The Tri-County Corrections board met on Monday in the Northwest Regional Correction Center conference room.
MONTHLY STATISTICS REPORT
The meeting began with the board being presented the monthly statistics report for the month of October. The Correction Center had a daily population of 159, including 131 males and 28 females. That monthly average was 11 inmates, less than the year-to-date average for the facility (170).
“We saw a significant number of cases that were discharged during October,” said Corrections Executive Director Andrew Larson, “This is no question a direct result of the legislative change, which was a five-year cap on the vast majority of probation cases. Typically, in a month, we can see 70-80 cases discharged; in October, we saw around 140 cases discharged.”
The most common cases for incarceration during October included 43 probation violations, 11 assault cases, 11 controlled substance abuse cases, 16 DUIs, and 18 cases of failure to appear in court.
The board also received the statistics from the Juvenile Center, which included an average daily population of 7 inmates. The Juvenile Center saw 11 new inmates in October. The most common cases included four runaways and two probation violations.
JUVENILE CENTER LOOKS TO FULLY RE-OPEN IN DECEMBER
The Juvenile Center has had the secure detention side closed for most of the year due to staffing issues. Larson was pleased to present to the board that all full-time positions have been filled at the jail and Juvenile Center.
Larson and staff have set the goal date for the Juvenile Center to open all operations by December 18, 2023. Over the next month, all Juvenile Center staff will be provided the necessary training to prepare for the secure detention inmates to be housed.
“Staff are pretty well trained and acclimated to the residential side of the facility, but the secure detention side of the facility is a different feel and expectation,” said Larson, “Assuming everything goes as planned, we will bring in trainers from outside of our area to assist us.”
Larson also explained the first two weeks of December will be devoted strictly to the training curriculum that staff will be taken through. This training will include behavioral management techniques, a booking process for secure detention inmates, and scenario situation training. “I’m really happy, and I can’t say this enough, we have some really good staff,” said Larson, “We’ve been very fortunate. Some of our newer employees who have come on board in the last few weeks have adapted quickly, and they seem naturals in terms of their abilities to manage kids and redirect behavior. We’re all optimistic that we’re in a much better spot than we were in even two months ago.”
CORRECTIONS BUDGET OFFICIALLY APPROVED BY THE BOARD
The board officially approved the 2024 budget for the Correction Center. No changes have been made from the September presentation. The budget includes Polk County receiving a 4.3% responsibility increase ($254,000), Norman County will receive a decrease of $18,000 in cost share, and Red Lake County will receive an increase in the amount of $7,879.
The board approved the renewal agreement with Title 4-E Foster Care Placement, Care, and Supervision. This two-year agreement is effective from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025.
“This is for Title 4-E funding, so basically all it is is we’re able to operate in a Foster Care capacity,” said Larson, “We have to meet certain criteria for the Counties and social services agencies that utilize our facilities to tap into 4-E funding.” This funding comes from federal and social services agencies with access to disburse in the 4-E program to various jurisdictions.
