Secretary Makes the Case to Keep JCPC Funding

“Funding for the Juvenile Crime Prevention Councils (JCPCs) should be reinstated and returned to recurring status.” That was the message Secretary George Sweat presented to a receptive Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Justice and Public Safety.  Sweat’s appearance before the subcommittee marks the beginning of the second phase of the continuation review process which the JCPC funding was placed under through legislative action last year. 

The first phase of that process was completed on February 1st of this year with the submission of the Continuation Review report.  The Continuation Review report offered answers to seven questions posed to the Department about the JCPC programs.  The entire report can be viewed on the Department’s website. 

Sweat’s remarks before the subcommittee revolved around three major themes: prevention; development; and public safety.  On prevention Sweat made the point that the legislation which created JCPCs intentionally addressed prevention; hence, the name, Juvenile Crime Prevention Council. “If we wait to serve youth once they have entered the system,” Sweat said, “we have already missed one of our best opportunities to change that youth’s life.” 

The second theme was development.  Sweat made the point that the JCPC process intentionally causes communities to come together to address the needs of their youth.  The process forces community leaders to think comprehensively and develop a seamless system to serve their youth.  The process also encourages the development of accountability measures through monitoring and state, county, and community partnerships.  Finally, JCPC programming enables the development of youth who have needs that are best address in their own communities.

The final theme addressed by Sweat was public safety.  Sweat stated that “something must be working in the State of North Carolina because we have seen decreases in the amount of juvenile crime being committed while the juvenile population continues to rise.”  Said Sweat:  “We would like to state that these decreases are solely due to the Juvenile Crime Prevention Councils, but we understand that they are just one piece of the puzzle.  Without the community agencies, the court counselors, and the foresight of the legislators, these advances would not be possible.  Nonetheless, we know without the JCPC funding, there would be huge gaps created in the juvenile justice system in every county.” 

Three program providers which receive JCPC funding were also called to speak during the meeting: Teresa Price from Rockingham County; John Lauterbach from Buncombe County; and Michael Rieder from Wake County.  Each spoke to how these dollars were imperative to keep their programs functioning in their communities.