Committees

Nominations/Elections Committee

The Nominations/Elections Committee is unique in that its role and responsibilities are defined by Section III of the association’s Constitution. The committee is charged with responsibility for preparing and certifying a slate of candidates for the following positions on the Executive Board: President, President-Elect, Treasurer, Secretary, Regional Representatives (I, II, III), and Statewide Representative at each annual election. The committee publicizes the election process and events, and actively encourages and supports members who are interested in seeking office.

Nominations/Elections Committee Chair

Frank W. Morelli

Lake County Adult Probation 215 West Water St Waukegan, Illinois 60085

(847) 377-3646
fmorelli@lakecountyil.gov

2021 Election Voting

Click here to vote!

 

2021 ELECTIONS INCLUDE:

Secretary, Treasurer, Region I Representative, and Region II Representative

The IPCSA Executive Board positions identified above are open for election in 2021. 

Nominated candidates have submitted their statements. Also, write-in candidates for all positions are welcome. 

Region I encompasses the following circuits: 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23 and Cook. 

Region III encompasses the following circuits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, and 20. 

You must work in the region to qualify as the region’s representative. 

 

The following qualifications are necessary to run for office: 

• Full membership in the Association. 

• Active participation in committees or special projects for two years. 

• Appropriate judicial officer approval to attend, to travel, and devote time to the Association business. 

• Verification of qualifications by the Nominations/ Elections Committee. 

 

2021 CANDIDATE STATEMENTS

Secretary

MICHAEL TORCHIA-SANGAMON COUNTY 

I am currently the Director of the Sangamon County Probation & Court Services Department in Springfield, Illinois. In my current position, I oversee a court services department; which consists of juvenile probation, adult probation, pretrial services, problem-solving courts, and a juvenile detention center. I have been in the probation field for thirty-six (36) years, all with Sangamon County. During my tenure with the department, I have served in the capacities of Adult Probation Officer, Intensive Drug Officer, Division Supervisor, Deputy Director, and currently as Director. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Justice Professions and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. 

For the entirety of my career, I have been a member of the Illinois Probation and Court Services Association, serving in various roles throughout. During my tenure with IPCSA, I have served on the CMO Committee, Legislative Committee, Program Committee, and the Officer Safety Committee. Also, I have served previously on the Executive Board as Representative Chair, Secretary, President-Elect, and President. 

If elected as Secretary, I will bring significant experience and knowledge to the position. I will utilize the skills I have gained to continue to make IPCSA a great association and voice. Thank you for your support 

Treasurer

brianbrown

BRIAN BROWN-PEORIA 

My name is Brian Brown and I am running for the position of Treasurer for the Illinois Probation and Court Services Association (IPCSA). My objectives in running for this office are twofold, one (1) to ensure the financial resources are well managed which allows the association to carryout it’s mission, and two (2) accurately present the views and interests of the membership in the probation and court services field. Below are highlights of my background relevant to this position. 

For the past 22 years, I have been employed by Probation and Court Services in Peoria County, IL. Since 2010, I have had the honor as serving as the Superintendent of the Peoria County Juvenile Detention Center, determined to improve conditions of confinement and outcomes of youth in our care. Through my administrative duties as Superintendent, I have gained budgetary and accounting skills necessary to be Treasurer of IPCSA. 

In 2013, Peoria County Juvenile Detention Center achieved accreditation from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care. This accreditation serves to improve the standard of medical and mental health care for correctional settings. In 2014, a new behavior modification program was implemented utilizing Cognitive Behavior Training and Rational Behavior Training principles. The evidence-based programming targets thinking behaviors, feeling behaviors, and behavioral responses to the environment. In 2015, Peoria County Juvenile Detention Center began implementing the Federal Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) standards. In 2017, Peoria County Juvenile Detention Center became the first facility in Illinois to become certified as PREA compliant. 

I currently serve as Co-Chairman of the IPCSA’s Detention Committee. Since 2013, I have been a member of the Illinois Juvenile Justice Leadership Council. I am also a member of the Supreme Court of Illinois Judicial College committee on probation education. As Treasurer and a member of IPCSA board, I will strive to represent the views and interests of all probation and court services. 

As our profession undergoes dramatic transformation it’s more important than ever to have a robust profess opportunities for its members. As we all strive for professional excellence, it is important to remember that Probation and Court Services has proven to be the most cost-effective approach to enhance public safety. Every day we have the ability to impact the lives of the clients we serve. 

Thank you for your consideration. 

Region I Representative

LISA AUST-KANE COUNTY 

I am currently the Region 1 Representative. I have served in this position for two years and found it very rewarding. I have been the Executive Director of the 16th Judicial Circuit Court Services for 10 years and in probation and juvenile detention for 10 years before that. Somethings about the field have changed, but largely the qualities that are important to success always remain the same; have empathy, show people respect, genuinely listen to others, and care. 

