http://www.leadertelegram.com/News/Front-Page/2017/06/30/Program-brings-mindset-change.html
From Eau Claire Leader-Telegram - 6/30/17
Community Justice Services program brings mindset change
Goal is to provide defendants resources early in their criminal cases
ALMA — A new court services program scheduled to begin Saturday in Buffalo and Pepin counties is designed to “bring a mindset change” to the manner in which defendants' cases are handled.
The Community Justice Service program is designed to get those charged the resources they need as soon as possible rather than waiting until they are sentenced.
“There are no other programs I know of that are structured with a bond release aspect,” said Judge James Duvall, who serves both counties and was instrumental in getting this program started.
“The distinction here is where in the process they receive services,” he added. “The assessment and resource contacts are ahead of where they are provided in the current system.”
Duvall is hoping the program will lead to changes in behavior, prevent recidivism and reduce jail populations.
“The goal is not to save the county money, but our hope is that that will be an effect,” he said. “The hallmark of this is trying to do things right up front when they have a big problem and they may be more open to solutions.”
The program is designed to assess individuals' needs soon after they are charged and present options that might keep them out of jail.
Pepin County Chief Deputy Greg Balow, a member of the CJS steering committee, says the change may be exactly what some need.
“Right now all we're doing is housing people and not really addressing the problems,” he said. "Maybe the CJS is a start to understand poeple's needs and problems and to try and understand why people are getting in trouble.
“Part of our problem is we deal with people who have problems that were never addressed or didn't know what to do about them,” Balow added. “If we're not doing antyhing other than incarceration now, why not try something different to try and reduce recidivism and get people the help they need.”
Balow recalls parents coming to him, asking what they can do to help a child who has gotten into trouble, usually with a drug-related offense.
“They want to know what he is doing and why he is doing it,” Balow said. “It could it be a mental health issue, a bad crowd or something else. Maybe getting these services at the early point will be helpful and get them headed in the right direction. It's worth a shot.”
The counties will use a state Treatment Alternatives and Diversion grant of $112,000 for each of the next five years to cover the cost of CJS. The counties will also provide a 25 percent match, which will include office space and other costs.
Brenda Berning has been the CJS coordinator since late March and a case management position has not been filled. The two-person unit will travel to both counties, similar to the judge's schedule.
Berning said the formal start of the program will be delayed because some forms have not yet been approved by the state Department of Justice, but added that some jail inmates have already participated on a volunteer basis.
“The idea is to get them the assessments; to get them out of jail and back into society where they continue to work and be productive family members. That's the goal,” Berning said. “We want them to be able to keep their jobs, and if they don't have one, we want to give them resources to find one. How can we match these people up to the services available to get them out and keep them out of jail?”
Berning said a “sanctions and incentive program” is in place for the participants, downplaying the idea the program is soft on crime. "We want to bring a mindset change to the people in the program and to others who view how to best help these people.”
She said some people may need assistance with everything from insurance to how to get a driver's license.
Duvall relayed an account of a man who was charged with selling meth to cover the costs of his own addiction. After "meeting with a CJS employee to match him up with resources, he demonstrated a desire to change, but didn't know how to do it. We linked him up with social services programs to help stabilize his life and at the end of a couple of hours, he cried, saying no one ever tried to help him before.
“That best illustrates what we're trying to do here; to help people get the help they need as soon as possible,” Duvall added. “Jail is not very good at changing behavior. To change behavior, you have to identify needs and get them the resources to change. It's not just drugs and alcohol, but it's also helping them in other ways that their lives are in disarray.”
CJS officials will assist individuals with finding funding sources for programs, including Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act for those with alcohol or mental health issues. Those in the program will be monitored for compliance.
Duvall said there are certainly some egregious crimes that call for jail and prison sentences.
“You don't identify the needs by the charge, but you look at the offender, either high-risk or high-needs people, and go from there,” Duvall said.
A “quick screen” of everyone in jail will be done by CJS, likely before they even appear in court, Duvall said. A determination will be made about their risk level and whether a more detailed assessment is required.
Duvall and Berning both said support systems are valuable for people in the criminal system.
“We're looking at this as a way we can help families; using it as a way of strengthing families rather than destroying them,” Duvall said.
Berning said while the two largely rural counties may not have as many referral resources available as larger counties, there is an advantage to the smaller communities.
