Milwaukee leaders unveil Community Justice Council

By Beth Bishop Perringo, Deputy Court Administrator, District One

Milwaukee's Community Justice Council, under the chairmanship of Chief Judge Kitty K. Brennan, had its first public meeting on January 23, 2008.  The Council is composed of 27 members from all levels of government and a variety of agencies, legal groups and non-profits. The mission of the Council is "to efficiently and collaboratively coordinate services and to effectively allocate financial resources to ensure crime reduction, victim support, offender accountability and restorative community-based programs."

"The creation of the Community Justice Council provides us with a unique vehicle for change," said Chief Judge Kitty Brennan.  "I am pleased with the cooperation and conviction of all members of the executive committee and their commitment to positive change in Milwaukee County."

Chief Judge Kitty K. Brenna addresses the first public meeting of Milwaukee’s Community Justice Council on January 23, 2008

The Executive Committee of the CJC has been meeting monthly for approximately seven months to develop the structure and mission of the Council. The idea for the formation of the CJC came from several different fronts. Some years ago then-Chief Judge Michael Skwierawski created a version of the Council that did not survive due to a variety of reasons. Then in the fall of 2006, Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. invited the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) to Milwaukee County to conduct an assessment of the criminal corrections system. One of the recommendations the NIC made was to create a criminal justice coordinating council. The Milwaukee County Board then passed a resolution requiring the establishment of a community criminal justice council, now called the Community Justice Council.

The Executive Committee is composed of Chief Judge Kitty K. Brennan, Chair, Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr., Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn, Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm, Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office Inspector Kevin Carr, Milwaukee County Supervisor Willie Johnson Jr., State of Wisconsin First Assistant Public Defender Tom Reed and Benedict Center Executive Director Kit Murphy McNally.  

The Council has six standing committees: Data Analysis and Housing, Jail and Huber, Programs and Interventions, Public Outreach and Education, Juvenile Justice and Public Health. Various issues of importance to the Milwaukee community will be discussed through several standing committees which will make recommendations to the Executive Committee. At the January 23 meeting, the Council discussed the House of Correction plan to restructure the electronic monitoring program. This issue will be forwarded to the Jail and Huber Utilization standing committee for action.

Back to The Third Branch current issue