HomeMy WebLinkAboutJAC minutes 120619 CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESOURCE DEPARTMENT
Justice Advisory Council
Friday, December 6, 2019
Orange County Animal Services Meeting Room
1601 Eubanks Road
Chapel Hill, NC
Minutes
The quarterly meeting of the Justice Advisory Council was held on Friday, December 6, 2019, at the Orange County
Animal Services Facility, 1601 Eubanks Road in Chapel Hill, NC.The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Sally
Greene at 3:04 pm. Present at the meeting were Barbara Ann Bybel, Nancy Coston, Commissioner Mark Dorsin, Caitlin
Fenhagen, Bishop Victor Glover, Mark Kleinschmidt,Travis Myren,Janice Hodge [designee for Tony Oakley], Keith
Patterson, Corey Root, Susan Seahorn, and Quintana Stewart. Guests:Tony Marimpietri, Emma Ferriola-Bruckenstein,
Maren Hardin,James E. Williams,Jr. and Bob Marotto.
I. Welcome and Introductions
Chairperson Commissioner Sally Green welcomed everyone to the meeting and asked that everyone
introduce themselves.
II. Welcome to Animal Services:The Intersection Between Animal Welfare and the Criminal Justice System
Bob Marotto, Animal Services Director welcomed everyone to the facility. Bob shared some historical facts
regarding the state-of-the-art facility and its current use to the community. Bob provided awareness
regarding when chronic and high end violations creates the need for the criminal justice system and animal
services to interact. Bob addressed hording, restoration for the county, and dog fighting as cases that may
require interaction with the criminal justice systems if punishment is sought.
III. Orange County Criminal Justice Forum
James E. Williams,Jr., Co-Chair of District 18 Bar Racial Justice Task Force addressed significance of the 153
anniversary of the ratification of the 13t"Amendment. He also addressed the upcoming community forum to
examine Criminal Justice Reform in Orange County.The event is sponsored by the District 18 Bar Racial
Justice Task Force. Sessions are to include panels on The Role of Stakeholders in Criminal Justice Reform and
The Intersection of Poverty and the Criminal Justice System.The keynote speaker will be founder and
president of Gideon's Promise,Jonathan Rapping. Additional speakers will include District Attorney James
Woodall, Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Carl Fox, Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood, Chapel
Hill Police Chief Chris Blue and Jasmine McGhee of the NC attorney General's office.
IV. Creation and Efforts of the Orange County Behavioral Health Task Force
Barbara-Ann Bybel, Director, UNC Healthcare Psychiatric Services, addressed the efforts of the newly formed
Orange County Behavioral Health Task Force. Barbara-Ann reported that the focus of the task force is on
healthy behaviors and addressing the large gaps in substance abuse and mental health concerns.The task
force is concentrate of five county wide needs that came out of the Sequential Intercept Model meetings
held earlier in the year.
V. Pre-Arrest Diversion Conference and Strategic Planning for Expansion
Megan Johnson, Supervisor, Chapel Hill Police Department Crisis Unit, Lt.Johnnie Britt, Chapel Hill Police
Department, Maren Hardin, Assistant District attorney, Fran Muse, Director, UNC Student Legal Services and
Cait Fenhangen, CJRD Director reported on information gathered from the Police Treatment and Community
Collaborative conference held in October.The conference dealt with the collaborative efforts of law
enforcement, behavioral health, advocacy, research, community and public policy to address pre-arrest
diversion initiatives to broaden the scope of law enforcement to enable individuals with drug and mental
health challenges to be connected with community-based behavioral health interventions and social
services, when appropriate and divert them from the criminal justice system.The discussion included
expanding the current model, increasing harm reduction model, early intervention to include alcohol
education and therapeutic interventions. The next step is to solicit the support of Assistant District
Attorney,Jim Woodall.
The next proposed meeting dates for 2020: March 13,June 5, September 18, and December 11.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned by Chairperson, Commissioner Sally Greene at
4:35 pm.