Members Absent
:
John Thelen
Judge Doug Mattson
Brandi Sasse Russell
Peter Welte
Judge Bruce Romanick
Birch Burdick
Ron Schneider
Mary Hall
Jackie Presley
Staff:
Marilyn Moe
The Juvenile Drug Court Advisory Committee met at the Holiday Inn, in Fargo, ND, on April 21, 2006. A motion was made to approve the minutes of September 27, 2005, by Deb Davis. Motion carried.
New Business:
Shawn Mattingley reported for the Grand Forks team. There are currently eight participants in the program. A summer art-history project will be facilitated by a local artist and Shawn Mattingley. Buffalo will be created out of drift wood and displayed in local parks. The art project is funded by the Learn & Service Grant through the Department of Public Instruction.
The Grand Forks team has made changes to its graduation ceremony by signing the Motion for Dismissal during the ceremony. Judge Braaten stated that the parents are also asked to speak at their child's graduation. The team feels that the more formal they make the graduation ceremony the better impression it has on the participant and the family.
The team is pleased with RoboCUFF, an online monitoring system for the participants. Mike Pesch reported on the Creative Arts Program, which was started by a grant received for North East Central Juvenile Court. Two drug court participants are involved in this program. They are taking guitar lessons and if they complete the program successfully, they receive a free guitar. It is not limited to just guitar lessons. Shawn reported that the team has started using the Fish Bowl in court. The Fish Bowl was created for a participant who does something extra special that week. It might be an hour of credit for community service or candy for the whole group. One team member can nominate them for the Fish Bowl drawing which is held weekly. Mystery prizes are also given away for successes. Participants moving to Path II receive a t-shirt. The t-shirt logo was created by a drug court participant. A contest was held to find the best design and the best designer won an MP3 player. The participants have also received a two- month membership to the YMCA. Applebees in Grand Forks has agreed to provide drug court with monthly gift certificates for a year and are also willing to employ participants at Applebees.
The team, participants, and past participants will be invited to go
bowling to celebrate National Drug Court Month.
Sue Lass reported for the Fargo team. Fargo currently has seven participants in its
program. A mentorship program with the Fargo Police Department began in March. Tod Dahle
stated that nine officers are involved; eight male and one female. Because there are six females
and only one male participant in the program at this time; the Fargo Police Department has been
doing group projects. A pizza bowling party was held in March and a rock wall climbing
gathering at the YMCA is planned for April. This program is sponsored by the Learn & Serve
Project. Fargo started its participants on RoboCUFF in March and are pleased with the program.
The female participants attended Girl Culture Seminar as a group activity. This program
provided them with information on body image and self esteem. The male participant attended a
local basketball game with Judge Webb. A picnic is scheduled for May 22nd in honor of National
Drug Court Month and the court will also celebrate its 6th year anniversary.
The Writing Program is planned again for the summer months. The participants have an opportunity for summer employment during June through August with the Fargo District Forestry Department. All the participants will fill out an application and go through an interview process. It is a full-time position paid at $7.50 an hour.
Sue Lass asked the committee members whether or not there is a policy on receiving gifts from participants and their families. Justice Maring suggested that maybe the Personnel Policy Board should consider taking a look at whether or not state judicial employees are allowed to receive gifts. Nicole Leitner stated that it will be discussed at the next Trial Court Personnel meeting. It was the consensus of the group that drug court should have guidelines or a policy on the matter.
Brad Peterson reported for the Bismarck team. Bismarck currently has ten participants in its program. Bismarck has started their clients on RoboCUFF. John Grinsteiner is working on an aftercare and mentoring program with Bismarck State College and Minot State University social work and criminal justice students. The participants will also visit the colleges in hopes of widening their vision on attending college in the future. A packet with college applications, financial assistance, and information on all the colleges will be put together for the participants. To celebrate National Drug Court Month, the team and participants will be playing frisbee golf. Dave McGeary reported on the remodeling project at the Burleigh County Courthouse. Jackie Presley's office will remain where it is during the remodeling process. Brad Peterson also reported that Congressman Byron Dorgan visited the juvenile drug court the beginning of April. Judge Sonna Anderson sponsored a bowling team with the Big Brother/Big Sister Program and drug court participants.
Dixie Knoebel reported on the planning of the Minot Juvenile Drug Court. The team held its first meeting on April 13, 2006. There was a large group in attendance. The team received funding for training through the Bureau of Justice. They will attend two trainings under this grant. Judge Mattson will be the primary judge for the program. Dixie stated that she is originally from Fort Lauderdale and worked with its drug court program. Fort Lauderdale was working on an aftercare program at that time, and Dixie agreed to get more information for the rest of the teams. Marilyn Moe will assign mentors to the Minot drug court team. The court plans to start operation in late 2006.
Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) - Brad Peterson will present at the National Drug Court Training Conference in Seattle on ICWA. He will also be presenting on the Adoption States Act. Melody Peterson asked that he distribute his notes after the Seattle Conference for the ND Drug Courts. Brad will send Marilyn the materials following his presentation in Seattle.
MAYSI screening device - Dave McGeary explained the pilot project of MAYSI II. MAYSI II is designed to assist juvenile court in identifying youths 12 to 17 years old who may have special mental health issues. It is intended for use at any entry or transitional placement point in the juvenile justice system. Data is being collected at the pilot sites. The cost for the program is $60 per program. The scoring sheet may be photocopied. It is a very short questionnaire and is filled out by the participant. Bismarck Juvenile Court is trained and is ready to use the program but need direction on what to do with the results. There will be a session on MAYSI II at the Juvenile Court Seminar in September.
Advisory Committee Membership - The committee discussed the possibilities of downsizing the committee members once the Minot Juvenile Drug Court team joins. The committee felt that at least once a year the full group should be in attendance and possibly a smaller group for the other meetings. The committee agreed to have it on the September agenda.
Learn & Serve Project - The drug courts received a grant from the Department of Public Instruction administered by the Fargo Public School District. The funds are meant for mentoring, civics, and history. The courts received $25,000 to be spent by July 1, 2007. Justice Maring encourages all team members to speak at civic organizations and other functions.
Revised Program Manual - Marilyn Moe distributed the program manual. The program manual has not been revised since 2003 . Marilyn asked that the committee members distribute it to all team members and go through the manual to see what forms are being used. Justice Maring asked for a subcommittee to go through suggestions and submit a new program manual. Judge Braaten, Sue Lass, and Jackie Presley agreed to be on the subcommittee.
Nicole Leitner brought up the Juvenile Court Best Practices Manual. We have a program manual but not a best practices manual. Justice Maring suggested that after the program manual draft is completed that Marilyn go through and highlight any differences between the courts. The courts could then determine whether they want to do a manual on best practices. The committee agreed to put it on the September agenda.
Congress of National Drug Court Associations - Deb Davis attended the Congress in Arlington, VA along with Dr. Kevin Thompson. The purpose of the meeting was to get assistance in seeking more federal dollars to fund the drug court programs. The drug court program was award $10.5 million dollars this year which was a huge decrease from last year. Deb and Dr. Thompson did meet with Earl Pomeroy and he plans to visit the drug court program in North Dakota.
Ron Carlisle reported that he attended a Meth Summit in Los Angeles, California. He suggested that the drug courts get their budgets ready for the next legislative sessions. He requested that funding be put on the September agenda.
Topics for September Seminar - Marilyn Moe asked that the committee members submit topics for the September Seminar to her within the next two weeks. The juvenile drug court team members will attend the Juvenile Court Seminar in September and will have break out sessions for subjects pertaining just to drug court. Justice Maring stated that the Supreme Court has hired a new special projects coordinator, Lee Ann Barnhardt.
The North Dakota Drug Court Association is meeting on June 14, 2006, during the Judicial Conference. The meeting will be held in Fargo and Dr. Andy McLean, psychiatrist, will be the guest speaker. John Grinnsteiner asked that if there were any changes to be made to the by-laws that he be contacted before the meeting before the association meeting. <
Old Business:
Strategic Plan - the Strategic Plan was distributed and reviewed. Issue #1 will be changed to: Establish increased and stable funding. Description under Issue #2 will state: One of the key areas of the program is to hold the participants accountable for their actions for noncompliance of the program and incentives for compliance with the program and to encourage a strength-based approach. On page 4, Issue #3, Goal #2, Strategy #2 I will state: Detention is not to be used for punishment purposes - N.D.C.C. § 272013 - Taking into Custody on when detention may be used and II: Used only by an order of a court hearing to determine probation revocation. On page 4, Issue #3, Goal #1: change it to: Training team members for job performance enhancement. Justice Maring asked that committee members be listed with the plan. Deb Davis, Kevin Thompson, and Marilyn Moe will be listed.
Justice Maring asked for a motion to approve the Strategic Plan with changes. Judge Wade Webb made the motion to approve and Judge Karen Braaten seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Justice Maring stated that Marilyn sent a Proclamation to Governor Hoeven for National Drug Court Month.
Next meeting will be September 26, 2006.
There being no further business a motion to adjourn.
Respectfully submitted:
Marilyn Moe