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Consider Amending the Criminal Justice Debt Program and Enacting a Budget Ordinance Amendment.
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Staff:
Department:
Megan Johnson, Crisis Unit Supervisor
Chapel Hill Police Department
Chris Blue, Police Chief
Overview: In January 2020, Town Council passed a resolution adopting the Town of Chapel Hill Criminal Justice Debt Program as a pilot program to allocate funds for justice-related debt relief to indigent members of our community. An Ad hoc Advisory Committee was formed with key stakeholders in the community and feedback was requested by Council.
Recommendation(s):
That the Council consider a resolution to modify the Criminal justice Debt Program Plan and enact a budget ordinance amendment to adjust the General Fund budget to recognize and allocate funds from the Town of Carrboro.
Decision Points:
* Whether to add Carrboro to the MOU and enact a budget ordinance amendment.
* Whether to remove having a violent felony as an exclusionary criterion.
Key Issues:
* Carrboro would like to join the program and contribute $7,500 to serve their residents. They have designated a staff liaison from Carrboro who will assist in processing applications from Carrboro residents.
* The program plan currently states, "Individuals convicted of violent felonies will not be eligible for the fund" which has led at least one applicant to not meet minimum program criteria.
Fiscal Impact/Resources: The one-year pilot initially received $20,000 in funding and has currently used $3,741 towards Chapel Hill residents. Carrboro will contribute $7,500 to the program to be managed by the Town of Chapel Hill. Enactment of the attached budget ordinance amendment for the General Fund would recognize and appropriate the $7,500 for the Criminal Justice Debt Program.
Attachments:
* Budget Ordinance
* Resolution
* Revised Program with Advisory Committee Recommendation(s)
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND "THE ORDINANCE CONCERNING APPROPRIATIONS AND THE RAISING OF REVENUE...
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