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25 <br /> will continue to lag. These delays can cause overcrowding in county jails and the need for <br /> additional county resources as individuals await trial. <br /> JPS-6: Preserve current county authority for local electronic offender monitoring. <br /> Support legislation to maintain county authority for electronic monitoring. In 2011, a bill was <br /> passed authorizing counties to collect a fee from individuals ordered to be placed on electronic <br /> monitoring as a condition of the offender's bond or pretrial release. Utilization of electronic <br /> monitoring helps with county jail overcrowding and also reduces the amount of taxpayer dollars <br /> needed for incarceration. The fee allowed by law is capped and cannot be collected from those <br /> entitled to court-appointed counsel. Counties want to ensure that the authority for this fee is <br /> preserved. <br /> JPS-7: Provide funding for gang prevention, adolescent substance abuse and domestic violence <br /> prevention, intervention and treatment. <br /> Support legislation to provide state funding for gang prevention, adolescent substance abuse and <br /> domestic violence prevention, intervention and treatment. In past budget years, the state budget <br /> has included funds for these critical programs. These programs pay dividends because they help <br /> reduce criminal activity. Failure to fund these types of programs will result in significantly <br /> higher costs to the legal system. <br /> JPS-8: Request the reduction of detention center space requirements in existing and new <br /> detention center facilities in all counties in North Carolina, consistent with the language in N.C. <br /> G.S. 153A-221. <br /> Seek legislation to provide all counties with the authority to house 64 inmates in each county <br /> detention dormitory, as permitted for counties with populations in excess of 300,000. Counties <br /> with populations of less than 300,000 can only house up to 56 inmates in each dormitory. The <br /> same minimum space requirements still apply to these additional inmates. Allowing all counties <br /> to have this same authority will make the law consistent for all 100 counties and allow for cost- <br /> savings when constructing new jail facilities. <br /> JPS-9: Restore state funding for Drug Treatment Court(added at Legislative Goals Conference). <br /> Seek legislation to restore funding to Drug Treatment Courts in North Carolina. In 2011, the <br /> General Assembly eliminated all state funding for Drug Treatment Courts. These courts were <br /> created by the General Assembly in 1995 and have been utilized across the state to address <br /> substance abuse issues in the criminal justice system, reduce alcohol and drug-related caseloads, <br /> and promote effective use of resources for substance abuse treatment. Without funding for these <br /> courts, many counties have lost a valuable resource for managing judicial caseloads and <br /> addressing substance abuse issues. <br />