Agenda - 09-16-2014 - 7b - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

19MA! will continue to lag. These delays can cause overcrowding in county jails and the need for additional county resources as individuals await trial. JPS -6: Preserve current county authority for local electronic offender monitoring. Support legislation to maintain county authority for electronic monitoring. In 2011, a bill was passed authorizing counties to collect a fee from individuals ordered to be placed on electronic monitoring as a condition of the offender's bond or pretrial release. Utilization of electronic monitoring helps with county jail overcrowding and also reduces the amount of taxpayer dollars needed for incarceration. The fee allowed by law is capped and cannot be collected from those entitled to court- appointed counsel. Counties want to ensure that the authority for this fee is preserved. JPS -7: Provide funding for gang prevention, adolescent substance abuse and domestic violence prevention, intervention and treatment. Support legislation to provide state funding for gang prevention, adolescent substance abuse and domestic violence prevention, intervention and treatment. In past budget years, the state budget has included funds for these critical programs. These programs pay dividends because they help reduce criminal activity. Failure to fund these types of programs will result in significantly higher costs to the legal system. JPS -8: Request the reduction of detention center space requirements in existing and new detention center facilities in all counties in North Carolina, consistent with the language in N.C. G.S. 153A -221. Seek legislation to provide all counties with the authority to house 64 inmates in each county detention dormitory, as permitted for counties with populations in excess of 300,000. Counties with populations of less than 300,000 can only house up to 56 inmates in each dormitory. The same minimum space requirements still apply to these additional inmates. Allowing all counties to have this same authority will make the law consistent for all 100 counties and allow for cost - savings when constructing new jail facilities. JPS -9: Restore state funding for Drug Treatment Court (added at Legislative Goals Conference). Seek legislation to restore funding to Drug Treatment Courts in North Carolina. In 2011, the General Assembly eliminated all state funding for Drug Treatment Courts. These courts were created by the General Assembly in 1995 and have been utilized across the state to address substance abuse issues in the criminal justice system, reduce alcohol and drug- related caseloads, and promote effective use of resources for substance abuse treatment. Without funding for these courts, many counties have lost a valuable resource for managing judicial caseloads and addressing substance abuse issues.