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North Carolina's
Legislative Criminal Justice Policy Brief
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Community Program on NC's Chopping Block
The Impact of the Governor's Budget on Community-Based Corrections Programs
The Governor's budget which was sent over to the legislature in early March eliminated a particularly important community-based corrections program - Sentencing Services. The Senate Budget is likely to come out early next week and cuts could be even deeper when the Senate budget is released and sent over to the NC House.
Why Sentencing Services Should not be Eliminated
Sentencing Services has been providing alternatives to prison at sentencing since 1983. At a time when many states are re-evaluating the fact that approximately 90% of correctional dollars go towards prisons alone, North Carolina is considering reducing programs that are smart on crime and currently providing effective community-based options.
We need to expand - not eliminate - our alternative sentencing resources. Eliminating this program is a move in the wrong direction, particularly since the state faces a 2,000 bed gap in available prison space in the next two years alone. Let your legislator know that Sentencing Services needs to remain in the budget along with other community-based programs.
Other Community-Based Corrections Programs
Fortunately, the Criminal Justice Partnership Program, Drug Treatment Court, Women at Risk, and Summit House remain in the budget while taking on 7% cuts. Cuts to criminal justice-related programs listed under the Department of Health & Human Services appear to be left up to the Secretary of Health & Human Services. |
Criminal Justice Stimulus Dollars Available for Local Government Units
The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program is providing federal criminal justice funding to local government units with funds from the federal Stimulus Package. The JAG funds can support all components of the criminal justice system including:
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Law Enforcement Programs
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Prosecution & Court Programs
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Prevention & Education Programs
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Corrections & Community Corrections Programs
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Drug Treatment & Enforcement Programs
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Planning, Evaluation, & Technology Improvement
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Crime Victim & Witness Programs
The Byrne application deadline for local government units is May 18, 2009. Although, first time applicants are encouraged to get applications in much earlier. All applicants must register with the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) prior to submitting an application. Encourage your local units of government to apply. Communicate with your local governments to learn their plans for funding and encourage them to apply if they have not made plans to do so already.
Byrne JAG Grants in North Carolina
In North Carolina, it appears that the Byrne JAG grants are flowing through the Governor's Crime Commission and that funding has already been allocated in the Governor's proposed budget. To be sure of the allocation of such funds, please stay in touch with the Governor's Crime Commission. Additional dollars coming through the Governor's Crime Commission are likely to be aimed at local police in small towns and cities.
More Funding
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Second Chance Act - Prisoner Reentry Initiative Dollars
The Second Chance Act Prisoner Reentry Initiative strengthens jurisdictions characterized by large numbers of returning offenders. Within the context of this initiative, "reentry" is not envisioned to be a specific program but rather an evidence-based process which begins with initial incarceration and ends with successful community reintegration, evidenced by lack of recidivism. State and local government units and federally recognized Indian tribes may apply for Second Chance Act - Prisoner Reentry Dollars.
The Second Chance application deadline is April 20, 2009 and first time applicants are encouraged to apply early. Strategic reentry plans must be in place and support from local and community officials must be in place. Work with your state and local governements to submit good applications.
Potential applicants are reminded that the granting process is highly competitive and the application is lengthy. Remain in frequent contact with your local units of government about the process and prepare early. |
NC's Second Chance Re-entry Study
What are the Barriers for People coming home after Prison?
Community Success Initiative, a Durham, NC based re-entry nonprofit group, is leading a collective effort to build support for re-entry programs in North Carolina. Dennis Gaddy, executive director of CSI, has solicited bi-partisan support in the introduction of NC House Bill 527 and the identical NC Senate Bill 496. If passed this session, a joint legislative study commission will be created to examine barriers to re-entry for people exiting North Carolina prisons. Laurinburg House member Garland Pierce and eastern NC Senator Ed Jones are sponsoring this legislation. |
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Racial Bias in the Death Penalty debated
Before a packed multiracial house of NC NAACP members, the Historic Thousands on Jones Street Social Justice Movement members, NC Moratorium Coalition members and partner groups, the NC House Ways and Means Committee debated the NC Racial Justice Act last week.
