County court services expands delivery format

As of October 1, the office currently known as Waseca County “Court Services” will instead be “Community Corrections.” 

 

Department head Jonathan Schiro asked county commissioners during their Aug. 19 meeting to approve the new name. At the same time, he provided an update on a change underway in the office’s “delivery format.”

 

Schiro explained that his office is tasked with following through on orders given to people going through the court system. He offered the example of someone who has been charged with driving under the influence (DUI). The individual is arrested and kept in custody for a short time; a court hearing is arranged within one or two days. Prior to the court session, his office will likely assess the individual’s history, learning whether there have been previous DUI charges and how thoroughly the individual followed through on court instructions during any previous experiences.

 

“Some people, it’s their first time. They recognize it was a mistake and the social consequences of the choice are likely to be a big enough deterrent,” Schiro summarized. Financial costs related to the offense, along with negative responses from family members and employers, he explained, are likely to lead the person to the conclusion, “I learned from what happened and I never want to go through that again.”

 

On the other hand, the DUI may be part of a pattern of substance abuse. The individual may have a group of peers who accept anti-social behavior and hold negative feelings toward the law enforcement and court system. Such an individual, he pointed out, might be likely to repeat the offense in the future, and may best be handled differently by the court.

 

“We wear many different hats,” Schiro said of his office, explaining his staff will acquire information prior to court proceedings to help the judge decide, for example, whether accused individuals should remain in jail or be released on their own recognizance. 

 

The court might also give conditions for release, including that there be no substance use, or that the person have no contact with certain individuals. In that case, Schiro said, the corrections office arranges for tests or works with the “no contact” individuals to determine whether the conditions are being met.

 

After individuals are sentenced, the role of the corrections office continues. For example, if an individual was assigned “sentenced to serve” time, Schiro’s staff coordinates eligible tasks and keeps record of how much time has been completed. If the court has stipulated that an individual go through a treatment program, staff helps facilitate that. The office also supervises individuals who have served time in incarceration and have been released on parole, working to ensure any conditions are being met.

 

The “format change,” Schiro explained, has little to do with the tasks his staff perform, and more with which members of the public will be working with his staff. Formerly, there were two “corrections” offices in Waseca County: Schiro has worked with juveniles and persons accused of offenses regarded as misdemeanors. A state corrections office, which was located along South State Street, handled cases dealing with more serious crimes regarded as felonies.

 

Thanks to a recent change in state funding practices, it was explained during a county commissioner meeting earlier this year, it became both financially appealing and logistically practical to consolidate the two offices.

 

“This makes us a sort of ‘one-stop shop’ for the public,” explained Schiro. “Now anyone remanded to the corrections system will work with staff located in the county courthouse.”

 

Schiro reported with enthusiasm that the two corrections staff members from the state-level office have both accepted positions with the county department. The addition of Megan Merchlewitz and Makenzie Wies, he said, will help make the transition to the new system nearly seamless.

 

The addition brings the number of staff members in the county’s correction office up to six full-time individuals and two who work half-time. The building where Merchlewitz and Wies were formerly located is now for sale.

 

“Many members of the general public will take no real notice of this change,” Schiro said. “But for individuals going through the system, and for some of our community partners like treatment facilities or CADA (Committee Against Domestic Abuse), I believe it will make things simpler and clearer.

 

“We’re looking forward to the transition being complete and the new system being fully operational.”