Item Description:
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2026-2028 Corrections Advisory Board Appointments pursuant to Minnesota Statute §401.08
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Resolution:
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BE IT RESOLVED, that in accordance with Minnesota Statute §401.08, the following individuals be appointed to the Corrections Advisory Board:
• Kevin Anderson, Hennepin County Commissioner, or successor
• Hilary Caligiuri, Presiding Judge Criminal Court, or successor
• Todd Fellman, Presiding Judge Juvenile Court, or successor
• Mike Berger, Chief Public Defender, or successor
• Julie Maas-Kusske, Mayor Maple Plain, or successor
• Joseph Dotseth, Chief Metro Transit Police Department, or successor
• Mary Moriarty, Hennepin County Attorney, or successor
• Mary Ellen Heng, Director Department of Community Corrections and Rehabilitation, or successor
• Leah Kaiser, Director Behavioral Health, or successor
• Chela Guzmán-Wiegert, Assistant County Administrator for Law, Safety & Justice, or successor
• Christa Mims, Director Education Support Services, or successor
• Michiah Van Syckel, REAC Member, or successor
• David Bernstein, Minneapolis City Prosecutor, or successor
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Background:
The Corrections Advisory Board (CAB) is established to serve in an advisory capacity to the Hennepin County Board and the Department of Community Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCCR) by operating within the framework of the Community Corrections Act as outlined in Minnesota Statute §401.08.
Pursuant to the statute, the CAB must:
• consist of a minimum of nine members, representing law enforcement, prosecution, the judiciary, education, corrections, different ethnicities, social services, and the general public;
• be appointed by the county board of commissioners and shall serve two-year terms;
• actively participate in formulating the comprehensive plan for developing, implementing, and operating correctional programming and services;
• make a formal recommendation to the Community Corrections Act jurisdiction on the plan and its implementation during the ensuing year; and
• review and update the comprehensive plan within two years of its approval or submission to the Commissioner of Corrections, whichever occurs first.
Hennepin County has designated the Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee (CJCC) to fulfill the statutorily required duties of the CAB. In December 2024, the CJCC’s bylaws were formally amended to establish the CAB as a standing subcommittee and designated select CJCC members to serve and perform duties as CAB members.
Pursuant to Article VIII, Section 3 of the CJCC bylaws, the CAB shall be composed of the following CJCC members:
• One Hennepin County Commissioner;
• Presiding Judge of the Fourth Judicial District’s Criminal Court;
• Presiding Judge of the Fourth Judicial District’s Juvenile Court;
• Chief Public Defender of the Fourth Judicial District;
• One Hennepin County mayor;
• One member of Law Enforcement;
• Hennepin County Attorney;
• Hennepin County Director of Community Corrections and Rehabilitation;
• Hennepin County Director of Behavioral Health;
• Assistant Hennepin County Administrator for Law, Safety & Justice.
In addition, the CJCC bylaws provide that the following individuals shall be appointed as members of the CAB:
• Director of Hennepin County Education Support Services;
• One member of Hennepin County’s Racial Equity Advisory council (REAC), as selected by the REAC chair;
• One City Prosecutor.
On March 5, 2026, the CJCC met and selected members to serve on the CAB, designating members in accordance with the bylaws. For positions with multiple eligible CJCC members, the CJCC solicited nominations, and the final selection was made by vote.
This board action seeks approval to officially appoint the identified CAB members. The Board-appointed CAB will meet in the coming months to review the required 2-year update to the comprehensive plan, which must be submitted to the Department of Corrections (DOC) by May 30, 2026. The CAB is also responsible for participating in the development of DOCCR’s full comprehensive plan, due to the DOC in 2027.
Upon completing these duties, a CAB spokesperson will present the subcommittee’s recommendations to the full CJCC. Final CAB recommendations will be forwarded to the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners for consideration and approval prior to submission to the DOC.
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval