
Neal Huemoeller
Senior Agent — Monticello, Buffalo
Chris Jahnke
Career Agent - Albertville, St Michael, Otsego, Hanover,
Rockford, Delano
Joe Backes
Career Agent — Maple Lake, Cokato
Tammi Solarz
Senior Agent - Intensive Supervision Program (ISP)
Janelle Webb
Senior Agent - Out of County
3
CASES in 2011
• 625 new Misdemeanor cases
• 390 new Gross Misdemeanor cases
• Wright County Court Services supervised 1,808 cases in 2011
Adult Wright County Offenders Supervised
by Community in 2011
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