The county board is way to right wing for anyone's good. They do not care about people only farmers and republicians. Two in the same. Tax cuts for both, not for us working people.

How sad that the system is failing ALL of society.

Wait a minute. In Ms Klyve's August 25th reply, she states Jason Witt is going to be the acting JJ division manager. The same Mr Witt who told the Gazette in the August 14th article that the probation office has changed its philosophy on detaining juveniles who violate their probation, choosing to place them in the community. Sounds like Mr Witt and the JJ supervisors changed their philosophy without telling the staff. Why appoint someone who is obviously so biased?

Yes this is our government at work, "the status quo" indeed. It truly is a handful of people who sit around a table at a meeting and make decisions which then translate into written or unwritten policy (unwritten, as it was in this case). What about having these agencies run by private business vs. government run? Let us also not forget this example of government power at work when we are comtmplating a government based health care plan.

For everyone concerened-
In the Sunday- September 6, 2009 of the Janesville Gazette under public record 5 janesville boys ages 12-14 were referred to juvenile authorities on charges of burglary. Police were called to that address at 1:48am for a report of burglary in progress.
None of the 5 boys were detained in the Rock County Juvenile Detention facility. Which is a call made by the Rock County Juvenile Probation Officer on duty that takes the intake call. With the recent release of supervisor 'strong arming' their staff to release juvenile and not detain them in the juvenile detention facility. This is just more proof their is an unethical push to make the Detention facility look useless in our community, when apparently it is very much needed. In the past, 3 to 5 years ago they would be held until court to go in front of the judge. The only way this information is given to the public is by someone who has connection to that facility that feels the public has a right to determine if this is safe? To let 5 boys who are commiting burglary right back into the community immediatly after their crime? I just wonder if the crime is worse like a juvenile stabbing another would they also let them go? Not to mention that the 5 kids who were released will be bragging tuesday morning at school how you can now get away with burglary with no consequesces. This decision to relase these juveniles has set up juvenile crime to now rise in this community. If you are concerened call Daved O'leary's office, call county board members all their information can be located at www.co.rock.wi.us
Looking out for those concerned and myself...

Thanks for that clarification, ronskid! Now that I think about it, I should have realized that. My error. Doesn't change anything, though. Unless we're talking about testimony is Federal Court, I doubt that US DOJ would have any jurisdiction.

Adult probation officers work for the state, but juvenile probation officers work for the County - under the auspices of the Human Services Dept.

I seriously doubt that US DOJ will have any interest or jurisdiction in this matter. If someone is going to make only one phone call or write one letter, it should be a productive one.

The probation agents work for the State of Wisconsin, as do the District Attorney and the Judges. There are (as I see it) two separate issues here. One is funding for the JRC. The second is a question as to whether or not there is purjury or other criminal wrong doing with regard to testimony in Court and/or Court documents.

While the County Board of Supervisors controls the purse strings for JRC funding, the Board itself is not involved in criminal investigation. Nor can any or all of the County Supervisors compel the District Attorney, Sheriff, or any other agency to conduct a criminal investigation.

The Sheriff CAN conduct a criminal investigation. Also, the District Attorney CAN bring in an outside investigator if he feels it necessary. The Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation can also investigate criminal allegations. In as much as the probation agents are officers of the state, I would suggest contacting District Attorney O'Leary and/or the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation.

Contact Information:

David J. O'Leary
District Attorney
County of Rock
51 South Main Street
Janesville, WI 53545
(608) 757-5615
oleary.david@mail.da.state.wi.us

J.B. Van Hollen
Atorney General
P.O. Box 7857
Madison, WI 53707-7857
(608) 266-1221
vanhollenjb@doj.state.wi.us

I work with Juvenile Probation regularly. I can tell you many of the agents I work with don't look to lock kids up. The kids that should be locked up aren't being locked up and that hurts everyone, including the kid.
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Kids seem to have figured this out. They know that unless it is something extreme there will be no consequence.
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Personally, I hope Jeremy leaves. He has lost all trust with the agents and many like me, that aren't with the county but still work with him.
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If Ms. Bischoff is no longer in the position who is in charge? Ms. Klyve indicated in her memorandum to the Human Services Board that committees were being formed, however there seems to be no leadership. Is Jeremy still in his position?

