News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
UCHRA wants changes made to Governor Bill Lee’s Judicial Task Force Reform package.
The agency’s Policy Council on Wednesday approved a resolution asking to rewrite portions of the legislation. Executive Director Mark Farley said if the package is passed as is, the agency’s Community Corrections Program would be dissolved.
“We’re very concerned about that,” Farley said. “Obviously, we hate to lose that as a program. We think it is very beneficial. We serve a target population there and are able to keep them out of incarceration. We think that is a very valuable service to our citizens.”
The program provides alternatives to incarceration for non-violent felonies with the goal of decreasing reoccurring offenses. Farley said the reform package would instead enact reporting centers for those with criminal offenses.
“Resolution 21-2-1,” Farley said. “Basically, what they are rewriting is to do a day reporting center. Of course, people would have to come in to report. Obviously, in an urban area makes sense. It doesn’t work in a rural area.”
Jackson County Mayor Randy Heady agreed with Farley and said it might not work in a rural area. Farley said local judges and district attorneys also support the resolution.
“They are adamantly apposed to this, as well,” Farley said. “This takes a tool away from them. They are not able to send those people to community corrections. They feel like their hands will be tied, and they will have to incarcerate people that really need one more step, opportunity to avoid incarceration.”
A roll call vote resulted in none opposed to the motion. The resolution will now go to the General Assembly for consideration. The Community Corrections Program was created in 1985.