From Eau Claire Leader-Telegram - 6/30/17
Community Justice Services program brings mindset change
Goal is to provide defendants resources early in their criminal cases
ALMA — A new court services program scheduled to begin Saturday in Buffalo and Pepin counties is designed to “bring a mindset change” to the manner in which defendants' cases are handled.
The Community Justice Service program is designed to get those charged the resources they need as soon as possible rather than waiting until they are sentenced.
“There are no other programs I know of that are structured with a bond release aspect,” said Judge James Duvall, who serves both counties and was instrumental in getting this program started.
“The distinction here is where in the process they receive services,” he added. “The assessment and resource contacts are ahead of where they are provided in the current system.”
Duvall is hoping the program will lead to changes in behavior, prevent recidivism and reduce jail populations.
“The goal is not to save the county money, but our hope is that that will be an effect,” he said. “The hallmark of this is trying to do things right up front when they have a big problem and they may be more open to solutions.”
The program is designed to assess individuals' needs soon after they are charged and present options that might keep them out of jail.
Pepin County Chief Deputy Greg Balow, a member of the CJS steering committee, says the change may be exactly what some need.
“Right now all we're doing is housing people and not really addressing the problems,” he said. "Maybe the CJS is a start to understand poeple's needs and problems and to try and understand why people are getting in trouble.
“Part of our problem is we deal with people who have problems that were never addressed or didn't know what to do about them,” Balow added. “If we're not doing antyhing other than incarceration now, why not try something different to try and reduce recidivism and get people the help they need.”
Balow recalls parents coming to him, asking what they can do to help a child who has gotten into trouble, usually with a drug-related offense.
“They want to know what he is doing and why he is doing it,” Balow said. “It could it be a mental health issue, a bad crowd or something else. Maybe getting these services at the early point will be helpful and get them headed in the right direction. It's worth a shot.”
The counties will use a state Treatment Alternatives and Diversion grant of $112,000 for each of the next five years to cover the cost of CJS. The counties will also provide a 25 percent match, which will include office space and other costs.
Brenda Berning has been the CJS coordinator since late March and a case management position has not been filled. The two-person unit will travel to both counties, similar to the judge's schedule.
Berning said the formal start of the program will be delayed because some forms have not yet been approved by the state Department of Justice, but added that some jail inmates have already participated on a volunteer basis.
“The idea is to get them the assessments; to get them out of jail and back into society where they continue to work and be productive family members. That's the goal,” Berning said. “We want them to be able to keep their jobs, and if they don't have one, we want to give them resources to find one. How can we match these people up to the services available to get them out and keep them out of jail?”
Berning said a “sanctions and incentive program” is in place for the participants, downplaying the idea the program is soft on crime. "We want to bring a mindset change to the people in the program and to others who view how to best help these people.”
She said some people may need assistance with everything from insurance to how to get a driver's license.
Duvall relayed an account of a man who was charged with selling meth to cover the costs of his own addiction. After "meeting with a CJS employee to match him up with resources, he demonstrated a desire to change, but didn't know how to do it. We linked him up with social services programs to help stabilize his life and at the end of a couple of hours, he cried, saying no one ever tried to help him before.
“That best illustrates what we're trying to do here; to help people get the help they need as soon as possible,” Duvall added. “Jail is not very good at changing behavior. To change behavior, you have to identify needs and get them the resources to change. It's not just drugs and alcohol, but it's also helping them in other ways that their lives are in disarray.”
CJS officials will assist individuals with finding funding sources for programs, including Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act for those with alcohol or mental health issues. Those in the program will be monitored for compliance.
Duvall said there are certainly some egregious crimes that call for jail and prison sentences.
“You don't identify the needs by the charge, but you look at the offender, either high-risk or high-needs people, and go from there,” Duvall said.
A “quick screen” of everyone in jail will be done by CJS, likely before they even appear in court, Duvall said. A determination will be made about their risk level and whether a more detailed assessment is required.
Duvall and Berning both said support systems are valuable for people in the criminal system.
“We're looking at this as a way we can help families; using it as a way of strengthing families rather than destroying them,” Duvall said.
Berning said while the two largely rural counties may not have as many referral resources available as larger counties, there is an advantage to the smaller communities.