As I stated previously, this isn't the 1st time that RCHSD has been the target of public outrage! The difference is the blatant disregard for the legal/moral mandates exhibited by Charmian Klyve and her minions in spite of this history! To fi00: you obviously have knowledge of how the elected representative and legal systems should work but little/no knowledge of it those systems are actually 'working' in Rock County! Attending a county board meeting and holding the elected officals accountable in a public venue is scary for most of the citizenry; which is why this horrific abuse of power has been allowed to continue. The memos embedded in the most recent article clearly outline Ms. Graf's efforts to identify a resolution internally but Mr. Knutson only met with JJS staff AFTER the DA's office and members of local law enforcement (sans Sheriff Spoden....shame on you!) went public with their concerns. That said, given the problems that the state is facing, it is unlikely that there is a role for anyone in Madison to assume responsibility for solving Rock County's problems with the HSD. Without pressure from the taxpayers, this issue will fade away....again....like it has in the past which is exactly why/how Charmian Klyve has managed to remain in power as long as she has!

msw93....Please keep in mind, my opinion of the Crisis/ shooting incident is based not on any behind the scenes specifics as I don't have them. I simply feel these CIW people and surrounding staff/ Officers are dealt potential powder-kegs all the time. I am surprised more horrible incidents haven't happened, and I think (most) of the CIW people and Police, are very thorough. I agree with all your statement about JDC and management also. I think I will take from the person who said we should complain to the state Juvenile Justice dept. Good idea!

A few direct and brief points from someone who knows:

1. Contact the County Board committee members who oversee the HSD dept. if you are interested in accountability, change and/or at least a formal response. They are the elected officials ultimately responsible for the department.
2. Juveniles should only be temporarily detained (which is what juvenile detention facilities are used for) if they are a community protection risk.
3. The decision on who to detain in secure custody or who to take into custody under a non-secure custody status (and place in a group home, shelter facility, etc.) is guided by state statute (section 938), but there is a lot of discretion involved with this decision made by intake staff.
4. Unless there is an established value system on who to detain that is adhered to by the departments and courts involved in the juvenile justice system, there will be inconsistent decisions that will lead to similar problems in the future.
5. Elected county officials will need to decide how important this issue is to the county. Without further direction, guidance and support, it is likely that this issue will continue.
6. The county may need some outside assistance to help resolve this issue.

The county should look at the hours the JDC supervisors work. Waste of money and certain ones come in late, leave early. Downfall is they don't have to punch in while the JDC officers do......

I find it kind of coincidental that Kerrie Kaner (Bischoff)resigned and moved to Michigan prior to all of these claims coming out in the paper. Do you think that she was guilty of something?

What is the number to the Dept of Justice, I would like to call. As a tax payer of Rock County, I find this disturbing.

report this to the US Justice department. If enough complain they will have to look into it. Reorting this to local officials will do NOTHING.

Seriously, who do we call? Congressman, Senator, Govenor, President? I would like to know because I WILL make those calls. If there is illegal activity going on with a state office, someone needs to be accountable. This is not run by a private company, this is OUR county and none of us should stand for this!!!!! Speak up people, you may be a victim of a juvenile offense and it might feel like and adult offense.

For those wanting to know where to voice their concerns: I suggest we start with our county supervisors. You can find their phone numbers, email addresses, etc., on the Rock County Government website. Once on the website, refer to County Board and hit on Board of Supervisors. Each supervisor and pertinent information is provided there. Start dialing.

i too would like to know,who to call this has gone on long enough.there needs to be some action taken and not swept under the rug like it always is.these people dont want us to know whats going on.someone needs to get in there and clean house,and i mean start right at the top and go completely to the bottom.its time this county is cleaned up.

What is it going to take for this to be investigated by someone other than is already on the board? It is looking corrupt by all of the comments. I am a tax payer and would like this out in the open. I have heard kids are committing crimes, being released and committing another crime the same day. Could someone suggest who to call?

Are the supervisor Jeremy, Ms. Klyve and Kerrie Bischoff still employed by the County? If not, maybe having committees is a good idea. If they are still in their positions the County Board really needs to monitor and evaluate any future decisions regarding budget.

They don't call Klyve "The Charmian Devil" for nothing ... she is either LYING or an INCOMPETENT administrator, and either way the end result should be the same.

