Fines
None
Birthdays
None
CLUB BUSINESS - Announcements and committee reports
- Thank you letter from Lynn Forseth from the Jefferson Co Literacy Council for having her speak
- Next week is world immunization week for rotary, usually in the context of polio
- District conference starts this weekend online. Mick has sent out the link in an email to everyone. Sandee Maacht will be presenting on wednesday night on paul harris awards
- Scholarship committee: used $8000 from club and $3000 from foundation and selected recipients.
- 2009 cow project update: One dairy cow is enough to support a family in India and allow them to send their kids to school, or in another example pay medical bills. This project is still going
- Brian W - We have posters and presale tickets here for members to take. There will be a sign up sheet next week to help with the hanging baskets sale
PROGRAM
Monica Hall - District Attorney
She was appointed by the Gov in July and appointed in Nov. She started in 2006 in the Milwaukee District Attorney office, but has lived in Jefferson. She has an educational background in science, which has helped her as a DA.
Monica spoke about criminal justice reform. She has great respect with local law enforcement in Jefferson Co especially. Body camera and squad camera footage are helping clarify officer involved shooting cases, many of which justify the use of force by the officer. They have also been receiving a lot of de-escalation training for many years.
Most people who go through the criminal justice system come back out into the community. The state of WI is shifting focus to trying to rehabilitate people. Jefferson Co has instituted alcohol and drug treatment and support programs based on evidence-based protocols. The jails are still implementing job training and GED education even through covid.
The goal for the DA in determining sentences for crimes is to produce a rehabilitated individual after their time in the criminal justice system, which often employs plea bargins to find the right path for the individual. Their goal is not to warehouse people in the county jail.
Through safer at home orders last year, Jefferson Co started using zoom to hear cases in court. Now, in person court is also an option. Referrals from local police departments for charging has increased over the last year, but more are being resolved than in past years. Zoom has helped with this. It also enabled defendants access their court hearing due to reducing reliance on transportation, child care, etc.
They are still trying to support open courts. The courthouse was never closed. CCAP (Circuit court access page) is a way you can access court hearings across the state online. Some hearings are even accessible on youtube.
Meeting adjourned 1:00pm
