Minutes-05-23-2023-Budget Work Session

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Cait Fenhagen said the General Assembly changed the rules and increased the number of individuals eligible for an expunction and now any dismissal is eligible for an expunction regardless of how much of a prior record someone may have. Commissioner Richards asked if they have to meet the financial eligibility criteria. Cait Fenhagen said yes. Commissioner Richards asked what the metric is showing. Cait Fenhagen said that is how many people got their license back or their expunction granted. She said that some are not eligible for getting the license back due to previous driving records and the attorney screens everyone, gets their driving and criminal record, and if they get their license back or expunction, which counts as successful relief. Commissioner Richards asked if the bar shows a goal. Cait Fenhagen said it is what is anticipated. She said that as they get more referrals, the thought is that fewer people will be eligible. Commissioner Richards said some places are doing expunction fairs and asked about the county's outreach. Cait Fenhagen said that the District Attorney does not believe in providing mass relief. She said they are working with him on that, but he feels it's better for people to have individualized attention. She said the problem is that it is only working with those that were in the courthouse. She said they are going to IFC, Freedom House, and UNC. She said that there is not mass relief, but the numbers are increasing due to the outreach. Commissioner Richards referred to the equity assessment and asked if there is plan to get the rates closer together. Cait Fenhagen said they have been pleased by the results because in previous years there was a much larger disparity. She said that now there are three clinicians that can go to detention center, through grants, and that limited the population. She said that they created the Lantern Project to connect those that were in jail. She said that previously, it was mostly first-time offenders, who were a majority UNC students. Commissioner Richards expressed support for the Orange County BUILD program. She asked to see statistics on youth involved in more serious offenses. She said that she sees it as a stopgap, and she is hoping that the ABC Board comes through. She is also grateful to see it come through as a staff amendment and will vote for that. Commissioner Fowler said she served on JCPC, and the programs are underutilized. She asked if the ABC budget includes a 5% increase and if they received the full 15% if that would cover OC Build. Cait Fenhagen said OC Build is $109,000 and that the Chapel Hill police department has identified $20,000. She said the Chief has said they would dedicate that to the county if they can get the other funding. Travis Myren said it would be over and above what they are receiving. Commissioner Fowler asked if they get the $805,000, would it cover OC Build. Cait Fenhagen said yes, and that 10% is for OC Build and the 5% is increases in cost of living and salaries. Commissioner Fowler said she was at the ABC Board meeting this morning and it looks hopeful, but they do not vote until next month. Commissioner Richards asked how OC Build is different from other programs. Cait Fenhagen said there are disparities about who is coming in, being detained, being referred to adult for more serious offenses and there is a greater occurrence in primarily young men of color. She said there is a real issue. She said that JCPC, while wonderful, has only served the same types of programs over the past 10 years. She said these are based on mental health and substance abuse programs and restorative justice in juvenile court. She said there are no grants funded by JCPC that assist high-risk youth with serious offenses. She said that the programs serve younger kids and OC Build is aimed at the older youth with more serious charges.