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, November 15, 2022  
8:30 AM  
A. Call To Order  
Guests and staff present: County Executive Joe Parisi, Interim Director Astra  
Iheukumere, Marlys Howe, Amy Scarr, Eric Crawford, Jenny Rusch, Nela Kalpic,  
Virginia Gittens Escudero, Susan Alan-Lee, Howard Thomas, Priscilla Zigler.  
Chair Miyasaki called the meeting to order at 8:31 a.m.  
10 -  
Present  
Absent  
SHANNON BARRY, AMY BROWN, HEATHER LE MONDS, BETH FREEMAN,  
SHARYL KATO, Chair JAN MIYASAKI, DANA PELLEBON, GREG ESSER,  
Supervisor APRIL KIGEYA, and Supervisor OLIVIA XISTRIS-SONGPANYA  
1 - KRISTA EWERS-HAYES  
B. Consideration of Minutes  
MINUTES FROM OCTOBER 25, 2022  
2022  
MIN-414  
Attachments: 2022_1025 COSC Minutes  
A motion was made by BARRY, seconded by XISTRIS-SONGPANYA, to refer approval  
of the minutes to the December meeting.  
C. Action Items  
D. Presentations  
None.  
1. Budget Discussion with County Executive Parisi and DCDHS Interim Director  
Iheukumere  
County Executive Joe Parisi and Interim Director Astra Iheukumere provided highlights of  
the 2023 Human Services Budget and answered commission members questions.  
E. Reports to Committee  
1. Agency Updates  
Freeman reported Adult Protective Services (APS) has been without  
Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities victim advocate services since January and  
recently posted a hiring announcement. APS is participating in a data collection pilot with  
the state looking at how many contacts are made related to concerns about adults living  
in residential care settings. It's possible the results could lead to a Residential Quality  
Support Specialist position. Strategic planning is underway for the possible creation of a  
dementia diversion setting that could keep individuals close to home and minimize  
trauma for their family and friends.  
Barry reported for Domestic Abuse Intervention Services (DAIS) received a major funding  
cut from the state in the 2023 budget, adding that Dane County's continued support will  
help offset the deficit. (DAIS) is hiring for new positions in crisis intervention.  
Howe reported the Dane County District Attorney's Office is participating in a statewide  
domestic violence fatality review, something that surrounding states have already been  
doing. The office is seeing more domestic violence homicides and attempted domestic  
violence homicides than ever before.  
Brown reported the District Attorney's Office is in the process of hiring the two new  
positions created by the County Board. Tremendously high caseloads caused by the  
COVID-19 pandemic shutdown of the courthouse are beginning to trend slightly  
downward.  
Le Monds reported the Youth Justice's Human Trafficking Prevention and Intervention  
Unit continues to receive referrals from schools. The hiring process will begin soon for a  
Program Specialist who will focus on gangs and human trafficking.  
Alan-Lee reported she has been named Interim Supervisor of UnityPoint Meriter's  
Forensic Nurse Examiner Program following the recent resignation of Allison Schlotz.  
The program, which had a supervisor and coordinator, will move forward with one  
supervisory position so a another nurse can be hired to provide direct care. The unit saw  
48 patients in October, which is more than an average month, and has been seeing more  
patients in Intensive Care Units because of the level of violence inflicted on the victims.  
There has been a significantly higher number of males presenting for services in recent  
months.  
Esser reported Madison Police Department district detectives are seeing rising numbers  
of domestic violence cases. The number of residential care facilities reporting adults  
being abused has risen sharply this year.  
Gittens Escudero reported UNIDOS is in the hiring process for a victim advocate.  
Kalpic reported Marsy's Law Wisconsin is working with the Department of Justice to  
produce a second Crime Victims Rights virtual conference in April 2023. Save-the-date  
announcements should be distributed soon.  
2. CCR Updates  
Child Abuse & Neglect: Kato reported the CCR has been struggling since summer after  
several key members changed jobs and stopped participating. The departures led to the  
annual Trauma Summit being canceled.  
Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault: Pellebon reported the Lived Experience Group  
continues to drive the CCR's work, while the Implementation Group is receiving training to  
make sure members understand the issues as service providers.  
Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children Subcommittee: Miyasaki reported a training  
on how to engage youth in talking about human trafficking is being offered on Nov. 16 at  
1 p.m. at the Warner Park Community Center.  
3. Legislative Announcements/Updates  
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.  
Miyasaki reported Commission members will meet with the Public Protection & Judiciary  
Committee in January to discuss it's priorities.  
F. Future Meeting Items and Dates  
Next Meeting: Tuesday, 17 January 2023, at 8:30 a.m.  
G. Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda  
None.  
H. Such Other Business as Allowed by Law  
None.  
I. Adjournment  
The meeting adjourned at 10:01 a.m.  
Minutes respectfully submitted by Priscilla Zigler pending Commission approval.