On Rock County DA intervened on juvenile cases to protect public
Posted on August 14 at 7:20 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I find it hard to believe that Kathy Lichtfess, former superintendent of the JDC, would have taken it upon herself to issue orders to juvenile probation officers to limit the number of juvenile referrals. People don't normally give those types of directives, unless they were told to do so by the "higher ups". This article suggests that Ms. Lichtfess is the one responsible for "giving the orders" to limit referrals and that "only" 46% of those referrals were referred to the DA by probation officers. What happened to the other 54% of those referrals? I am also confused as to the issues i.e empty beds costing money? If the numbers of referrals for secure detention are down, does the County dish out monies for those empty beds?? Too many empty beds = no money/revenue, or too many beds filled = not enough money in the budget to cover the costs. Projecting future costs based upon a "static" number (194 referrals verses 240 in 2008, this same time last year) is taken from one point in time and does not "truly" reflect, nor account for, numerous other variables that must be taken into consideration. As stated in this article by Ms. Klyve, "Through March of this year, 194 cases were referred for prosecution, down from 240 during the same period in 2008. But in April, May and June this year, 272 juveniles were referred, illustrating how numbers fluctuate depending on the time of year", Klyve said.
Yes, the numbers of juveniles do fluctuate, not just based upon the number of "submitted" referrals. Hmmm. A decline in referrals does not directly correlate with the number of juveniles who might have committed a crime and those juveniles who should have been adjudicated for said crimes or placed in secure detention. 194 verses 240 juvies this same time last year is not an "enormous" decline, since the numbers also went way beyond 240 in May, June, and July. Justification of saving $400,000 dollars is a small pittance compared to the "havoc" it will cause for these kids, their families and the community. It is also a small ROI compared to the amount of monies, that I just heard about today on WCLO that the Cty plans on spending to revamp/rebuild the Cty nursing home (Rock Haven). Also, I am curious to know how many juveniles were "pushed into the pilot and "grant-funded" diversion program to justify closing the JDC/secure detention facility. Why was this type of diversion programming not offered at the JDC to begin with?
On Do you support a proposal to close Rock County’s juvenile detention center?
Posted on August 14 at 12:14 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Closing the juvenile detention center is a diservice to this community (both to juveniles and the public living within Rock Co). The court system is already a bottleneck. Where are these kids going to go when needing immediate and temporary placement? Are the kids going to be adjudicated in the court system in Racine Co? The Rock Co Court system and the Janesville PD will definitely "have their hands tied" as well as see an increase in their workload. The public also deserves to be protected from malicious acts and/or violence i.e. being victims of crime. What about school? Will the juveniles go to school in Racine County?
Why not take in juveniles from other ctys, fill up those empty beds, keep the current staff in place at the detention center to continue serving the needs of juveniles within this Cty by providing the additional programming and/or additional diversion services, "best practices". Transferring Rock Counties juveniles to another county (Racine) with a higher juvenile crime rate and diverse and unique social problems and characteristics of its own, will not be beneficial and in the long term, create increased issues and problems within this County in the long term i.e. for the juveniles, the families involved, the court systems, the Janesville and Beloit police department,community agencies/organizations serving these youth, and overall the general, "perceived" safety of the public.
On Do you support a proposal to close Rock County’s juvenile detention center?
Posted on August 13 at 11:39 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
This is truly a sad situation based again upon a bunch of figureheads and the all mighty dollar. Rock County has always had long-term issues with budget deficits which I am sure, can be easily explained away as a decline in reimbursement rates from the State. Maybe it is time to look at the real issues and not push this too quickly onto the Juvenile Detention Center. Maybe it is time to look at the big picture. Where are the taxpayer dollars truly being spent? Could it be that the money is being spent towards redundant services, hiring companies on numerous occasions to conduct another study, the build or not build of the jail, courthouse, nursing home, continuing in the nursing home business, spending monies outsourcing people to other counties who need alcohol and drug treatment, mental health services (that were once provided locally within this County and vitally lacking and needed). How much money is truly wasted within the County system? i.e. could it be due to a lack of tranparency and administrative accountability for the decisions that are being made as to where and how the money will be spent, redundancy in work and/or services, inadequate systems in place to capture "real-time" data and information to support decision making capacity, monies spent on employee compensation i.e. overpaid/underworked (not generalizing here but the County System does have a nice employee retirement system as well as monitary compensation in comparison to many employers within the Cty)and lastly, administrative waste (to many chiefs, not enough indian mentality). Maybe Rock Cty should consider getting out of the business all together and outsource everything since everything can be justified and rationalized simply based upon numbers and the continuous issues related to the lack of money.
Posted on July 10 at 5:41 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
If we want to talk MV safety, I think that cellphones while driving are just as dangerous as NOT wearing a seatbelt and should also be BANNED!!
On Janesville OKs ice rink rehab
Posted on May 29 at 9:04 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Also, about the liquor licensing in this town. It amazes me as to how quick, one applies for an alcohol license for a hockey rink, but Sam's Club, couldnt get a license to sell alcohol (only so many licenses allowed w/i the city) Hhhhhhh puuiee
On Janesville OKs ice rink rehab
Posted on May 29 at 9 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Remember Lion's Beach?? Now look at it.
On Janesville OKs ice rink rehab
Posted on May 29 at 8:26 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Mikki, for your info, I have been to several hockey games. I ALSO HAVE A CLUE as well as well-mannered friends!!
On Janesville OKs ice rink rehab
Posted on May 29 at 8:31 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Taxpayer monies, have already been allocated whether one goes to a hockey game or not. There are also other buildings, as well as facilities in this town, that need major repair and renovation besides the ice rink!
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On Can a Hooters girl coach Janesville high school poms?
Posted on September 6 at 5:20 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Hmmmm. Maybe they should consider hiring a stripper? I don't think the issue is about the individual on a "personal" level. She is probably a really nice individual, however I think the issue has to do with an individuals "persona" and "image" and how it is "portrayed". You see this all the time i.e. related to teens and how they are easily influenced by teen celebrities such as Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana to act, dress, or behave in a manner that might not be accepted or "condoned" by their parents or the general public. So, can a hooter girl be a pon pon coach? Yes, I would think anyone could be anything they wanted to be according to the powers that be that are making those decisions