HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES-2005-044 Opposition to Proposed Budget Reductions to Criminal Justice ProgramsOrange County Board of Commissioners
Orange County, North Carolina
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RESOLUTION
OPPOSITION TO PROPOSED BUDGET REDUCTIONS TO
CRIlVIINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS
WHEREAS, the joint House-Senate Justice and Public Safety Committee has released a
list of Budget Reduction Options that include the elimination of Sentencing Services,
Pre-Trial Release Services, Drug Treatment Court, Family Court, District Court
Arbitration, and reductions to the Juvenile Crime Prevention Councils and Dispute
Settlement Centers; and
WHEREAS, the proposed cuts will have a tremendous adverse, negative impact upon
the administration of criminal and civil justice in Orange County; and
WHEREAS, the Criminal and Civil Courts must have adequate resources to address the
many criminal, substance abuse, mental health, domestic, employment, and educational
and other problems confronted by the residents of Orange County; and
WHEREAS, these programs help the Courts by addressing multiple underlying problems
rather than merely resolving the legal matter brought before the court; and
WHEREAS, these cuts will have particular negative impact upon the poor, the
disadvantaged, and the addicted, and further decrease their ability to become productive
taxpaying residents;
NOW, THEREFORE, we, the members of the Orange County Board of
Commissioners, do hereby resolve that:
1) All members of the Orange County delegation in the General Assembly be
advised that the Orange County Commissioners oppose the elimination of
Sentencing Services, Pre-Trial Release Services, Drug Treatment Court, Family
Court, District Court Arbitration, and the District Attorney investigator position;
and
2) The Orange County delegation be requested to lobby all members of the General
Assembly to oppose all of these cuts, and further to inform the General Assembly
that these programs save Orange County and the State of North Carolina money
that would otherwise be spent for additional prison and jail facilities.
This the 17th day of
Barry Jaco is Chai
Alice Gordon ~
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Stephen Halkiotis
Valerie Foushee