03/14/07 Committee Meeting Minutes

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`Wm~W~ i -' ~ v° Health and Public Safety Committee 2007 South Bead Common Council The March 14, 2007 meeting of the Health and Public Safety Committee of the South Bend Common Council was called to order by its Chairperson, Council Member Karen L. White at 3:30 p.m. in the Council's Informal Meeting Raam. Persons in attendance included Council Members Kuspa, White, Kelly, Pfeffer and Kirsits; Citizen Member Pam Brunette, Building Commissioner Don I=azo, Assistant Zoning Administrator Charles Bulot, Director of Community Corrections Susan R. Hancock, Elizabeth Maradik, Jamie Loo of the South Bend Tribune and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand, Council Attorney. Council Member White noted that the Committee Members include Council Members Puzzello, Kelly, Dieter and herself. Presentation b Susan R. Hancock Director of Communit Corrections: Counci[ Member White introduced the committee's new citizen member, Pam Brunette, and then had all persons present to introduce themselves. Council Member White then welcomed Susan R. Hancock, Director of Community Corrections to present information on programs with the Indiana Department of Corrections addressing housing, counseling and monitoring programs of sex offenders on parole. Ms. Hancock noted that "Project Roots" involves counseling, monitoring and housing and is aimed to provide less opportunities far recidivism. The program involves persons from parole, probation, the Sheriff's Department, and County Corrections as well treatment providers. They meet regularly as a containment team. Their goals are to reduce criminal and technical violations. The program also includes polygraph monitoring. Housing includes space for ten (10) offenders and ends at the end of the grant period which is April 30, 2007. 12 participants in the program have had violations; 9 were technical violations where they did not report to counseling and 3 were new offenses of theft or robbery. She noted that there may be an increase in violations due to increased monitoring. 71 offenders were referred in 2006. 54 offenders were in counseling; and 39 had polygraphs. There are currently 77 participants in Project Roots.