Title
Resolution Creating the Greensboro Criminal Justice Advisory Commission
Body
Department: Legal
Meeting Date:
Public Hearing: No
Advertising Date/By: N/A
Contact 1 and Phone: Tom Carruthers, City Attorney, 373-2320
Contact 2 and Phone: Rosetta Davidson, Assistant City Attorney, 373-2320
PURPOSE:
To create the Greensboro Criminal Justice Advisory Commission, while making the Police Community Review Board a sub-committee of the Commission, independent of the Human Relations Commission.
BACKGROUND:
The Greensboro Criminal Justice Advisory Commission (GCJAC) was initially proposed following an in-depth review of the previous Police Community Review Board (PCRB). This review also focused on the citizen complaint process for alleged police misconduct of sworn law enforcement officer with the Greensboro Police Department.
The purpose of GCJAC is to Monitor (identify and address issues across justice continuum), Review (follow, evaluate, and assess cases), Analyze (conduct studies as well as identify patterns and systemic issues), Educate (advocate across community, regional and national environment / engage with institutions and agencies / identify alternative approaches to criminalization and develop navigation process) Advise (work throughout justice system, including GPD, and the courts), and Report or Communicate (regularly report and interact with the public).
On June 26, 2018, the North Carolina Legislature passed Session Law 2018-105 (House Bill 1080) which modifies the Local Act applicable to the City of Greensboro’s citizen complaint review process with regard to sworn law enforcement officers of the Greensboro Police Department. Pursuant to this modification, in order to facilitate citizen review of the police disciplinary process, the city manager or the chief of police, or their designees, may release the disposition of disciplinary charges against a police officer and the facts relied upon in determining that disposition to the GCJAC and its sub-committee, the PCRB, designated by the city council to provide citizen review of the police disciplinary process.
The GCJAC will receive the support of City staff. Support staff will be housed in the Legislative/Executive Departments and will report directly to the City Manager’s office.
The GCJAC will consist of nine members, representative of City demographics, with leadership and criminal justice experience. Three of those members will make up the Commission’s Executive Committee. The Executive Committee will nominate the remaining six members, to be appointed by the mayor (with City Council approval). Each member will serve three-year, non-concurrent terms, and will be required to execute and abide by a confidentiality agreement.
The PCRB will consist of seven members. Four of those members will be appointed by the GCJAC Chair (from the current GCJAC membership), and the remaining three members will be appointed by the mayor (with City Council approval). Each member will serve three-year, non-concurrent terms.
City Council shall retain authority to appoint any member, or remove any member of the GCJAC or PCRB pursuant to Sec. 2-140 of the City’s Code of Ordinances.
BUDGET IMPACT:
None.
RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED:
It is recommended that City Council create the GCJAC and its sub-committee, the PCRB pursuant to Session Law 2018-105 (House Bill 1080).