As a juvenile I was caught up in the system, started with truancy, probation and wound up in critical thinking class, criminal thinking class, seeing a counselor twice a week, community service at kandu and salvation army. Every time I was late to school, caught skipping, caught talking to another kid on probation, had a dirty ua, had tobacco on me, a lighter, every time I had a fight with a teacher, they sent me to juvee. Guess what, being in juvee sucked but I just kept going back, and back and back and back again. As soon as I was out I went straight back to my old ways. I shared cells with kids who stole cars,guns, money and beat up their moms, making me seem like any mother's dream compared to them.
The only thing that got me onto the right path was anger management class, critical thinking class and being transferred to Rock River Charter School. That school changed my life for the better. I can say from experience yes it does suck being threatened with Juvee for breaking the rules and it sucks even more to spend the entire summer there, but there are kids out there who really don't belong there all they need is someone to listen, give them alternatives and encourage them to improve themselves. They could make some sort of system out of delinquents being referred to alternative schools, to take anger management classes and then use the detention center as a last resort. Instead of spending on a "bike tunnel" or a "trail bridge" or a better ice arena or a museum, keep the center open. Make some programs where kids have to do community service to improve the gardens by the jail, to clean litter off the streets, mow lawns of foreclosed properties, clean and maintain parks (there's so many to choose from) when fall comes to rake up leaves, in the winter, to shovel. If there is nothing left for them to do they could always be forced to volunteer at Salvation Army, Kandu, and small local businesses like I had to do. Offer classes at high schools for how to handle anger, (anger management class, critical thinking class) how to change your way of thinking, how to accept responsibility for your actions. Show the kids they can be productive and encourage them positively and if there's room put them in alternative education. So many kids on probation are there because they can't handle school like other kids and it's interesting to know the schools cut back on their budgets and now the problem kids are increasingly lost in the shuffle.

Thanks for clearing that up, Sid.

Two words were reversed in the following sentence. It should read:

Kathleen Lichtfuss, former superintendent of the detention center, said Klyve directed probation officers to limit the number of juveniles admitted to the facility.

The story above has been corrected. Sorry for the confusion.

Sid Schwartz
Local News Editor

southmain51: your username indicates your affiliation/perspective. You appear to be confusing the administrative review panel (referenced in Chpt 48 and 938 as an alternative to judicial reviews being scheduled every 6 months for all children placed in foster homes, group homes, and residential placements) and the Juvenile Justice Division's internal review panel that was implemented in the early 2000's to limit the out-of-honw placement costs. In addition to the administrative review requirements, the juvenile probation officers were/are required to obtain "permission" from an internal review panel (within the JJS Division) before placing a juvenile needing services (JIPS or delinquency) in an out-of-home placement....at any level, including the JDC! The administrative review panel that is convened is a 3 person panel that includes one member who is employed by the HSD and 2 members who are community volunteers. The JJS internal panel includes supervisors/administrators in the JJS Division/HSD--no "outsiders" are involved/invited! The DMC initiatives were not implemented in Rock County until late 2006-07. It's been well documented that, while juvenile crime has been declining, the severity of the crimes has steadily increased. Imagine the frustration experienced by a member of law enforcement who places his/her life at risk apprehending a juvenile offender only to have admission to the JDC "denied" by the 'on call' juvenile probation officer because of budgetary restrictions/administrative mandates rather than community safety! Trust me, the number of "success" stories that are touted by the HSD administration are skewed (re: the DMC initiative and alternatives to incarceration). You're able to justify anything when it's your agency gathering the outcome data and continued funding (state and federal) depends upon the numbers you generate! Instead of closing the JDC and having many of those employees enter the ranks of the unemployed in Rock County, it may be more fiscally prudent and community responsive to examine the expenditures that have NO impact on county service delivery (i.e. why is it necessary for the County to pay for Ms. Klyve to keep her law license current when she isn't a practicing attorney in her current position???)! Linda Graf is employed as a juvenile probation officer who happens to be the union president. Given the current climate in the HSD, the demands on her time (in the capacity of union president) severely limit the amount of time she has available to do her 'real' job! Fiscally prudent....not so much!!

