Criminal Justice Advisory Group Meeting
February 11, 2015
MINUTES
HANDOUTS
- Meeting Agenda
- Project Status Report
- HSNC Flow Chart
- Items for Development/Consideration
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 8:35 am
MEMBERS PRESENT
- Chris Peek, Carol Hickey, Rob Hunter, Andrew Murray, Felicia McAdoo, Reagan Miller, Tracy Lee, Bob Bell, Katy
Fitzgerald, Michael Griswold, Scott Newell, Hope Marshall, Rob Merchant, Darius Deese, Erika Emerson, Reggie
Grier, Ann Wall, Fonda Clifton, Cleveland Spruill, Elisa Chinn-Gary, David Dofrensne, Rhonda Walton, Bart
Menser, Elizabeth Trosch, Connie Mele, Mark Becker, Barry Landrum, Katrina Watson, Elizabeth Swann, Steve
Willis
Welcome
Chris Peek welcomed everyone and thanked them for making the commitment to attend.
Project Status Report
Chris Peek introduced Scott Newell, the project lead on the Arrest Processing Application that went live July 2014.
There has been some delay with CMPD training but training will start the week of February 16, 2015. Twenty officers
were trained in December 2014 and will be responsible for training the remaining individuals.
Home, Street, Neighborhood and Community Campaign
District Attorney Andrew Murray opened with a reminder to the group of the development of the CJAG Executive
Committee. The Executive Committee was tasked with developing a strategy for CJAG for the next one to two years
with three to five focus areas. The Home, Street, Neighborhood and Community Campaign was presented for the full
CJAG’s review.
Home Campaign
o Presented by: Chief Robert Hunter, Mathews Police Department
Domestic violence will be the primary focus in the Home Campaign. Chief Hunter said that High Point, North Carolina
has a promising approach to domestic violence. Chief Marty Sumner of High Point will be invited to present at a later
CJAG meeting. Judge Regan Miller introduced Judge Elizabeth Trosch, who is the lead DV judge in District Court, and
Katrina Watson, who is the Chief Magistrate.
Street Campaign
o Presented by: Andrew Murray, District Attorney
The primary focus will be frequent users of the criminal justice system who have mental illness and/or are homeless.
As stated on the campaign handout, the strategy would be to develop alternative responses for persons with mental
health and/or homeless issues. Mr. Murray asked if the language could be changed from “alternative response” to
“effective response.”
Presented are four points of the intercept model:
1) Pre-Booking- Emphasis will be on diverting homeless and veterans from the criminal justice system
when possible.
2) Pretrial- If homeless and veterans get arrested, the care coordinators will be assigned to early
screening and triage to determine their needs.
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Criminal Justice Advisory Group Meeting
February 11, 2015
MINUTES
3)
Adjudication- Cases involving homeless and veterans that move forward, this part of this stage will
be referred to a specialty court.
4) Post Adjudication- The last point will target individuals who are not identified early, ineligible for
diversion or the specialty courts. The objective throughout the phase will be to target individuals
who are highly vulnerable, and engage them in services to prevent recidivism.
Connie Mele noted that there is a similar intercept model already in place. Also staff in the Provided Services
Organization have trained approximately 700 officers in Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training.
Neighborhood Campaign
o Presented by: Judge Regan Miller
In response to the high volume of citizen initiated complaints, CJAG will be reviewing the entire citizen’s complaint
process. Private Warrant Court is a separate court that is intended to help diffuse disputes between individuals. The
Center for Court Innovation has conducted a site visit to meet with stakeholders to review the citizen-initiated
complaint process and the private warrant court.
Magistrate Katrina Watson has requested that the general word use in the criminal justice community be changed
from “seeking a warrant” to “seeking charges.” Citizens sometimes feel as though they are entitled to a warrant.
Community Campaign
o Presented by: Chief Deputy Felicia McAdoo
The Community Campaign will focus on reintegrating individuals into the community after incarceration. CJS and the
Department of Public Safety are piloting a re-entry program for individuals leaving the prisons. The Work Release and
Restitution Center (WRRC) is the means to house inmates and the Sheriff’s Office would like to partner with the
Division of Adult Corrections to bring people back to WRRC and reintegrate them back into the community.
Judge Miller has suggested that a representative from the Sheriff’s Office should make an annual presentation
regarding their program as judges come and go.
The primary function of CJAG is to bring together CJS stakeholders to share information and work together on issues
that arise. The campaign does not cover all potential tasks for CJAG and issues that may arise this coming year.
For example, CJAG may also want to form a standing group to address technology. Tom Eberly will reach out to CJAG
members to ask for suggestions for community members for the HSNC campaign committees.
Comments from Elisa Chinn-Gary, Clerk of Court
Clerk of Court Elisa Chinn-Gary said she is looking forward to working on ssues of technology and innovation. She
reminded the group about the upcoming Kerrick trial and spoke briefly about the work of Race Matters for Juvenile
Justice. All partners are invited to attend a Race Matters workshop.
Meeting Adjourned at: 9:50 am
Next CJAG Meeting
April 6, 2015 @ 8:30am
Government Center
2nd Floor/ Room 280
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