Dane County

Minutes - Final Unless Amended by

Committee

Commission on Sensitive Crimes

Consider: Who benefits? Who is burdened?

Who does not have a voice at the table?

How can policymakers mitigate unintended consequences?

Tuesday, October 25, 2022

8:30 AM

A. Call To Order

Others present: Susan Alan-Lee, Allison Schlotz, Howard Thomas.

Chair Miyasaki called the meeting to order at 8:37 a.m.

6 -

Present

Absent

SHANNON BARRY, BETH FREEMAN, Chair JAN MIYASAKI, DANA PELLEBON,

GREG ESSER, and Supervisor OLIVIA XISTRIS-SONGPANYA

5 -

AMY BROWN, HEATHER LE MONDS, SHARYL KATO, KRISTA EWERS-HAYES,

and Supervisor APRIL KIGEYA

B. Consideration of Minutes

MINUTES FROM JULY 19, 2022

2022

MIN-273

Attachments: 2022_0719 COSC Minutes

A motion was made by BARRY, seconded by XISTRIS-SONGPANYA, to approve

the minutes. The motion carried by a voice vote (5-0). Freeman abstained.

MINUTES FROM SEPTEMBER 20, 2022

2022

MIN-317

Attachments: 2022_0920 COSC Minutes

A motion was made by BARRY, seconded by MIYASAKI, to approve the minutes.

The motion carried by a voice vote (4-0). Freeman and Pellebon abstained.

C. Action Items

D. Presentations

None.

E. Reports to Committee

1. Agency Updates

Pellebon reported she is the lone Executive Director of the Rape Crisis Center (RCC)

after previously sharing the role and provided a staffing update for the agency. RCC is

now accepting CCS clients of all ages. Forensic Nurse Exams have spiked this fall --

especially during the day time -- necessitating having three workers on call. RCC will

celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2023.

Barry reported Domestic Abuse Prevention Services (DAIS) is hiring a youth violence

prevention advocate and a crisis intervention coordinator. The text line launched on

September 29. DAIS has seen an increase in walk-in traffic and there is a wait list for

shelter services. Housing First funds, intended for those with housing insecurity due to

intimate partner violence, are being distributed. The legal advocacy department is fully

staffed and is seeing record numbers of consumers. The DAIS Advocacy Clinic will

return to the Dane County Courthouse in January after suspending operations during the

COVID-19 pandemic. The Tech Clinic, which searches for spyware on personal devices,

continues to operate.

Freeman reported Dane County Adult Protective Services (APS) remains short-staffed

and is struggling to keep up with intakes. APS is hopeful two new positions will be

approved in the 2023 County Budget. The Dane County Department of Human Services'

Adult Community Services Division has split into two divisions -- Disability & Aging

Services (DAS) and Behavioral Health. Angela Velasquez is the DAS Division

Administrator and Todd Campbell, who oversaw ACS, will lead the Behavioral Health

Division. Recruiting will begin soon for a Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities crisis

specialist.

Esser reported the Madison Police Department (MPD) has added two civilian positions

-- an expert on evidence-based policing and a community outreach coordinator. MPD will

begin responding to calls in the Town of Madison tonight on a mutual aid request with the

Town being annexed by the City on October 30. MPD's Summer Strategic Plan will wrap

up on October 31 and a report will be issued toward the end of the year. Gun violence

remains high as do vehicle thefts, although mitigation efforts by the manufacturers are

helping lower theft rates of the Kia and Hyundai brands. Officers are being asked to work

12-hour shifts on a regular basis.

Schlotz reported the FNE unit at UnityPoint Health - Meriter has seen an increase in

male survivors and in those individuals identifying as LGBTQ+. The unit is now using

iPads rather than interviews to gather some information, which is likely leading to more

accurate reporting.

2. CCR Updates

FIND YOUR STRENGTHS FLYER

2022

COM-004

Attachments: Find Your Strengths Save the Date

Elder Abuse & Neglect: Freeman reported Aurielle Smith, Public Health Madison &

Dane County's Director of Policy, Planning and Evaluation, recently presented to the

group about how gun violence is impacting older adults. The Financial Abuse Specialist

Team (FAST) is scheduled to receive a presentation on holiday scams. The Domestic

Violence in Later Life Conference was held virtually in September with the primary focus

on potential abuse between a caregiver and a care recipient who has cognitive issues.

Nearly 200 individuals attended.

Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities: Freeman reported the CCR will likely be

inactive until January as APS seeks to fill the I/DD Victim Advocate position.

Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence: Pellebon reported the Survivors Group and the

Implementation Group continue to meet and that the new structure is working well. The

staff support person plans to resign in November.

Child Abuse & Neglect: No report.

Commercial Sexual Exploitation: Miyasaki reported Madison Police Chief Shon

Barnes provided remarks for 45 minutes, then received a policy briefing from

stakeholders at a recent meeting. The body is the sponsor of the Anti-Human Trafficking

Training scheduled for Nov. 16 at the Warner Park Community Recreation Center.

Miyasaki distributed a save the date flyer.

Legal Issues Subcommittee: No meetings were held in September or October.

3. Legislative Updates/Announcements

Supervisor Xistris-Songpanya reported the 2023 Dane County Budget process is in

full swing. The Health & Human Needs Committee, of which Xistris-Songpanya is a

member, will take up Capital and Operating Amendments during its meeting today.

Supervisor Pellebon reported the Public Protection & Judiciary Committee

recommended 2023 Operating Budget Amendment 06 -- which calls for additional

employees to create a Human Trafficking Task Force, for denial. Pellebon stated more

input is needed from community stakeholders before moving the request forward.

F. Future Meeting Items and Dates

Next meeting: Tuesday, 15 November 2022, 8:30 a.m. via Zoom.

G. Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda

None.

H. Such Other Business as Allowed by Law

None.

I. Adjournment