HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 05-17-2005-6dORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: May 17, 200.5
Action Age a~
Item No.
SUBJECT: Resolution -Opposition to Proposed Budget Reductions to Criminal Justice
Programs
DEPARTMENT: County Manager
PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
Resolution
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sharron Hinton, ext 2300
Gwen Harvey, ext 2300
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
PURPOSE: To approve a resolution in opposition to the proposed NC Senate budget
reductions far Criminal Justice Programs.
BACKGROUND: The budget recently passed by the North Carolina Senate includes significant
reductions for criminal justice programs that will greatly affect Orange County residents. The
Senate recommends reduced funding far drug treatment courts, family courts and juvenile crime
prevention councils. No increase in funding is provided far the Orange-Chatham Criminal
Justice Partnership Program and this funding source cannot be used to support pre-trial release
programs. Additionally, the proposed budget eliminates sentencing services programs and cuts
funding to dispute settlement centers.
By decreasing or eliminating funding to these programs, Orange County would suffer negatively
in its efforts towards ensuring community safety and reaching its overall goal of reduced
recidivism.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Approval of this resolution has no financial impact.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the resolution,
with all BOCC members signing the resolution, and instn~ct the Clerk to forward copies to
Orange County's legislative delegation.
2
Orange County Board of Commissioners
Orange County, North Carolina
RESOLUTION
OPPOSITION TO PROPOSED BUDGET REDUCTIONS TO
CRIMINAL 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 residentss 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 ?.rbitration, and the District Attorney investigator position;
and
2) The Orange County delegation be directed 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 May, 2005.
Moses Carey, Jr., Chair
Valerie Foushee
Barry.lacobs, Vice Chair
Alice Gordon
Stephen Halkiotis