In my time on the IPSCA Executive Board I have held many meetings bringing together various members of the northern region counties, to listen to the concerns of the group, to problem solve what is going wrong, what needs improvement, and celebrate what is going well. I have gathered this information and brought it forward items to the board for action. I’m proud that I have been able to act as a liaison and advocate for our field with the AOIC, ICJIA, SPAC, juvenile advocacy groups, and all of the other regional and statewide entities that need to know about our work. 

Subjects that I have worked on include advocating for additional training on the risk assessment tools, detention standards, probation standards, intake processes, the impact of pending pretrial matters, and data collection concerns. My next agenda items include increasing the use of sanctions by probation departments in lieu of violations, increasing diversion for juveniles, fighting any adverse impacts of the rollout of the new data collection initiative, and pretrial processes. 

If I am re-elected as the Region 1 Representative I will continue to bring forth the concerns, needs, and successes of our profession. We have been ahead of the national curve in our field and I will always make sure that people know. 

Region III Representative

 

BANEE’ ULRICI

BANEE’ ULRICI-MONTGOMERY COUNTY

My name is Banee’ Ulrici and I am running for Region III Representative on the IPCSA Executive Board. I attended Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and graduated with a double major in Psychology and Sociology in 1997. I began my career in Probation in 2000 when I was appointed as a juvenile officer with the Montgomery County Probation Department. In 2002, I earned my Master’s Degree in Sociology and was appointed as Chief Managing Officer of the Montgomery County Probation Department. I taught Sociology as an adjunct instructor for Lincoln Land Community College for two years. I have been a member of IPCSA since 2000, and have served on the Juvenile, Research, CMO, and Detention/JDAI Committees. I received the William C. Albertson Field of Achievement Award in 2011. I hold a leadership role in the Fourth Judicial Circuit’s Juvenile Redeploy Program and Juvenile Detention Data Collection. I currently serve as the secretary for the Fourth Judicial Circuit Juvenile Justice Council, and am a member of the AOICs Pretrial and Probation Data Committees. 

I have observed the Executive Board for the past 21 years and I have a great amount of respect for those who have served and those currently serving on the Board. Their leadership and dedication to our profession is unlike anything I have ever seen. I look forward to learning from the Board, building relationships throughout the state, and representing Region III to the best of my ability. 

Thank you for considering me for Region III Representative. 

ELECTIONS AND TERMS OF OFFICE

Qualifications for Elected Office
The following is a list of minimum qualifications necessary for an individual to be eligible to run for office in the Association:

  • A Full member of the Association
  • Demonstrated active participation in a committee and/or special projects of the Association for at least two (2) years as approved by the Executive Board
  • Approval by appropriate Judicial Officer or designee to attend, travel, and devote time to Association business
  • Verification of qualifications by Nominations/Elections Committee to the Executive Board
  • For appointment to the office of Representative Chair, any candidate must have served as a chair or co-chair on any committee for a minimum of two (2) years

Process
A candidate seeking a position with the Executive Board may follow either of the following processes;

  1. Two nominations (first and second) made from the floor at the Spring Conference business meeting for the Fall elections
  2. A letter of intent with two nominations (first and second) sent via email to the Nominations/Elections Committee Chair(s) no later than June 1st for the Fall elections

In either case, a candidate seeking to be elected to the Executive Board must have obtained his/her appropriate Judicial Officer approval in writing to attend, travel, and devote time to Association business and submitted to the Nominations/Election Committee Chair. The Judicial Officer providing support must be given adequate information regarding the time, travel and commitment necessary to serve as an Executive Board member (see attached template).

Appropriate Judicial Officer approval may be as follows;

  • If a CMO/Director is seeking to be elected, the appropriate Judicial Officer is his/her Chief Judge
  • If a Deputy Director is seeking to be elected, the appropriate Judicial Officer is his/her Director/CMO
  • If a Supervisor is seeking to be elected, the appropriate Judicial Officer is his/her Director/CMO
  • If a Probation Officer is seeking to be elected, the appropriate Judicial Officer is his/her Director/CMO

If there are any questions with regards to the qualifications or process, contact the Elections/Nominations Committee at nominations@ipcsa.org.

Other
Once a candidate has been verified by the Nominations/Election Committee to proceed as a candidate for election, he/she must submit a candidate statement for publication in the Summer edition of the Outlook during the calendar year of the election.  Candidates may review prior candidate statements for a general format, but must submit the candidate statement no later than June 1st during the calendar year of the election.

Click here for the Judicial Officer Approval Template: Judicial Official Approval

 

View the Committee Chair Directory

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