Agenda - 09-01-2015 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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6 1 The office will continue to provide Reserve Deputies in the elementary schools within 2 Orange County Schools (OCS) system in FY15-16; this cost of approximately $184,000 is paid 3 by Orange County Schools. 4 5 Sheriff Blackwood thanked the staff and Board of Commissioners for helping him with 6 this budget process. He said the firearms training simulator is an important tool for their 7 officers. 8 Commissioner Rich said Orange County does not currently have a Safe House for 9 domestic violence victims and said she understood the Sheriff may be supportive of 10 establishing one in the future. 11 Sheriff Blackwood said if corporate partners can be engaged and volunteers recruited, a 12 facility should be able to be established. He said the problem being faced is not the securing of 13 a physical structure but rather the long term programs that occur in such a Safe House. He 14 said many victims have nowhere else to go. He said having the safe place to go is a first step 15 but there must be long term resources to empower victims to long term safety. 16 Commissioner Rich said she believes this to be a very important issue and real need 17 within Orange County. She said she would like to see numbers and know what corporate 18 partners say about helping. 19 Sheriff Blackwood said the next steps would be to look at a facility that is working 20 elsewhere and then try to move forward with best practices. 21 Commissioner Rich asked if there was a way to move this process forward. She said 22 she anticipates this being a project that will need funding and so brought it up during budget 23 conversations. 24 Sheriff Blackwood said he would be willing to move forward starting tomorrow. 25 Chair McKee said this topic could be added to the Board's next work session. He 26 expressed doubt that a petition would be necessary to move this forward. 27 Commissioner Pelissier said the additional position for the Court Liaison was one of the 28 recommendations from the Jail Alternatives Work Group. She asked if the Jail Alternatives 29 Manager position fell under Social Services. 30 Sheriff Blackwood said no. 31 Sheriff Blackwood said the Jail Alternatives Manager/Director would serve directly under 32 the Captain of the Jail Detention Center. He said this person would have a law degree, the 33 ability to search out and author grants, and extreme management capabilities. He said the 34 Court Liaison position is being funneled in from a person within the agency already. He said 35 the Orange County Jail has done a horrible job equipping its inmates for future success and 36 reduced recidivism. He said the Jail Alternatives Program seeks to address this failure. 37 Commissioner Pelissier said the average number of inmates per month is projected to 38 decrease and asked if there is are specific reasons for this. 39 Sheriff Blackwood said there is intention to create programs for re-entry. He said the 40 processes by which people enter the system are being adjusted with different intake questions 41 being asked. He said UNC Mental Health is helping to determine best practices. He said that it 42 is a priority for those with mental health diagnoses to be known and given proper and 43 appropriate treatment. 44 Commissioner Pelissier commended the Sheriff and his department. She said she 45 heard a panel of Judges speak regarding the lack of alternative services available for people 46 within the criminal justice system. She asked if the Sheriff would please keep the BOCC 47 alerted to road blocks encountered so that the Board can assist in creating resources. 48 Sheriff Blackwood said the Judges, attorneys and jail personnel work well together and 49 he said the philosophy in Orange County is committed to treating mental health needs properly.