Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESOURCE DEPARTMENT <br /> Justice Advisory Council Meeting <br /> Link Government Services Building—Manager's Conference Room <br /> 200 S. Cameron Street, Hillsborough <br /> 3:00 PM—4:30 PM <br /> Friday, December 14, 2018 <br /> Minutes <br /> I. Welcome and Introductions <br /> The meeting of the Justice Advisory Council convened at 3:10 pm. Caitlin Fenhagen, Director of Criminal <br /> Justice Resource Department welcomed everyone and proposed that introductions be made. After <br /> introductions, Caitlin shared that Barry Jacobs had retired and Commissioner Mark Dorosin would be <br /> chairing the meeting going forward. She pointed out that Commissioner Sally Green was among the <br /> attendees, Janet Sparks had also retired and new participants to the Council included Ericka, replacing Janet <br /> Sparks, Elinor, Domestic Violence Coalition and Keith Paterson Local Reentry Council Coordinator. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin also welcomed everyone and proceeded with the agenda. <br /> II. Updates <br /> Cait Fenhagen reported that the Pre-Arrest Diversion Piot Program was scheduled to go into effect February <br /> 1, 2019.The program will address misdemeanor offenses referred to the Criminal Justice Resource <br /> Department.The program will initially serve first offenders age 18 and above.There will be much more <br /> shared about the new initiative at the March meeting. <br /> Programs and Special Projects Manager for District Court Judge's Office, Pamela Weiden, shared information <br /> about Jail Mental Health Work Group Initiatives. Ms. Weiden participated in the quarterly meeting to <br /> address keeping individuals with mental health diagnosis out of jail. There will be a free workshop in early <br /> 2019 sponsored by DHSS. Ground work has to be laid to determine the logistics of the workshop. Cait <br /> Fenhagen has been in communication with Buncombe County in this regard. Early February 2019, Ms. <br /> Weiden and Mrs. Fenhagen will visit Buncombe County to review their efforts and discuss what was <br /> required to get a grant toward this initiative. <br /> III. Driver's License Restoration Project <br /> Jeff Nieman, Assistant District Attorney, addressed the magnitude of issues related to driving while license is <br /> revoked including the financial impact upon individuals and families especially in the area of seeking and <br /> maintaining employment. DA Neiman proposed that a vast majority of license revocations are the result of <br /> inaction, which entails a failure to appear in court and/or a failure to pay the costs associated with a traffic <br /> violation.The burden of getting individuals to court to take care of this matter was moved from law <br /> enforcement to the Department of Motor Vehicles.The lack of finances remains the main cause for this <br /> violation to go unattended. Individuals living in rural areas are greatly impacted with no alternative for <br /> transportation and many continue to drive thus creating a cycle of financial liability for them. <br /> Daniel Bowes, Attorney, NC Justice Center, discussed the efforts of the Second change Mobility Project: <br /> Resorting Driver's Licenses by Eliminating Traffic Court Debt. Mr. Bowes reported that he works in <br /> partnership with the DA's office. Mr. Bowes explored the rising cost of court related fees for those already <br /> experiencing poverty. Mr. Bowes pointed out that the fee for General Court of Justice fee in 1995 was <br /> $41.00 and now in 2018 it is $147.50, which is a 260%increase. In August of 2017 the numbers of indefinite <br /> driver's license suspensions for failure to appear and/or failure to pay: 3,524,260 suspensions (a person can <br /> 1 <br />