This is a real issues. I don't know how "high-up" the problem is but agents are not allowed to do their job the same way as 3-5 years ago.
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The closing of the detention center has been discussed for months and nobody that I know doesn't believe the directive hasn't been to reduce the number of juvies in the detention center.
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Dirty UA's don't mean a thing anymore. Weekend sanctions don't exist. Kids learn very quickly that if they can keep their cool while being chewed a new one they can stay on the street.
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I am no expert but this stinks and someone from Rock County needs to answer some serious questions. I hope friends of Linda and others encourage her to let the public know the truth. I doubt Jeremy would have the courage to discipline her if everyone knew she was simply informing the public of what is really going on.
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I have said too much.

The panel msw93 spoke of was to review the placement of children in out of home care (foster homes, treatment foster homes, groups homes and residential care facilies or juvenile corrections). This panel has existed since the mid 1980's. What changed was Ms. Klyve's threat to reduce staff if children were placed in a residential care facility. One placement was equal to one pobation officer position. It was Klyve who gave the directive to limit JDC placements as well. Part of her reason was to decrease the number of minority placement as the department was criticized for having a high number of minorities at the detention center. Both the state and feds considered it disproportionate minority confinement (DMC). Diversion programs started with not referring juveniles for minor drug and weapons offenses as well as arrests at school. Klyve states referrals went up the first quarter of 2009...this is when the DA started reviewing referrals. Strange when someone other than department staff are making decisions the numbers go up.

I think a full investigation is in order. Well said, msw93! This county needs to take a different approach to juvenile detention and child abuse/neglect cases.

Does anyone remember the investigation and subsequent report that caused such an uproar a number of years ago, as reported by a highly recommended professional from out of state? I can't remember her name...I want to say "Sadler" or "Sauder"...

Were any recommendations/citings taken seriously?

msw93: thanks for that very accurate and informative explanation on how some decisions are made regarding at-risk kids in our community. People need to hear about what is going on behind closed doors!

I work for a juvenile group home in Rock county. We receive referrals for delinquent and/or neglectded youth from several different counties in the state. Within the past several months we have seen a drastic decline in the number of referrals from counties (especially Rock). Several group homes in this county have been shut down as a result of this decline
kids that we do have are being hurried through our program and moved into less costly placements (either back home where the problem remains or to a foster home that is not always trained to deal effecively with problems.)

I know for a fact that workers within child protective sercvices in Rock county (and others) are getting a great deal of pressure to move kids through the system quickly and avoid costs of any attempt at rehabilitation through proper programming. This is usually the case anyway, but it has become very concerning!!

For years it appeared as though Ms. Klyve and her #1 minion, Kathy Lichtfuss, would never be exposed for their intimidating, under-handed approach to management. Thankfully, that is no longer the case! If the taxpayers in Rock County knew how many times the County Board looked the other way when tragic examples of Ms. Klyve's incompetence surfaced, they would be appalled. Unfortunately, the cost to the public(including the untimely deaths of the young couple in Edgerton, victims of the crimes committed by juveniles denied admission to the JDC, abused/neglected children and their families who are receiving inadequate services, etc) can never be recovered nor accurately measured. The decision to deny admission to juveniles who were/are accused of commiting crimes originated with Kathy Lichtfuss (during her tenure as the superintendent of the JDC) and was supported by Charmian Klyve; which is contrary to the "chain of command" that exists in most agencies/companies. Juvenile probation officers were not allowed to exercise their professional judgement (even though they are Juvenile Court Intake certified) when making taking/holding decisions re: juvenile offenders. They had to "appear" in front of an internal panel of supervisors before they could file a JIPS (Juvenile in Need of Protection and Services) or Delinquency petition much less place a child/adolescent at the JDC! This panel was inplemented (by Ms. Klyve, Jason Witt, and Ms. Lichtfuss) for the sole purpose of limiting the costs of placing adolescent offenders at the JDC. The "spin" that was offered in the community focused on community based services (offered in the 'least restrictive environment') rather than acknowledging the statutorial mandate re: community safety. Ms. Kylve has repeatedly threatened the staff in the 2 children's division (Juvenile Justice and Child Protective Services) with cutting positions if the costs of out-of-home care were not contained! Unfortunately, the decision to place children outside of their home is based on child (and/or community) safety rather than budgetary limitations. Mr. Trautsch inherited the decision-making protocols implemented during Ms. Lichtfuss reign at the JDC but he was not employed by the HSD until she was long gone from the JDC/Juvenile Justice Division and unleashed on the CPS Division. He has no point of reference re: when the "policy changed". As suggested previously, the taxpayers should consider the effectiveness of Ms. Klyve's decision making re: Crisis Intervention/Detox services as the decision to close the JDC is debated. How much more will she cost the citizens of Rock County before the County Board (and/or Craig Knudsen) addresses the real problem...Charmian Klyve's incompetence?

SarahB1,

You seem to know a lot about the Human Services Department, did you attend the public hearing and if so, did you speak to the board with your concerns?

Why is it that our county services seem to be disappearing? Or at least they are under strange restructuring, under less than well thought out ideals. It's always about money, well certain things are a neccessity. It will be interesting to find out (if we even can-damn snakes in the grass!), what was said and what was done-by whom. I don't think they expected this much response, and I'm glad good people are giving it to 'them'.

and when supervisors realize that spending the money to house juveniles in other facilities isn't saving the money they "anticipated", how many more juvenile crimes will receive "no action" as punishments?

Seriously, what is going on here?!

Another important question to ask Klyve is: What is the plan for future use of the detention center building? I have a hard time believing she (or whomever) is going to all this work to save $400,000. Is the plan to get Crisis Intervention spending back under control now that we know shipping those patients to Madison facilities has blown that department's budget by millions? Will those emergency patients be housed in the detention center building as it has a secure area? If that is the plan, why all the secrecy and denials. Also, can we get information on the county's pending response to the murder/suicide lawsuit? Initially, the county legal counsel was going to recommend that the county board deny the suit. And who is the "John Doe" named in the suit? Is it, perhaps, the Crisis Intervention manager at the time of the deaths? That manager is no longer in that position and could his departure be seen as the county finding fault with its actions? Although I am sure that is easy enough to deny.

Snuffy, you raise some good points and questions. I have a few of my own.
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Nobody has said how much money the Center generates from renting beds to other counties. In fact, is the JDC renting out beds, and how many a day and how much does the County earn by renting beds? TED SULLIVAN...if you are monitoring this blog, please tell us how many of those empty beds are filled by out of county Juveniles and how much money does the JDC pull in renting out beds to other counties?
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I suspect an empty bed costs nearly as much as a full bed. The reason is the amount of staff remains the same regardless of the daily population. The average cost per inmate goes up as the population falls, but the total cost remains the same. Just do the math. A previous story said the Center costs about $3 million per year, and it cost $350 a day to house a juvenile. If you divide $3 million by 350 x 365, you come up with around 23 juveniles per day in the JDC. TED SULLIVAN...Is my assumption correct that the total cost to run the place does not vary much regardless of the number of inmates?
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Your options from cost/benefit approach are either keep it open, or close it and send kids to other county centers. If you are not earning enough revenue from renting out empty beds, and the total housed population keeps falling, at some point it makes sense to close and send junveniles to other counties. That is the option being proposed that saves $400,000 per year and has everyone in a snit. If you can rent out beds, and keep the place full your average cost plummets, and it makes sense to keep the place open because it is cheaper to house them here than to farm out juveniles to other counties.
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One final question that really bugs me. If David O'Leary knew something was funny with numbers back in February, why did he wait 6 months to say something? Mr. O'Leary, your silence on the matter has endangered public safety.

Couple things here. If we are to believe Ms. Klyve and those she gave permission to speak to the gazette, we would also, have to believe that the DA and JPD are in on a conspiracy as well as the public defender's office to discredit her ,for those who were not at the public hearing. A most unlikely conspiracy group. We haven't even heard from the schools yet. There does not have to be a written policy. That leaves room open for denial. However, the community as a whole, is not a bunch of idiots. We know that a policy/philosophy can be created clearly by directives and actions that are and are not taken. We do not have paperless government. There is evidence yet to be discovered and depositions yet to occur. The juvenile statutes in the state are quite clear what the responsibilities are of the department. Now would be the time for the Gazette to educate the public on the Juvenile Justice System. We have elected officials on our board that can request an investigation from DA O'Leary to be completed by someone outside of the county. Now is the time for transparency in government and not a cover up. By the way, heard Ms. Graf attempted to bring these issues to the county's attention and was disciplined for it. Also, interesting comment about the influence of grant money. Now there's a conspiracy to look into!

truecitizen: There WAS a "town hall" meeting. It was Wednesday night.

put them on a farm and let them respect the animals, machernery the whole way of life. OH and dont worry about them running away, the dog will watch them

We need the facility, and we're not getting the whole truth.