This agency needs a courtesy flush, from the top down, and Craig Knutson and his County Board of Supervisors CLUB is not without a big share of the blame either.

I am one of the unfortunate ones who has had to have personal dealings with Ms. Klyve regarding services needed by my daughter. I was shocked at the way I was treated and by the extreme resistance I met in trying to obtain needed services. In several conversations with Ms. Klyve, all I heard about was cost and what she thought my daughter needed. Her opinion was in direct conflict with the opinion of well respected mental health professionals. I pointed out to her that she was not a psychiatrist or even a psychologist, but an attorney appointed by the county administrator to head a department that was, by its very name, there to provide services to those in need. My point obviously fell on deaf ears. It does not surprise me at all that you do not find any reference to the welfare of our children in Ms. Klyve's most recent response to criticism. She acknowledges that there is work to do, but unfortunately, in my opinion, that the work will not result in anything but a continued attempt to improve the bottom line as long as Ms. Klyve is in charge of Human Services.

There is always unethical abuses of power. This time it appears it may be the case, and someone got caught.
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Take a moment to read the "Management Responds" at the bottom of the article.....I mean, she doesn't even 'respond', it's just anicdotal babble! Also the last thing you need here is a three-prong 'committee' formed by those who are under the subject of scrutiny! Sure! Real unbias there!
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Furthermore, it is this County's duty to provide basic, truthful, and dependable services to the community. A secure, close-by building for juvenile offenders is a must. Have all you 'managers and controllers' forgotten what your mission is?!!!! If you can't keep yourselves in check, then maybe we should form "three committees" to decide if you should be removed from office.
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You haven't properly staffed your facilities in years, and now your going after the little people who are running those places, again. Maybe some money could be saved by starting at the top, as a friend of mine suggested.
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If any low ranking person committed anything like this, you can bet these administrators would be all over them! But reverse the situation and it's okay I guess.
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As a taxpayer, I demand that these managers come clean about what has happened with this juvenile-dentention issue! It goes without saying...someone on either side is apparently lying, so we better get answers!
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Remember the outrage over the man who sadly killed his wife after being release by Crisis staff? I still believe the professionals did good work that night, but that's another arguement. Well, can you people imagine if our county system lets out a juveile offender, or doesn't take him/ her in etc., and then the kid goes out and commits a mass shooting like the one in Columbine? Oh that never happens. We have a basic duty to protect and keep things civil.

after reading the memos i have a question.who is this jeremy person? ....sounds like he is a big part of the problem.

also is the diversion program like sheriff spoden's program?

oh....you can just add that to the many problems within that division. How about the rumor of donations that were received by the holiday commitee to provide certain things to foster children being taken and used elsewhere. Donations made by the public who had faith that their donations would be used for that purpose. Instead, the money is gone and management basically states that its an accounting error and too bad the donation money has been used elsewhere. Seems to me that there are MANY problems that need to be addressed. I wont be donating any more money, that is for sure!

Ethics....Integrity…..Common Sense….Love…Understanding….Compassion….Where did we go wrong in the USA? Much of the world seems to hate us; We can’t seem to agree with each other about anything. Sad.

Isn't this the same detention center that was a big part of the news a few years ago, when some workers at the detention center were fired. It seems that those staff members working directly with the juveniles, and who have been extensively trained to do so, should be left alone to do their jobs, without fear of retribution by management. I think that perhaps the state should come in and do an investigation. Better yet, get a group of reasonably intelligent taxpayers to sign confidentiality agreements, and go in and do an investigation through observation and the interviewing of staff members and managers.

after reading all these posts,i think someone from another county needs to step in and see whats going on,theres alot of corruption in this county,and i think others agree but are afraid to say so.this city needs a mayor and everyone knows it,it has been run to long by the wrong people.it seems as if this county is run by the da,the judges,and the sheriffs department,this has been going on to long,someone needs to step in and stop this madness.

if the state wants to save some money,they need to close down that boscobel supermax prison,do yo know it cost 57,000 a year per inmate to house them.those inmates can be housed else where.some of the inmates they are housing should be in mental hospitals.that idiot tommy thompson was responsible for that fiasco,before doyle leaves office he should shut that place down,and save the tax payers alot of money, that could be put to use in better places and programs especially for the troubled children,so they dont end up in a place like that or another prison.some of these kids need to be in that detention center,they are a danger to themselves and others,how do you expect these probation officers to their job,if they are not allowed to,how about you folks that are stopping them,take a couple of those kids home with you.like the supervisors who are doing all the yelling,take a couple of those kids home with you.another thing if some of these kids are that dangerous then they dont belong in the detention center either,they belong in a boys or girls correctional facility.

