MINUTES
Members Present:
Justice Mary Muehlen Maring, Chair
Brad Peterson
Tom Lamphear
John Grinsteiner
Amanda Hoelscher
Katie Gendreau
Lisa Nihill
Mikayla Jablonski
Tracy Marback
Karen Braaten (via phone)
Jennifer Liddle (via phone)
Robyn Hanson
Terry Styf
Luke Kalsow
Kristi Chole
Valerie Potter
Sean Anderson
Sherrice Roness
Staff Absent:
Marilyn Moe
The Juvenile Drug Court Advisory Committee met at the Holiday Inn Express,
Bismarck, North Dakota, on October 1, 2010. The meeting was called to order by Chair
Justice Mary Muehlen Maring.
John Grinsteiner moved to approve the minutes of May 20, 2010, and Tracy
Marback seconded. Motion Carried.
New Business:
Robin Hanson reported for the Fargo Team. Fargo currently has six
participants in its program and has had two graduations and two terminations since May
2010.
The participants worked at the Fargo Police Department picnic selling pop and
working at the kids’ games. The participants also worked at the “Night to Unite” picnic,
volunteered for the YWCA and the Chocolate Fantasy Event.
Upcoming events for the Fargo Juvenile Drug Court are CPR classes, Ropes
Courses, and Wall Climbing.
Judge Steven McCullough will now serve as the primary judge for the Fargo
Juvenile Drug Court and Judge Wade Webb will serve as backup judge. Luke Kalsow
will replace Nicole Leitner as probation officer for the Fargo Juvenile Drug Court.
A team retreat has been scheduled for November 2, 2010. The team plans to
discuss the revision of the JDC Program Manual and other program changes or additions
for the Fargo court.
Terry Styf and Robyn Hanson presented information on the juvenile drug court
program to the Leonard Lion’s Club and were awarded $200.00 for incentive money for
the court.
Tracy Marback reported for the Grand Forks Team. Grand Forks currently
has six active participants in the program. One participant temporarily moved away with
a parent, but is due to return to the area and will re-enter the program at that time. There
have been three terminations and no graduations since their last report in May. Wayne
Schull, a law enforcement officer, has joined the team.
The team and participants were involved in the annual bowling event to celebrate
National Drug Court Month. The team gave away a trophy for best bowler and other
prizes. The team also had a picnic for the families of drug court participants and a
Frolfing tournament in August. The participants also did a canned goods drive. Everyone
brought items which were then donated to the local food pantries. They also participated
in the American Heart Association’s fundraising rummage sale.
The Grand Forks team has changed its incentive program. The incentive program
will be extended from three months to four months. The team and participants will be
helping with the YMCA Halloween Carnival at the end of October and will also be
working with “Bernies’ Kids” during the Christmas season.
Lisa Nihill reported for the Devils Lake team. The program currently has three
participants. They have possibly two new referrals. They have had no terminations or
graduations since our last meeting in May. The court reports very good parent
participation. The team has a new addiction counselor, Glenda Spencer from the Center
for Success.
Some of the community service projects the participants have completed since
May are helping out with the Kiwanis group benefit feeds, painting fire hydrants for the
city, and serving popcorn and ice cream at two Art in the Park outings. The participants
will also be helping with the Minnie H Fall Festival at the end of the month. The team is
working on a Points Board for incentives.
They also held a Back to School party for the participants and provided pizza. A
representative from the Taekwondo program in Williston presented information about
their program and how its teachings can be used in everyday living.
Devils Lake also reported having major issues with community service in regards
to the participants actually completing it. Participants were staying at one level solely
due to not getting their community service hours done.
Tom Lamphear reported for the Bismarck team. The Bismarck program
currently has seven participants. A graduation is scheduled for October 21, 2010. Since
May, there have been four terminations, no graduations, and one transfer to a different
state due to the participant moving.
The court continues with the Life Skills Program every other Thursday. The
court also uses the “Word of the Month” in place of community service once a month.
Law enforcement continues to do home searches of the participants when ordered by the
judge. Court officer, Tom Lamphear, attends the home searches with the law
enforcement officers.
Over the summer, the court started using the “TAD” unit for alcohol monitoring
purposes. This unit monitors alcohol usage and can be used as a device that tracks when
the child leaves and returns to their home. Bismarck will also be testing the “MEMMS”
unit within the program. This is a device that is set up by a landline from the
participant’s home and will randomly call the participant to have the participant blow
into a straw that is attached to the device to measure alcohol. This machine could take
the place of RoboCUFF. It costs approximately five dollars a day. Tom Lamphear is
currently testing it in his home for a three week period.
Since May, the participants and team have worked at the “Carries’ Kids”
program. The participants helped set up and also managed the children games the day of
the event. They celebrated National Drug Court Month with an annual bowling event.
The participants and team worked at two separate projects at the zoo this summer.
Upcoming events for the court are the Red Ribbon Carnival and the Angel Tree Project.
Katie Gendreau reported for the Williston team. The Williston program has
not had a participant since May 1, 2010. They have a potential female entering the
program on October 21, 2010. Amanda Hoelscher replaced Chris Montgomery as the
addiction counselor team member.
Valerie Potter reported for the Minot team. The Minot program currently has
seven participants. They have had no terminations and graduations since May. They are
scheduled to have two graduations in December.
Projects the participants have completed are garbage clean up day, the Backyard
Habitat in Roosevelt Park, working on the Zoo Nature Path by moving bushes and rock,
and scraped paint on a house being built by Habitat for Humanity. The participants will
attend CPR and First Aid Classes.
The Drug Task Force gave a presentation that was made mandatory for all parents
of drug court participants.
Waivers- Justice Maring discussed the new Consent to Ex Parte Communications
and Waiver of Objection. This is an additional consent that needs to be signed by the
participants indicating the participant agrees that there may be information shared with
the judge without defense counsel or a state’s attorney present.
Revision of 2007 Juvenile Drug Program Manual- The Fargo team volunteered
to work on revisions to the program manual during their team retreat that is scheduled for
November 2, 2010.
IVN meetings- Marilyn Moe checked into using the Association of Counties
conference room with the IVN capability. We are able to use their facility for our
meetings in the future. The room can hold 28 people. It was discussed and approved that
for our next meeting in the spring we will use this method. This will give all team
members the opportunity to attend the JDC advisory meetings.
Budgets- Justice Maring discussed the new budget. The budget amounts will
remain the same for the next biennium.
Change in “Imitation Controlled Substance” Status- John Grinsteiner
explained the recent East Central District ruling from Judge Corwin regarding SPARKS
and its legality. As of today, October 1, 2010, the law stating it is illegal goes back into
effect.
Old business:
Consent and Release Forms-Justice Muehlen Maring stated that all the consent
and release forms were reviewed and approved. There was a reminder that if the children
are in the program for over a year, that the releases be resigned.
Legislation- Justice Maring asked if there were any recommendations or changes
that needed to be brought through the Legislation. Valerie Potter asked if the days of
detention could be increased. Following a discussion, the team members were not in
favor of increasing the number of days in detention.
Upper Midwest Drug Court Conference- John Grinsteiner updated everyone on
the next conference date, October 12-14, 2011. It is in the beginning stages, but will
become a bi-annual event held with the South Dakota drug courts.
Next meeting: The next Advisory meeting will be held on April 8, 2011. It will
be held through IVN and Marilyn Moe will send out notices.
Meeting Adjourned
Respectfully submitted by:
Sherrice Roness (substituting for Marilyn Moe)