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6 <br /> 1 North Carolina's prison population requires some type of intervention due to mental health <br /> 2 issues; and <br /> 3 <br /> 4 WHEREAS, almost three-quarters of adults with serious mental illnesses in jails have co- <br /> 5 occurring substance use disorders; and <br /> 6 <br /> 7 WHEREAS, adults with mental illnesses tend to stay longer in jail and upon release are at a <br /> 8 higher risk of recidivism than people without these disorders; and <br /> 9 <br /> 10 WHEREAS, county jails spend two to three times more on adults with mental illnesses that <br /> 11 require interventions compared to those without these treatment needs; and <br /> 12 <br /> 13 WHEREAS, without the appropriate treatment and services, people with mental illnesses can <br /> 14 continue to cycle through the criminal justice system, often resulting in tragic outcomes for <br /> 15 these individuals, their families, and their communities; and <br /> 16 <br /> 17 WHEREAS, county jails are generally an unsafe environment for those with mental health <br /> 18 treatment needs; and <br /> 19 <br /> 20 WHEREAS, the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners has undertaken a serious <br /> 21 effort to address the local service needs of those with mental illnesses through the appointment <br /> 22 of a special Task Force; and <br /> 23 <br /> 24 WHEREAS, Orange County, like all counties, takes pride in our responsibility to protect and <br /> 25 enhance the health, welfare and safety of our residents in efficient, safe, and socially just ways; <br /> 26 and <br /> 27 <br /> 28 WHEREAS, through the Stepping Up Initiative, the National Association of Counties, the <br /> 29 Council of State Governments Justice Center and the American Psychiatric Foundation are <br /> 30 encouraging counties to reduce the number of people with mental illnesses in county jails; <br /> 31 <br /> 32 NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Orange County Board of Commissioners: <br /> 33 1. That the Board of Commissioners does hereby sign on to the Call to Action to reduce the <br /> 34 number of people with mental illnesses in our county jail, and commits to sharing lessons <br /> 35 learned with other counties in North Carolina and across the country to support the Stepping <br /> 36 Up Initiative; and <br /> 37 2. That the Board of Commissioners will utilize resources available through the Stepping Up <br /> 38 Initiative and other resources provided by the Council of State Governments Justice Center to <br /> 39 convene a diverse team of leaders and decision makers from multiple agencies who are <br /> 40 committed to safely reducing the number of people with mental illnesses in jails, and <br /> 41 3. That this team will utilize the comprehensive resources available through the Stepping Up <br /> 42 Initiative to develop a plan to reduce the number of people with mental illness in the county jail <br /> 43 for 2016-2020, consistent with the Council of State Governments Justice Center report and <br /> 44 recommendations, to be presented to the Board of Commissioners at its first meeting in <br /> 45 December 2015. <br /> 46 <br /> 47 This, the 1st day of September 2015. <br /> 48 <br />