Creating and Running a County-wide Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC):

1
Creating and Running a County-wide Criminal
Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC)

• The Winona County Experience

2
What is a CJCC?

• An inclusive term applied to informal and formal
  committees that provide a forum where many key
  justice system agency officials and other
  officials of general government may discuss
  justice system issues.

3
Why the need for a CJCC?

• By design, the criminal justice system is
  fragmented
• No central authority manages it.
• No one branch or level of government is
  responsible for the entire process.
• There is great dispersion of power among
  divergent forces.
• Key participants may have diametrically opposed
  interests.
• Lack of communication/coordination can result in
  inefficient use of resources, system delays and
  decreased public safety

4
What is the purpose of a CJCC?

• Focus on policy and program level planning

5
What is the purpose of a CJCC?

• Meet the entire system needs, not the individual
  agency (though that can result)
• Devote time for planning to plan
• Remain neutral, credible and stable
• Provide for ongoing self-evaluation
• Maintain independent functions of each agency
• Encourage interagency communication and
  coordination

6
What are the benefits of a CJCC?

• Better understanding of crime and criminal
  justice problems
• Greater cooperation among agencies and units of
  local government
• Clearer objectives and priorities
• More effective resource allocation
• Better quality criminal justice programs and
  personnel
• All of the above can lead to increased public
  confidence in and support for they system and
  integrity of the law.

7
How does a CJCC get started?

• The classic legal answerit depends!
• Consultants may recommend the need for a CJCC
• A crisis may lead to the need for collaboration
• One or more key leaders may step forward in
  support of a CJCC (or similar forum)
• Financial pressure may force collaboration

8
What is the authority for a CJCC?

• Some coordinating groups operate informally, BUT
• The effectiveness of the group will be enhanced
  by a degree of independence and legitimacy
  accorded by formal authorization
• May be established by a joint resolution of local
  governments, joint powers agreement, municipal
  ordinance, resolution of county government,
  statute or executive order

9
Creation of a CJCC--The Winona County Experience

• 2001 County requested technical assistance (TA)
  from National Institute of Corrections Jails
  Division to evaluate need for a new jail due to
  jail overcrowding. Experts recommend, among
  other things, the formation of a CJCC.
• 2007- County requested TA to form a CJCC. TA
  providers conducted interviews of key
  stakeholders and held a formation session in May
  of 2007.
• June 5, 2007- County Board establishes by
  resolution and funds the Winona County Criminal
  Justice Coordinating Council.

10
What is the structure of a CJCC?

• Most CJCCs have a chairperson and
  vice-chairperson
• The chair and vice-chair typically also serve on
  a steering or executive committee
• Most CJCCs have standing committees and ad hoc
  (special purpose) committees
• Many CJCCs utilize workgroups to perform the work
  delegated to them by Committees

11
Structure of a CJCCThe Winona County Experience

• Chairperson Sally Cumiskey (Court
  Administrator)
• Vice-Chairperson Karin Sonneman (Assistant
  Public Defender)
• Executive Committee
• Chairperson
• Vice-Chairperson
• County Administrator Duane Hebert
• Executive Director Kalene Engel
• Five standing committees three special purpose
  committees besides the Executive Committee
• Multiple workgroups

12
Structure of a CJCCThe Winona County Experience
13
What is the membership of a CJCC?

• Should be broadly representative of both local
  and elected officials of general government and
  appointed criminal justice agency administrators
  from within the countys geographic boundaries
• Should include four categories of members
• Justice officials (County attorney, judge, etc.)
• Officials of general government (county
  commissioner, city council member)
• Officials of related non-justice agencies (social
  services)
• Public members (community leaders)

14
Membership of a CJCCThe Winona County Experience
15
Membership of a CJCCThe Winona County Experience
Name Title
Sally Cumiskey Chairperson Winona County Court Administrator
Karin Sonneman Vice-Chairperson Asst. Public Defender Winona County
The Honorable Nancy Bostrack Judge of District Court
Paul Bostrack City of Winona Police Chief
David Brand Winona County Sheriff
Craig Brooks Director, Winona County Dept. of Human Services
Steve Buswell Winona County Sheriffs Dept Jail Administrator
Judy Gilow Public Member
Justin Green Public Member
Duane Herbert Winona County Administrator
Mena Kaehler Winona County Commissioner
Vacant Winona County Attorney
Bruce Nelson Assistant Winona City Attorney
Rena Patterson Dt. Supervisor, MN Dept. of Corrections, Winona
John Paul Plachecki Winona County Bar Association President
Kent Russell City of Goodview Police Chief
Fatima Said Public Member
Deb Salyards Winona City Council Member
16
What guides the operations of a CJCC?

• Bylaws should be developed to govern day-to-day
  business of the CJCC and delineate powers and
  duties of members and staff.
• Mission Statement A mission statement is more
  concerned with the overall aim of the
  organizationa simple statement of the companys
  reason for being. It concentrates on the
  present. It informs you of the desired level of
  performance.
• Vision Statement A vision statement is about
  what the organization hopes to become. It
  defines the desired or intended future state of a
  specific organization in terms of its fundamental
  objective or strategic direction. It
  concentrates on the future. It is a source of
  inspiration.

17
CJCC Bylaws Mission StatementThe Winona
County Experience

• Bylaws See example in materials
• Mission Statement To accomplish its vision, the
  Council will work systematically and
  cooperatively to review the elements of the
  criminal justice system and take an innovative
  approach to developing and evaluating proposals
  for change.