I hope both Boards take a hard look at what's going on in our County and not just for Juvenile Justice. If you think this is the only thing Ms. Klyve is doing behind your back, you probably should take a closer look and think again. For example, how many supervisors does the County need? Every year they cut more union positions yet hire more supervisors. I ask you, why if there are less staff, do you need more supervisors? Did the Board members know she plans on closing the counseling agencies? Anyone not meeting the criteria for community support services and are not receive medical assistance will be out in the cold. I thought the County was there to assist the people who had no where else to go, what happened to us Rock County!

Remember that we are talking about delinquencies, not status offenses or other forfeitures. Deliquencies are offenses that would be criminal if the offender was an adult. Also keep in mind that the probation agents are not judges. Offenders are sentenced by judges, and the judge gives the agents instructions. When an agent (or their supervisor) decides to withhold information from the Courts in order to keep an offender out of incarceration, they are usurping the judical authority.

If a probation officer thinks one of their cases is a danger to others or themselves...I would listen to them first. Money is not their motivation. Releasing someone early smells of administrative budgetary problems.

"So the probation officers are angry because someone above them doesn't agree with thier "professional opinion"? My "professional opinion" they need to realize they are not always going to get what they want. Lock the kids up for safety issues only, not because they skipped third and forth period class and we want to "teach them a lesson"."

The probation officers are upset, and rightly so, because they are the ones who deal with these kids, many of them time and time again, on a daily basis and are working in the field yet they have some feel good bean counter telling them to say things that they do not believe, under oath no less. Make no mistake, the first time one of these agents would have soft sold putting a kid in detention and that kid would have seriously hurt someone, the same out of touch bureaucrats would be hiding under their desks while letting the probation agents take the fall. Know why? Because that's how workplace politics work.

World love: take a walk in my shoes stop making statements that we are not innocent until you have worked for Rock County. You have no idea what is going on get a clue. Do you think that if these issues were resolved in January that we would be here today.

Are you kidding -- "unethical, illegal behavior" is the county management's creed. You forgot what it really amounts to -- LIES! And you can find no shortage of evidence of any of those claims if you scratch the surface of that big dog poo, Rock County!

And why is it that Sheriff Spoden had no comment whatsoever on this issue when both the DA and the Janesville Chief had grave concerns? Is he so out of touch, or (and?) does he too have a hidden agenda (guess!)?

I really believe this problem starts from a lot higher up than Rock County....

It's time for the Rock County Board of Supervisors to take a thorough look at what is happening in the county's Human Services department. We've been down this road with director Charmian Klyve before. Please, county supervisors, probe into these issues ... don't just rubber stamp another budget from this department. The public is counting on you to get to the bottom of this current issue.

It isn't just Rock County that does this. It happens everywhere.

BTW, until you've worked with a lot of these kids that are in the system--not talking the 'average' kid off the street--you have no idea how dangerous some of these kids are. Trust me I've met 10 year olds and some younger that you wouldn't want to be left alone with.

I believe it. I worked at a group home for years and the kids would always be releasaed the next morning back to us (if we'd called to have them sent because of dangerous behaviors.) I can't quote specifics because of confidentiality but there are times we were forced to take kids back when we knew they shouldn't be released. Kids are forced around in the system all the time because of budget. Sent back home to abusive homes because the state gets tired of paying for them. It's very sad.

don't think these probation officers are completely innocent. blame it on someone else..real mature guys. where's the code of ethics? just because someone tells me to do something doesn't mean i'll do it! Rock county is CROOKED! I hope someone has the goodness to stop all this farce.

414: I don't know of a single probation agent who believes all offenders - juvenile or adult - should be locked up. I also don't think that these agents who are so torn by what they're alleging are demanding that they be able to lock up a kid who pushed another. In fact, that would not even be considered battery. Disorderly conduct, maybe, but not battery. Though I do understand and agree with your point. We need alternatives to incarceration, but not to abolish incarceration where other alternatives fail. These agents are aggrieved because they are allegedly being forced to perjur themselves or withhold information from judges.

