HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93009_1480Chairman Haire adjourned the public hearing.
MOTION by Commissioner Boone to approve the proposed amendment
to the zoning ordinance as presented.
VOTING: Ayes - 4; Nays - 1 (Stewart).
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
APPROPRIATE PUNISHMENT OPTIONS (APO) (REQUEST FOR CONTINUATION
OF IREDBLL ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM (IAP) FUNDING)I This matter was
tabled from the March 18 meeting. Ed Dearman, a member of the
Iredell County Jail Population Task Force/Criminal Justice
Partnership Program Advisory Committee, and a state probation
officer stated he would like to address two subjects.
Dearman referred to an Associated Press article that ran in
local papers involving Mr. Robert G. Bock, the Program Director for
the Iredell Alternatives Program Day Reporting Center. (The
articles stated that Mr. Bock was a convicted murderer and had been
in prison for nearly 20 years.) After the articles were published,
the APO Board met and discussed the allegations with Mr. Bock.
Later, Bock submitted a resignation letter effective June 30, 1997.
The CJPP Board met with the staff and board members of APO. It was
the consensus of the two groups to pursue refunding for the
upcoming year. The Criminal Justice Partnership Board requested
refunding for FY 1997-98 with the understanding that all personnel
positions, or any part of the IAP, would be approved by the CJPP
Board. Dearman mentioned that presently there were 32 high-risk
clients from probation/parole attending the program. He mentioned
that with the problems involving Tri -County Mental Health he and
his colleagues were at an impasse as far as intensive out-patient
treatment for clients. Further, he said there were about 1,800
people either on supervised probation or parole. The ZAP only
works with about one percent of the clients.
Commissioner Fortner asked how the CJPP Board measured the
effectiveness of the IAP. Dearman said there were very few numbers
by the first provider. (There have been growth problems.) The
current program just began in October 1996. Dearman said that not
enough time had passed to fully evaluate Iredell's program;
however, across the state there have been good results. Mr.
Dearman said that referrals to the ZAP were made by the probation
officers, the courts, or the "appropriate court facilities." If
the defendent does not respond and fully participate in the
program, the power of arrest for the person lies with the probation
officer -- not the IAP. People with minor traffic offenses are not
appropriate for the program. Multiple offenders with cocaine usage
or chronic abusers of alcohol and drugs would be the target
population.
Commissioner Johnson asked Dearman about the credibility
level of APO, especially with the judges, district attorneys, and
the probation officers. He also asked if within a reasonable
period of time, credibility could be rebuilt. Dearman answered
that the credibility might already be in place with the resignation
of Bock. Mr. Dearman said he treasured the relationship he had
with the court officials (over 23 years), and he didn't want it
jeopardized. "The program", Dearman said, "will have to prove
itself." He mentioned that changes could be done to the program as
it progressed (similar to what was done with the first provider).
Commissioner Johnson said if the CJPP Board and the
commissioners had been dealt with honestly and up -front from the
onset that none of this would have occurred. "I would like to
express my displeasure with the way this was handled." "If I am
ever subjected to this again, I will not vote to fund this thing.'-
Johnson
hing."Johnson went on to say that commissioners were stewards of local,
state, and federal money. Mr. Johnson said that in his role of
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