HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-27-1997 Meeting
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PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE
COMMITTEE ROOM - October 27, 1997
3:30 P.M.
PRESENT: H. Brigham, Chairman; Kuhlke, Mays, Zetterberg, members,
R. Oliver, Administrator; J. Wall, Legal Counsel; Sylvia Thompson,
UGA Occupant Safety Program; Sid Handy, Mayor Pro Tern; Beard, J.
Brigham, Commissioners; Lena Bonner, Clerk of Commission and
Belinda Brown of the Clerks Office.
ABSENT: Hon. Larry E. Sconyers, Mayor.
ALSO PRESENT: Sylvia Cooper, Augusta Chronicle; Stacy Eidson,
Metro Spirit; Robbin Sampson, WBBQ; A. Abraham, Channel 6.
Clerk: We have a request to add one item from the Attorney:
A motion to approve the agreement between the State Court of
Richmond County and Deten!.ion Management Services, Inc. ("DMS")
Mr. Kuhlke: So move.
Mr. Zetterberg: Second.
Motion carried unanimously.
A Report from the Sheriff's Department via the Attorney regarding
the Daily Jail Population and Floor Assignments at the Fourth
Street Detention Facility.
Mr. Wall: Just for information so that you will know that we
are within the population limits established by the court order.
Mr. Mays: So move that we receive this as information.
Mr. Kuhlke: Second.
Motion carried unanimously.
Approve the Buckle Up America Campaign
Ms. ThompsoD.: This program is to push for our high visibility
of safety belts and child safety seats also to emphasize the
importance of buckling up and the consequences if you don't buckle
up.
Mr. Kuhlke: So move that we receive this as information.
Mr. Mays: Second.
Motion carried unanimously.
A request from the Attorney for an agreement between the State
Court of Richmond County and Detention Management Services, Inc.
(qDMSq)
Mr. Wall: Judge Hamrick and I have been talking about the
probation under State Court and the General Assembly has authorized I
the State Court with the approval- of the County governing authority
to enter into agreements for basically privatization of the
probation services. Judge Hamrick has been expecting the State to
pass legislation that will do away with probation services in the
State Court. It was introduced this year but it was not passed, he
feels like it will be coming next year. Around the State the State
Courts are starting to contract out for probation services. The
State has let it be known that they will not fill any additional
positions for' state probation services. Judge Hamrick says that
the existing probation staff there now is simply over worked,
cannot keep up with the volume of cases that they are putting over
on the probation. The proposed contract was negotiated by Judge
Hamrick, he is continuing to discuss it with DMS. The probationer
will pay the fee of $30 per month for the period of time that the
individual is under probation or paying the fine. From a timing
standpoint he would like for this to go into effect January 1,
1998. The State Court will maintain jurisdiction over the
probationers, the records will be the counties records and it's a
one year contract that would automatically extend. This is for
misdemeanors only, the State retains the felon probation. Those
are the general terms of the agreement. Judge Hamrick asked that
I bring this to you today as to try and get it approved this
afternoon so that it will go before the full Commission.
Mr. Oliver: Two points, there is no cost to us, and the I
second point we're working on this, right now it's $30 per
probationer per month, that includes whether they are on supervised
reporting probation or whether they are paying a fine by the
installment process. The concept I think is a good one.
Mr. Zetterberg:
So move.
Mr. Kuhlke:
Second.
Mr. Mays: In the
that misdemeanor side,
terms of where you have
contract this basically takes care of, on
what you've got in the overload, but in
existing staff what's the situation there?
Mr. Wall: This will be all probation services. I don't know
how many people work in the misdemeanor probation services and
those are State employees.
Mr. Mays: I'm sure that all of us want to agree that it's
done efficiently. Are any of these involved in the situation say
where we transfer people?
Mr. Wall: This is not the same situation that was done with
Juvenile services.
Motion carries 3-1 with Mr. Mays voting present.
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With no further business to discuss the meeting was adjourned.
Lena J. Bonner
Clerk of Commission