Minutes 06-04-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Vehicle Replacement Schedule for FY15-16, as well as an increase in the medical inmate contract. ■ The Capital Outlay of$85,715 in FY15-16 includes the purchase of a firearms training simulator to train officers in various scenario situations. ■ The office will continue to provide Reserve Deputies in the elementary schools within Orange County Schools (OCS) system in FY15-16; this cost of approximately $184,000 is paid by Orange County Schools. Sheriff Blackwood thanked the staff and Board of Commissioners for helping him with this budget process. He said the firearms training simulator is an important tool for their officers. Commissioner Rich said Orange County does not currently have a Safe House for domestic violence victims and said she understood the Sheriff may be supportive of establishing one in the future. Sheriff Blackwood said if corporate partners can be engaged and volunteers recruited, a facility should be able to be established. He said the problem being faced is not the securing of a physical structure but rather the long term programs that occur in such a Safe House. He said many victims have nowhere else to go. He said having the safe place to go is a first step but there must be long term resources to empower victims to long term safety. Commissioner Rich said she believes this to be a very important issue and real need within Orange County. She said she would like to see numbers and know what corporate partners say about helping. Sheriff Blackwood said the next steps would be to look at a facility that is working elsewhere and then try to move forward with best practices. Commissioner Rich asked if there was a way to move this process forward. She said she anticipates this being a project that will need funding and so brought it up during budget conversations. Sheriff Blackwood said he would be willing to move forward starting tomorrow. Chair McKee said this topic could be added to the Board's next work session. He expressed doubt that a petition would be necessary to move this forward. Commissioner Pelissier said the additional position for the Court Liaison was one of the recommendations from the Jail Alternatives Work Group. She asked if the Jail Alternatives Manager position fell under Social Services. Sheriff Blackwood said no. Sheriff Blackwood said the Jail Alternatives Manager/Director would serve directly under the Captain of the Jail Detention Center. He said this person would have a law degree, the ability to search out and author grants, and extreme management capabilities. He said the Court Liaison position is being funneled in from a person within the agency already. He said the Orange County Jail has done a horrible job equipping its inmates for future success and reduced recidivism. He said the Jail Alternatives Program seeks to address this failure. Commissioner Pelissier said the average number of inmates per month is projected to decrease and asked if there is are specific reasons for this. Sheriff Blackwood said there is intention to create programs for re-entry. He said the processes by which people enter the system are being adjusted with different intake questions being asked. He said UNC Mental Health is helping to determine best practices. He said that it is a priority for those with mental health diagnoses to be known and given proper and appropriate treatment. Commissioner Pelissier commended the Sheriff and his department. She said she heard a panel of Judges speak regarding the lack of alternative services available for people