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I+F q 1 rj9\l <br />Res-2015-038 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 4c <br />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. 5a <br />e <br />Earl McKee, Chair <br />Orange County Board of Commissioners