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Res-2015-038 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 5 <br /> Attachment Resolution Supporting "Stepping Up Initiative to <br /> Reduce the Number of People with Mental Illnesses in Jails" <br /> WHEREAS, counties routinely provide treatment services to the estimated 2 million people with <br /> serious mental illnesses booked into jails each year; and <br /> WHEREAS, prevalence rates of serious mental illnesses in confinement facilities are three to six <br /> times higher than for the general population, with statistics showing that almost 13% of North <br /> Carolina's prison population requires some type of intervention due to mental health issues; and <br /> WHEREAS, almost three-quarters of adults with serious mental illnesses in jails have co-occurring <br /> substance use disorders; and <br /> WHEREAS, adults with mental illnesses tend to stay longer in jail and upon release are at a higher <br /> risk of recidivism than people without these disorders; and <br /> WHEREAS, county jails spend two to three times more on adults with mental illnesses that require <br /> interventions compared to those without these treatment needs; and <br /> WHEREAS, without the appropriate treatment and services, people with mental illnesses can <br /> continue to cycle through the criminal justice system, often resulting in tragic outcomes for these <br /> individuals, their families, and their communities; and <br /> WHEREAS, county jails are generally an unsafe environment for those with mental health <br /> treatment needs; and <br /> WHEREAS, the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners has undertaken a serious <br /> effort to address the local service needs of those with mental illnesses through the appointment of <br /> a special Task Force; and <br /> WHEREAS, Orange County, like all counties, takes pride in our responsibility to protect and <br /> enhance the health, welfare and safety of our residents in efficient, safe, and socially just ways; <br /> and <br /> WHEREAS, through the Stepping Up Initiative, the National Association of Counties, the Council of <br /> State Governments Justice Center and the American Psychiatric Foundation are encouraging <br /> counties to reduce the number of people with mental illnesses in county jails; <br /> NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Orange County Board of Commissioners: <br /> 1. That the Board of Commissioners does hereby sign on to the Call to Action to reduce the <br /> number of people with mental illnesses in our county jail and commits to sharing lessons <br /> learned with other counties in North Carolina and across the country to support the Stepping <br /> Up Initiative; and <br /> 2. That the Board of Commissioners will utilize resources available through the Stepping Up <br /> Initiative and other resources provided by the Council of State Governments Justice Center to <br /> convene a diverse team of leaders and decision makers from multiple agencies who are <br /> committed to safely reducing the number of people with mental illnesses in jails, and <br /> 3. That this team will utilize the comprehensive resources available through the Stepping Up <br /> Initiative to develop a plan to reduce the number of people with mental illness in the county jail <br /> for 2016-2020, consistent with the Council of State Governments Justice Center report and <br /> recommendations, to be presented to the Board of Commissioners at its first meeting in <br /> December 2015. <br /> This the 1St day of September, 2015. <br /> Earl McKee, Chair <br /> Orange County Board of Commissioners <br />