From Neighbors For a Safer Charlotte:This is it everyone! Tuesday night is an IMPORTANT meeting of the County Commission and we need you and your neighbors to attend. Bring signs, make t-shirts, make noise, show that your neighborhood is represented!
TUESDAY - JUNE 17th @ 6:00 pm
GOVERNMENT CENTER 600 E. 4th Street
In summary, here is where we stand: The County Commission led by Jennifer Roberts, agreed to form a task force to make recommendations in 120 days, to problems in the criminal justice system in Mecklenburg County. Yet they have not allocated any money in the budget to respond to the forthcoming recommendations.County Manager Harry Jones recommended that $3mm that is ALREADY IN THE BUDGET be put aside for the recommendations that come from that task force. But last week, the Commission fell back into the pattern of partisan bickering, and lost sight of the important priorities.
The vote to allocate the money was denied and currently THERE IS NO MONEY SET ASIDE IN THE BUDGET FOR ANY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT MAY COME OF THE CRIME TASK FORCE. So what is the point of the task force?
At the last commission meeting, one commissioner called the current public outcry against crime "The Flavor of the Month." The sentiment is that this will all blow over and we will go away.
Just a few facts to remind us why there is a problem, and why it isn't going away:
- Our County recidivism rate is 72% - that means that 72% of those arrested are or will be repeat offenders.
- Mecklenburg County DA's office is runs off of a paper system (not automated) If a criminal case goes to court, the police have to run their case data off their systems and HAND WRITE IT for the DA's office. Not all DA's and support staff have computers and whatever there are, are mostly obsolete-There is a state-wide Case Management System available to the DA's office.
Mecklenburg County is one of only two counties in the state that does not use it - Our court system cannot interface with other court systems in the state to track offender information.
-The DA's office has a 20% turnover rate in Asst. DA's and only half the number of Asst. DA's that other counties of our size have in the country.
- A typical murder case should have a six month cycle from the time of arrest. In Mecklenburg County it exceeds two years.
Is it any wonder our jails are over crowded and criminals are back on the streets? We need citizens to get involved! Join us Tuesday night - We need you there! If you really are upset about the crime problem in Charlotte, then speak up. Show you are concerned. Do not assume the work will be done for you. Without public sentiment, this issue will die. Do you really care?? Then let your County Commissioners know!
Please pass the word to your family, friends & co-workers... It is so important to attend this meeting and show the Commissioners we mean business and we are NOT going away. The more people they see in the audience- the better! Please attend! -OC