Mayor Pat McCrory sent the following e-mail to those of us who participated in the Caravan to Raleigh in February. He shared some important updates about our efforts:
Dear Caravan to Raleigh Participants:
I wanted to give you an update on how our efforts in February during the Caravan to Raleigh for Public Safety is still building support in Raleigh.
Last week, at the invitation of NC Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight, he invited Police Chief Darrel Stephens, Sheriff Jim Pendergraph, District Attorney Peter Gilchrist; and me (I called it the “carpool” to Raleigh) to meet with him as a follow-up to the Caravan to Raleigh. It was a great opportunity for the four of us to continue to represent your concerns and that of all citizens of Charlotte-Mecklenburg to the Senate leadership. Also in the meeting were Senators from Mecklenburg County, the Administrative Office of the Courts officials, NC Senate Criminal Justice Appropriators; and various staff .
After sharing our latest statistics of overcrowded jails, crime rates, arrest records, and examples of serious repeat offenders, Senator Basnight suggested that the Senate explore increasing the court costs that the State mostly keeps and uses for the general fund and direct it to the criminal justice system. I like his approach to raise new revenue from law violators. It was suggested the increase could amount to an additional $25 million per year.
Our challenge is to make sure the money goes where it is most needed. Additionally, Senator Basnight was unaware that assaulting a police officer is not always prosecuted as a felony. He is open to changing this law to ensure it will be prosecuted as a felony.
Finally, Judge Ralph Walker, Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts, volunteered to redirect resources and provide overtime staff support to help us address our case backlog for the next six months. This is a very welcomed suggestion from the man in charge of allocating discretionary resources.
In summary, your efforts to participate in the Caravan to Raleigh for Public Safety have created a new awareness of the need for more state assistance for the Criminal Justice System. Thank you again for being engaged in this issue -- and we can't let up. Please keep sending those calls and emails to state legislators and the media. Your efforts are working!
Sincerely,
Pat McCrory
Mayor