So, where are the sanctions for all of these supervisors that are forcing their employees to lie and withhold information and not do their jobs porperly? Imo they should be arrested and have to pay fines at the very least. I deal with juveniles, and one of the main problems that I see is that they feel invinsible. They feel that they can say and do whatever they want without any consequences. There are way too many parents out there that either don't care what their kids are doing, are doing it with their kids, or have let their kids get the upper hand and don't know how to get the control back in their own houses. And now, in Rock County atleast, we have a corrupt juvenile system that is telling the kids "Hey, you cost us too much money so go ahead and do what ever you want. We give up." Nice job Rock County Human Services!

How can anyone think that any managers would lie to the public that they serve, in order to justify their desired outcomes? I mean, really; it's not like anyone could point to history for examples of the public--that ultimately pays all the bills--has ever been lied to by our government leaders...right?

I depends. Are they adjudicated battery because they got into a pushing fight with another kid? Is it a burglary, because they took a gas can full of gas from the neighbor's garage to put in thier mophead? Both real crimes charged and adjudicated delinquent. Lock them up to show them the rules isn't always the best solution. The problem is it is cheaper than actually funding intervention programs, that work for some but not all kids. So we just decided to incarcerate all of them, now we found that is both expensive and not effective. So now, we are trying to do other things that will work for some kids, but not all kids, and are trying to send all the kids to the diversion because it's too expensive to do both.

I concur with 0u812's post.

Probation should be seen as a form of incarceration. Instead of being incarcerated (or detained) in a correctional institution, the offender is "incacerated" within the community. Just as if they were in a facility, their "jailors" (probation agents) set rules by which they must abide. And, just as violating the rules while detained in a facility incurs sanctions, so to for violating rules when incacerated within the community. The offender does have an option: they could forfeit their community incarceration and opt for lock up.

As to the issues presented in the article, I certainly do hope Mr. O'Leary has launched an investigation. If probation agents are being forced to withhold or falsify testimony (including that of their own professional opinion), that is a fraud on the Courts. Further, if they are being disciplined for "whistleblowing," that, too is a crime. Those who are forcing the alleged fraud or wrongfully disciplining whistleblowers have committed offenses as serious as many of the offenders who are being supervised by the agents.

The time to "save" society from a criminal adult is while that person is still a juvenile. I prefer to work with most juvenile offenders outside the system. Yet, for some, the system is the only hope of convincing a youth to live within the rules that we, as a society, set. Key to accomplishing that is to reinforce that there are penalties for breaking the rules.

justmy414: I understand your view of not taking juveniles into custody for minor issues (skipping school), but you have to understand that some of these juveniles who might be skipping school could possibly be a risk to the community.
If attending school is a probationary condition for a juvenile that has been adjudicated delinquent for battery or burglary; then would you agree that the juvenile should be given a sanction when he/she is running the street unaccounted for when they are supposed to be in school?!?
By all means, if a juvenile's only problem is not attending school, or something else minor, then I agree that It wouldn't be necessary to "teach them a lesson" by placing them in the detention facility. Just wanted to clarify that some of these "minor issues" are often conditions of probation for juveniles who might have committed serious crimes.
As far as the frustation with the Probation officers, I understand. I have worked at a juvenile group home in Rock County for the past five years. In my time with this group home I have come to realize that when a child is court-ordered out of the home (@ group home, detention center, etc.)the primary concern with most counties is, "how much is this costing?". That is unfortunate, because any attempt at rehabilitation (which is more attainable as a juvenile) is thrown under the rug.
I have seen so many juveniles get recycled through the system, because the county either placed them in a foster situation that was not ideal, or back at the house where there was no structure. Over the past five years, my group home alone has seen dozens of returns (up to three times). Dosen't that seem like more of a waste of money.
This has become even more concerning now as money is tight.

So the probation officers are angry because someone above them doesn't agree with thier "professional opinion"? My "professional opinion" they need to realize they are not always going to get what they want. Lock the kids up for safety issues only, not because they skipped third and forth period class and we want to "teach them a lesson".

And the truth comes out............