03/14/07 Committee Meeting Minutes

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March 14, 2pp7 Health and Public Safety Committee Meetir€g Minutes Page 2 In response to a question from Council Member White, Ms. Hancock noted that offenders are placed throughout the county, but primarily in South Bend and Mishawaka. [n response to a question from Council Member Kelly, Ms. Hancock stated that community safety is a goal of Project Roots. She noted that often individuals released by the Department of Corrections became homeless. Council Member Pfeifer stated that she has read that there is na cure far sex offenders and asked Ms. Hancock to comment on this. Council Member Pfeifer also noted that when individuals are on parole there are stipulations such as no Internet access, no contact with children, no videos, etc. Council Member Pfeifer noted that at the county level far those on parole someone lives in the facility and parolees are under GPS monitoring. Ms. Hancock stated that in light of there being no cure for sex offenders, that containment is so vitally important as a result. In Indiana the program is not required. She noted that there are nine (9} persons living at 705 Lincoln Way West and that there is currently a cease and desist order which has been issued. In last 2006 neighbors voiced concern about this location and since then they have been working with the Building Department, the Mayor's Office, and the Department of Community Development. They have visited other apartment buildings and not that they cannot be located within 1,000 feet of a park, school or day care. On Friday, Ms. Hancock will meet in Indianapolis on the Indiana Criminal Justice Initiative. They have requested continued funding of Project Roots and requested $234,0(30 in federal funding. If funding is received they will be able to move to three (3) new locations; and if funding is not received the offenders may became homeless. Council Member Kuspa noted that such individuals have a right to work, a right to worship and a right to live in the community and asked Ms. Hancock to elaborate on this. Ms. Hancock stated that there is a real problem in St. Joseph County, but there is a worse problem in Elkhart County. She stated that "life-changing practices" need to be provided to avoid opportunities for recidivism and more community safety. In response to a question from Council Member White, Ms. Hancock stated that they would continue to Zook for housing if the grant is not approved, noting that they have paid on the Tease until May 1, 2007. Building Commissioner Don Fozo stated that they did not give a specific date under their cease and desist order since Community Corrections was working with the Building Department and other City offices. He Hated that the 1,000 foot restriction