18
CJCC Vision Statement --The Winona County
Experience

• The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council brings
  together the participating agencies in the
  criminal justice system with representatives of
  local governments and the public.  The Council
  seeks to assure for Winona County a criminal
  justice system that is fair and just, that
  provides for the public's safety, offers real
  opportunities for individuals to change the
  direction of their lives through rehabilitation
  and makes the best use of the public's funds.

19
How is the CJCC staffed?

• Size of staff support depends upon jurisdiction
• CJCC will not work well unless it has staff
  support
• Staff members need to provide skills in three
  basic areas
• Analytical skills and experience
• Practical experience and an understanding of
  justice system agencies and processes
• Political, managerial and administrative
  capacities to get along well with CJCC members
  and justice agencies.

20
What are typical CJCC staff duties?

• Staff CJCC meeting/committees/workgroups
• Prepare agendas/meeting packets, take minutes,
  schedule meetings
• Prepare public relations materials (website,
  brochures, press releases, fair booth materials,
  etc.)
• Coordinate agency efforts
• Plan for resource allocation and review agency
  budgets
• Prepare grant applications and manage grants
• Design, implement and evaluate programs
• Provide technical/research assistance, training
  and information
• Coordinate strategic planning efforts
• Mediate interagency disputes

21
CJCC StaffThe Winona Experience

• No staff hired until March of 2008
• Until then, agencies were devoting some of their
  staff time to the position and contracted
  facilitator was used
• Currently one part-time staff person, contracted
  with Winona County
• Most of success of CJCC occurred after hiring
  staff person

22
How do you evaluate the CJCC?

• Poll CJCC members and public
• Perform ongoing evaluations of performance of
  CJCC (Strategic Planning Sessions)
• Strategic planning is an organizations process
  of defining its strategy, or direction, and
  making decisions on allocating its resources to
  pursue this strategy. Strategic planning is the
  formal consideration of an organizations future
  course.
• What did the CJCC accomplish?
• What benefit did this provide? (monetary or
  otherwise)
• Was the accomplishment consistent with its
  vision/mission?

23
Evaluation of a CJCCThe Winona Experience

• Each Committee also has a Committee Charge
• Annual Strategic Planning Sessions
• Facilitation by a CJCC Council Member
• Committees provide self-evaluations in months
  leading up to Planning Session
• For funding source, try to equate success in
  terms of cost avoidance/cost savings

24
Outcomes of a CJCCThe Winona Experience

• Community Outreach
• Student Interns and Volunteers
• Speakers Bureau
• Winona County Fair
• Legislative Visits
• Courthouse Open House
• Crime Prevention Committee
• Social Host Ordinance
• Best Practices
• ZAP Grant
• Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws College
  Enforcement Grant

25
Outcomes of a CJCCThe Winona Experience
26
Outcomes of a CJCCThe Winona Experience
27
Outcomes of a CJCCThe Winona Experience
28
Student Internship Program
29
Student Internship Program
30
Outcomes of a CJCCThe Winona County Experience

• Courts Committee
• Public Defender In-Jail Screenings
• Conciliation Court Referees

31
Outcomes of a CJCCThe Winona County Experience

• Juvenile Justice Committee
• Youth Support Program
• Adolescent Substance Abuse Class
• Therapeutic Foster Care
• Jail and Jail Alternatives Committee
• CARE (Community Assessment and Reintegration)
  Program
• A re-entry program for ex-offenders
• Received a 386,210 ARRA Grant from Office of
  Justice Programs

32
Checklist for forming a CJCC

• Determine need for an interest in forming a CJCC
• Contact a number of key stakeholders determine
  whether they will support formation of CJCC
• Determine whether an existing group can form the
  basis for a CJCC or whether a new group must be
  formed
• Decide on geographic scope of CJCCcountywide or
  other
• Decide who must authorize CJCC
• Draft a proposed statement of purpose for CJCC
• Draft an authorization document or charge

33
Checklist for forming a CJCC (cont.)

• Determine the structure and administrative
  location
• Draft bylaws for consideration by the CJCC and/or
  authorizing groups
• Determine representation and membership
• Select the chair and vice-chair
• Determine executive committee and standing
  committees or task forces
• Decide who votes, when and how
• Develop guidelines for establishing meeting
  agendas

34
Checklist for forming a CJCC (cont.)

• Determine whether a workshop in a retreat setting
  with a trained facilitator is needed
• Determine financing for the CJCC
• Identify the number and type of staff that will
  be needed hire and train staff
• Develop a method for evaluating the CJCC and for
  reinvigorating it if it begins to go into
  decline.
• Plan ways to celebrate success and demonstrate
  benefits of CJCC

35
Resource List

• U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of
  Corrections Guidelines for Developing a Criminal
  Justice Coordinating Committee (http//nicic.gov/p
  ubs/2002/017232.pdf )
• U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of
  Corrections Getting it Right Collaborative
  Problem Solving for Criminal Justice
  (http//nicic.gov/Downloads/PDF/Library/019834.pdf
  )

36
Questions

• Kalene Engel, Executive Director
• Winona County Criminal Justice Coordinating
  Council
• 171 West Third Street
• Winona, MN 55987
• Phone [phone]
• E-mail kalene_at_engellawoffice.com
• www.winonacountycjcc.org