HomeMy WebLinkAboutJAC minutes 121418 CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESOURCE DEPARTMENT
Justice Advisory Council Meeting
Link Government Services Building—Manager's Conference Room
200 S. Cameron Street, Hillsborough
3:00 PM—4:30 PM
Friday, December 14, 2018
Minutes
I. Welcome and Introductions
The meeting of the Justice Advisory Council convened at 3:10 pm. Caitlin Fenhagen, Director of Criminal
Justice Resource Department welcomed everyone and proposed that introductions be made. After
introductions, Caitlin shared that Barry Jacobs had retired and Commissioner Mark Dorosin would be
chairing the meeting going forward. She pointed out that Commissioner Sally Green was among the
attendees, Janet Sparks had also retired and new participants to the Council included Ericka, replacing Janet
Sparks, Elinor, Domestic Violence Coalition and Keith Paterson Local Reentry Council Coordinator.
Commissioner Dorosin also welcomed everyone and proceeded with the agenda.
II. Updates
Cait Fenhagen reported that the Pre-Arrest Diversion Piot Program was scheduled to go into effect February
1, 2019.The program will address misdemeanor offenses referred to the Criminal Justice Resource
Department.The program will initially serve first offenders age 18 and above.There will be much more
shared about the new initiative at the March meeting.
Programs and Special Projects Manager for District Court Judge's Office, Pamela Weiden, shared information
about Jail Mental Health Work Group Initiatives. Ms. Weiden participated in the quarterly meeting to
address keeping individuals with mental health diagnosis out of jail. There will be a free workshop in early
2019 sponsored by DHSS. Ground work has to be laid to determine the logistics of the workshop. Cait
Fenhagen has been in communication with Buncombe County in this regard. Early February 2019, Ms.
Weiden and Mrs. Fenhagen will visit Buncombe County to review their efforts and discuss what was
required to get a grant toward this initiative.
III. Driver's License Restoration Project
Jeff Nieman, Assistant District Attorney, addressed the magnitude of issues related to driving while license is
revoked including the financial impact upon individuals and families especially in the area of seeking and
maintaining employment. DA Neiman proposed that a vast majority of license revocations are the result of
inaction, which entails a failure to appear in court and/or a failure to pay the costs associated with a traffic
violation.The burden of getting individuals to court to take care of this matter was moved from law
enforcement to the Department of Motor Vehicles.The lack of finances remains the main cause for this
violation to go unattended. Individuals living in rural areas are greatly impacted with no alternative for
transportation and many continue to drive thus creating a cycle of financial liability for them.
Daniel Bowes, Attorney, NC Justice Center, discussed the efforts of the Second change Mobility Project:
Resorting Driver's Licenses by Eliminating Traffic Court Debt. Mr. Bowes reported that he works in
partnership with the DA's office. Mr. Bowes explored the rising cost of court related fees for those already
experiencing poverty. Mr. Bowes pointed out that the fee for General Court of Justice fee in 1995 was
$41.00 and now in 2018 it is $147.50, which is a 260%increase. In August of 2017 the numbers of indefinite
driver's license suspensions for failure to appear and/or failure to pay: 3,524,260 suspensions (a person can
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have multiple suspensions—1 for each ticket with an FTA or FTP); 1,179,680 people with at least 1
suspension; 59,287 people resolved all suspensions and had their license reinstated in previous 12 months.
The impact on people and families ranged from a loss of employment to the inability to make doctor
appointment to walking to work and/or paying Uber as an alternative. Mr. Bowes also examined the racial
disparities/racial profiling related to this issue by county. DA Nieman concluded that Durham eliminate
tickets of this nature using the wholesale method. While he contends that Orange County address the issue
with a matter of safety and look at each case giving some financial relief by looking at the history and what is
pending rather than the clearing house method. Driving while poor is a serious problem in this county.
IV. Restorative Justice in the Courthouse
Val Hanson, Dispute Settlement Center, spoke on the purpose of Restorative Justice and the positive effect
Restorative Justice has on repairing individuals and communities. Ms. Hanson defined and explained the two
types of Restorative Justice currently underway in Durham, Community Circles and Conference Circles.
Community Circles provides a space to explore and hone the values that guide the process. Individuals are
able to share their personal stories of how they have been hurt or have hurt others. Restorative Justice
Conference Circles is a structured dialogue among the stakeholders in an incident of harm or wrongdoing.
Marcia Owen, Religious Coalition for A Nonviolent Durham, disclosed the events and outcome of a case in
Durham employing Restorative Justice. Ms. Owen described the issues of the case as well as how both
parties were affected by the events surrounded the case.Through the collaborative efforts of both parties
including legal representatives for each and employing the values grounded in Restorative Justice the
positive outcome was far greater than what could have been imagined.
In keeping with the time, Commissioner Dorosin adjourned the meeting at 4:40 pm. The next meeting will
be Friday, March 8, 2019.
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