If passed, the bill will give defendants an additional method of proving racial bias in the death penalty system through the use of statistics. House Bill 472 has been placed in a Ways and Means subcommittee while members work to ensure accuracy in the bill's application methods. Bill Sponsors Larry Womble and Earline Parmon encourage the public to contact their legislators to express support for the NC Racial Justice Act.
On the Senate side, the NC Racial Justice Act is currently in the Judiciary I committee chaired by friendly supporter, Martin Nesbitt of Asheville. |
New Ideas to Reform America's Criminal Justice System
With less money in government budgets and prison population records at an all-time high throughout the United States, Congressmen are introducing more and more federal legislation to address problems that harsher sentences and more prison construction have failed to solve.
National Blue Ribbon Bi-Partisan Commission on Criminal Justice Reform - US Senate Bill 714As a step to address misconceptions that lawmakers and the American public have about the realities of America's criminal justice system, Virginia Democratic Senator Jim Webb has introduced legislation to create a bipartisan blue ribbon commission on criminal justice reform - the National Criminal Justice Commision Act of 2009. Senator Webb is joined by the principal Republican co-sponsor of the bill, Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter.
Senator Webb and many others are concerned about prisons overflowing with nonviolent offenders and the mentally ill, while those who present a significant threat to public safety remain free. More support is needed pass this legislation that has been called 'the most ambitious attempt to re-examine and reform the criminal justice system since the 1960s' according to Marc Mauer of the national Sentencing Project.
Former prosecutor Patrick Leahy, the US Senator from Vermont, introduced US Senate Bill 678, the Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act, last week. If passed, JJDPA will allocate over $1.7 billion dollars over the next five years to programs designed to protect children, reduce juvenile crime, and increase mental health and drug treatment in juvenile justice settings. According to Leahy's Senatorial office staff, the public is encouraged to get their Congressional officials to sign on to the bill. |
Building Knowledge & Finding Help
COMING FALL 2009!
North Carolina's Criminal Justice Resource Directory for Practitioners, Offenders' and Their Families | |
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Upcoming Conferences & Events
NC Council of Churches
March 31, 2009
White Memorial Presbyterian Church
Raleigh, NC
feat. Community Corrections & Death Penalty Overviews
Defendant-Offender Workforce Development Conference
April 5-8, 2009
Pittsburgh, PA
Raleigh, NC
Atlanta, Georgia
State & National Research Findings
Reallocate Prison Expenses to Stronger Community Programs & Community Supervision
CJPC Staff & Volunteers
Executive Director
Senior Director of
Policy & Special Projects
Michael Ballard
Intern
NC Central Dept of Political Science
Faith Everett
Policy Intern
NC Central School of Law
Nathaniel Boston
Volunteer Office Aide
Patricia McDonald
Volunteer Office Aide
CJPC
Board of Directors
Dr. George P. Wilson, Sr.
Chair
NC Central University Professor of Criminal Justice
Linda Weisel
Postconviction Attorney
Kate Dixon
Secretary/Treasurer
Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail - Executive Director
Dr. Peter H. Burian
Duke University
Classical Studies Professor
Dr. Jeffrey Elliot
NC Central University Political Science Dept Chair
Dr. Jarvis Hall
NC Central University
Civic Engagement Director
Edd Gulati-Partee
Self-Help Community Credit Union
Information Technology
Sheria Reid
Institute of Government
Policy Analyst
CJPC is a partner organization
of the following:
Blueprints NC
HK on J Progressive Coalition for Social Change
"A Movement Not a Moment"
North Carolina Center for Nonprofits
North Carolina
Coalition for a Moratorium on Executions |
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Contact Us!
Mailing Address:
Post Office Box 309
Durham, NC 27702-0309
(919) 682-1149
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