The Sawyer County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council received a jail report for February showing an average daily population of 55 inmates and discussed local causes for custody counts, probation holds and a shortage of public defenders that council members said is lengthening case timelines.

A county jail representative reported an average daily population of 55 inmates for February: 13 females and 42 males. The report listed 12 inmates in custody on probation-related holds (22% of the population), 32 pre-sentence (58%), and 11 sentenced (20%). The report also noted three people on electronic monitoring at the time the report was generated.

Council members discussed how probation holds and pretrial custody affect the jail roster. "Pretty consistently, a third are typically pre-sentence, a third are probation holds, and a third are sentenced," a council speaker summarized, noting proportions can fluctuate monthly. Members agreed that probation holds are imposed by probation authorities and that local law enforcement and jail staff do not control those holds.

Members asked the sheriff's office to compile booking and arresting-agency data to clarify how many arrests originate with the LCO Police Department, the Hayward Police Department, and the sheriff's office. The sheriff's representative said weekly booking reports are publicly posted and offered to prepare a summary for the council.

During public comment and discussion, the shortage of defense counsel was raised as a contributor to case delays. Council members said the Spooner Public Defender Office serves three counties and currently has one full-time attorney for the region, plus part-time or retired attorneys filling gaps. A county official said the county has $95,000 in its budget for a public defender contracting position but received no applicants; the county will extend the current grant for one year at no cost and re-post recruitment efforts.

The council also heard an update on juvenile and truancy work: a truancy-program hire was delayed after an initial offer was declined; interviews are planned and county staff hope to start the position in April. Members described a recent juvenile shooting case that was waived into adult court and reiterated an interest in front-end prevention and collaboration with LCO's youth programs.

Council members asked for a data pull for the next meeting. There was brief confusion at the meeting about the requested lookback period (one speaker asked for three months, another suggested 12 months, and a comment briefly mentioned 24); the council ultimately directed staff to prepare a one-year booking summary of arresting agencies and related demographics for review at the next meeting.

No formal policy change was adopted in the jail-update item; the council established a follow-up task to receive the compiled booking-origin data and to consider how probation holds and attorney availability affect custody and case processing times.