Last night, as we were driving by the County
Complex, my son asked what they would do with the empty building. I told him to look behind it at the condition of the rest of the deteriorating and collapsing buildings. That would be its future as the County does not maintain its properties.

The Gazette needs to talk to the people not being mentioned in this story, like Kerrie Bischop Juvenile Justice Supervisor, John Becker, Linda Graf and see what is really going here. This has been in the works for a few years and these people are cracking the deals. If you are going to do a story get all the angles and all the sides. Talk to Linda Graf probation Union President. Find out what she has been dealing on with the county. The big picture is someone wants to look good here. Find out who that could be while doing the story. There is diffently something wrong with this picture and to blame Kathy Lichtfuss is the wrong angle on this story, she just told you the truth. Doesn't seem like she could make an order with out Klyve ok now does it. Ms. Klyve like to blame others for her calls.

I just let my friends at the Department of Justice in on this corruption. Now they better get their stories straight!

Maybe we need a 'town-hall meeting', like the ones appearing on all the news programs, huh? Then we can get our point across.

Mathematically speaking.....SOMEONE IS LYING! Mr. O'leary, don't pretend. DO what you say you are going to (or have). There has to be check and balance! These are all oppointed and elected officials. What the hell is going on! No one has mentioned the other brass members (officals) in all of this either. This is about par-for-the-coarse. I agree with the one who said we are wasting money in other ways and saving money stupidly here. Bureaucracy in action.

TRANSLATION: "I never thought it would go public that we were going to gut a public safety program to save a few bucks even though the state throws hundreds of thousands of dollars down the rat hole, and now that it has become public I've decided to now deny any such conspiracy because I'm a political crony and I was promised either; 1) A promotion or 2) a raise. But now that light has been shed on this I'm going to deny everything. END TRANSLATION.

klearsky and alongcamepolly...^5

Klearsky: I second that -THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!

If the D.A., Janesville P.D., and the union supervisor, amongst others, make or think the allegations have merit then something is going on. "No one ever issued an order... to deny the lockup or reduce the caseload." Oh, how sly. Now who would document such orders and leave a paper trail. When someone wants something done that they know is wrong they'll verbally make the goals clear. If that's what happened in this case then there are witnesses and they should come forward or be guilty of contributing to putting our communities at risk. As far as saving costs - how much is it going to cost Rock county to rent beds from other counties and hire transportation? How much is it going to cost taxpayers throughout the county for additional police service? How much is it going to cost the victims to pay for the damage caused by uncontrolled kids? How much will it cost the kids that need help? Can our county be held liable for damage done when a kid that would have been in the detention center is out and does something bad? Rock county board supervisors, you better wake up. Discuss something productive for the good of those that elected you during your little breakfast meetings.

btw: it doesn't take a birth parent to offer "tough love"....I can't think of a child that didn't require tough love at some point of his/her life...why is everyone afraid of doing what is right for the child in the long run????

now,if it came to a "modernize rock haven" or totally close JDC, I would choose to modernize Rock Haven. There was nothing as despicable as seeing a new jail being built, complete with A/C, a gymnasium and cable television, as my 80+ year old grandmother lay dying and uncomfortable in her bed sores due to heat rash. That's another story, however. I believe in allowing the elderly to leave this world with dignity and respect and teaching our children to show proper respect. Not all parents agree with me, however. That's a shame. :(

and if you ask me, the reason that society is the way it is......

snuffy, I concur. If the numbers fluctuate, as stated in the article, doesn't it stand to reason that 19 may turn into 29 again within a short period of time? If so, doesn't that (by numbers stated...though I think there is room/reason for more detentions)convince the general population that the numbers will fluctuate "up" again in a short time frame, which will make the center viable/worthwhile/fiscally responsible and not a burden to the county budget? I think that there are certain lines that need to be drawn as far as government spending, but doing away with a local detention center for juvenile CRIMINALS is not a good way to "save" money. That is a perfect example of penny wise, pound foolish, which I believe was quoted in a previous comment regarding closing the juvenile detention center.

Boy, look at that building. I think we should build a new one. Maybe they can build a detention center/ jail/ water tower (with observation deck)/ discovery museum/ skate board park/ ice rink, (did I forget any?) all of which would be accessible via the bike tunnel. Just poking a little fun here. Something just occurred to me. I know about all of those things because I read about them here, at the GazetteXtra

I find it hard to believe that Kathy Lichtfess, former superintendent of the JDC, would have taken it upon herself to issue orders to juvenile probation officers to limit the number of juvenile referrals. People don't normally give those types of directives, unless they were told to do so by the "higher ups". This article suggests that Ms. Lichtfess is the one responsible for "giving the orders" to limit referrals and that "only" 46% of those referrals were referred to the DA by probation officers. What happened to the other 54% of those referrals? I am also confused as to the issues i.e empty beds costing money? If the numbers of referrals for secure detention are down, does the County dish out monies for those empty beds?? Too many empty beds = no money/revenue, or too many beds filled = not enough money in the budget to cover the costs. Projecting future costs based upon a "static" number (194 referrals verses 240 in 2008, this same time last year) is taken from one point in time and does not "truly" reflect, nor account for, numerous other variables that must be taken into consideration. As stated in this article by Ms. Klyve, "Through March of this year, 194 cases were referred for prosecution, down from 240 during the same period in 2008. But in April, May and June this year, 272 juveniles were referred, illustrating how numbers fluctuate depending on the time of year", Klyve said.

Yes, the numbers of juveniles do fluctuate, not just based upon the number of "submitted" referrals. Hmmm. A decline in referrals does not directly correlate with the number of juveniles who might have committed a crime and those juveniles who should have been adjudicated for said crimes or placed in secure detention. 194 verses 240 juvies this same time last year is not an "enormous" decline, since the numbers also went way beyond 240 in May, June, and July. Justification of saving $400,000 dollars is a small pittance compared to the "havoc" it will cause for these kids, their families and the community. It is also a small ROI compared to the amount of monies, that I just heard about today on WCLO that the Cty plans on spending to revamp/rebuild the Cty nursing home (Rock Haven). Also, I am curious to know how many juveniles were "pushed into the pilot and "grant-funded" diversion program to justify closing the JDC/secure detention facility. Why was this type of diversion programming not offered at the JDC to begin with?

when precious timmy punches a guy at the mall and gets a "notice" that he was naughty. precious johnny sees what happens and decides he doesn't like bill, so he punches him. johnny says, "but timmy only got a naughty slip, so you can't give me any more than that...you set a "precedent". and so it goes...

because we CERTAINLY wouldn't want to hurt little timmy or johnny's feelings! he's gotten everything (or nothing) his whole life, so we can't take away his "rights" now....

the way too liberal civil rights activists make me want to scream! talk about "bad parenting"...ACLU has "bad parent" syndrome written all over it...

Ah, we couldn't have an article like this without biggirl spewing her pro-criminal feces all over the place.

Sounds like none of the agencies wants the added expense to their budgets, as we KNOW that juvenile crime is increasing. We used to be able to say it's because the police news wasn't as accessible as "it is today". Strong media has been around quite awhile. Juvenile crime (as well as adult) has the same problem, but the issue is whether or not to build a bigger jail. Society produces its own problems, if you ask me...

We incarcerate too many people in the US; thus, the public safety is not at risk if we merely go back to the levels before we had this prison-indulstrial-complex. I know, I know, it's not realistic: we might actually save lots of money, lower our taxes, and be more free. Can't be having that.

Sarah:
"Kathleen Lichtfuss, former superintendent of the detention center, Klyve said, directed probation officers to limit the number of juveniles admitted to the facility"
Mrs Lichtfuss is saying Ms. Klyve said to the PO's to limit the number of admissions.

I am confused by portions of this article. The first paragraph states that Human Services director Klyve denies that juvenile probation officers were told to not lockup juveniles. Later in the story, Klyve states that the former superintendent of the center directed probation officers to limit the number of juveniles admitted. YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS? WHICH IS IT?

Id say the proof is in the pudding!
Of course this would be denied.

Well, that's nice. If there's no consequences, there's no incentive to behave.