Committee Overview

Meeting Collaboration is a powerful tool for reform, and essential to the success of JDAI/DMC in Ramsey County. We work to engage as many representatives of juvenile justice system stakeholders at as many levels of decision-making as possible.

And we define the term 'stakeholder' pretty broadly to include juvenile offenders and their families, community members, service organizations - as well as agency leaders, elected officials, law enforcement officers, and other front-line staff. The only requirements are a willingness to serve and experience with (or professional knowledge of) at least one aspect of the juvenile justice system.

Meeting Under the JDAI/DMC framework, these varied viewpoints, attitudes, cultures, experiences and levels of influence increase our odds of success by making decisions that are more thorough and competent.

We encourage and welcome community and staff participation on work groups; however, these are working meetings and are not appropriate for the casual observer. If you are interested in joining a work group or attending a meeting as a guest, please contact the appropriate work group leader or any member of the JDAI Management Team.

Please confirm meetings with a member of the JDAI/DMC Management Team at least 24 hours in advance.

Stakeholder Group

The Stakeholder Group provides an excellent forum for collaborative resolution of JDAI/DMC issues. The group determines policy for the JDAI/DMC initiative using analytical approaches to decision-making, management, and organization.

Participation is by invitation. Meets Wednesdays, 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm, quarterly at various locations.

Toni Carter, Co-Chair, 651-266-8366; Thomas Smith, Co-Chair, 651-291-1111

Steering Committee

The Steering Committee is a group of leadership-level agency staff members and community advisors responsible for a) providing assistance to the Stakeholder Group to develop an overall strategic direction for the initiative; and b) creating and executing the JDAI/DMC plan of work. Participation is by invitation, and required for all work team chairs. In 2011, Steering Committee combined with the DMC Committee.

Meets the second Thursday of the month, 4 pm - 6 pm, at the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) Boardroom, 125 Charles Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55103.

Peter Jessen-Howard, Chair, 651-266-5343

Communications Subcommittee

The Communications Subcommittee is a group of agency staff members, public relations, communications, marketing professionals, and community advisors who provide the initiative with communication guidance, advice, and technical assistance.

Meets as needed.

Chris Crutchfield, Chair, 651-266-2558

Data Subcommittee

The Data Subcommittee is a group of agency staff members, technical and other advisors who provide the initiative with objective information through data collection, management, reporting and analysis. The result of this group's work allows for good decision-making.

Meets as needed.

Leah Bower, Chair, 651-266-2376

RAI Subcommittee

The Risk Assessment Instrument (RAI) Subcommittee is a group of agency staff members, technical and community advisors who develop, monitor and track the objectivity and consistency of intake decisions.

Meets quarterly, 12 pm - 1:30 pm, at the Curfew Center Room, Juvenile Justice Center, 24 West 7th Street, Saint Paul, MN 55102.

Rashad Hameed, Chair, 651-266-5307

Detention Alternatives Subcommittee

The Detention Alternatives Subcommittee is a group of agency staff members, technical and community advisors who inventory, facilitate, monitor and track effective alternatives to secure detention and their usage.

Committee currently does not meet. Co-Chairs attend Steering Committee Meetings and monitor the progress of alternatives.

Melvin Carter Jr., Co-Chair, 651-335-0734; Laura LaBlanc, Co-Chair, 651-495-1505

Special Detention Cases Subcommittee

The Special Detention Cases Subcommittee is a group of agency staff members, technical and community advisors who develop relevant reform strategies for safely reducing the presence of "special" cases in secure detention facilities. These cases include: warrants, probation violations, and children awaiting placement after adjudication or disposition.

Committee currently does not meet. Chair attends Steering Committee meetings.

Roy Adams, Chair, 651-266-4859

Detention Conditions Subcommittee

The Detention Conditions Subcommittee is a group of agency staff members, technical and community advisors who monitor the conditions of confinement in the assigned secure detention facility and identify problems that need correction.

Meets as needed and conducts in-depth facility inspections annually.

Brian Portzen, Chair, 651-266-5012

Sustainability Subcommittee: Ad Hoc

The Sustainability Subcommittee focuses on institutionalizing those policies and practices that will perpetuate the new, reformed system despite turnovers, celebrated cases, or political changes. They are also responsible for securing funding to support key strategies of the initiative.

Meets as needed.

Contact Peter Jessen-Howard, 651-266-5343, for more information.

Case Processing Subcommittee

Committees meeting The Case Processing Subcommittee is a group of agency staff members, technical and community advisors who work to reduce unnecessary delay in the disposition of delinquency cases, thereby enhancing the justice process and decreasing the length of stay for juveniles in detention. This committee has been combined with the Ramsey County Delinquency Oversight Committee.

Meets the fourth Monday of the month, 12 pm - 1:30 pm, at the Second Floor Conference Room, Juvenile Justice Center, 24 West 7th Street, Saint Paul, MN 55102.

Tama Hall, Co-Chair, 651-266-5110; Amanda Jameson, Co-Chair, 651-266-5138

DMC Subcommittee

The DMC Subcommittee focuses on reducing racial disparities through specific strategies (in addition to those listed above) aimed at eliminating bias and ensuring a level playing field for youth of color. Change in this arena also requires persistent, determined leadership because of the sensitive nature of these discussions.

This committee combined with the Steering Committee in 2011. See Steering Committee for meeting times and locations.

Sarah Walker, Chair, 612-220-2070

Tri-County Team

The Tri-County Team consists of the JDAI/DMC Coordinators for Ramsey (Rashad Hameed), Hennepin (Jerald Moore), Dakota (Judy Bolar), and St. Louis (Sue Lawson) counties and their respective Authorized Grant Representatives. The Tri-County Team is a network that coordinates regional efforts with the Annie E. Casey Foundation, promotes reform efforts statewide, and participates in the Juvenile Justice Advisory Council (JJAC) and its DMC Committee.

Meets as needed at the Association of Minnesota Counties, 125 Charles Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55103.

Contact Minnesota State JDAI Coordinator (Brian Smith), 651-224-3344 x336

Committee Overview

JDAI / DMC Management Team