It turns out Guilford County Commissioner Skip Alston isn’t the only one who believes there are alternatives to building new jails. The idea is floating around the state level, too, with some pretty powerful proponents:
The Senate’s top leader says the state should find ways to sentence non violent criminals to house arrest as part of an effort to avoid building more prisons.
Sen. Marc Basnight, a Dare County Democrat, was speaking to a room full of police officers, court officials, community activists and mayors visiting the legislature on Tuesday.
“We have proposals before us to build two more prisons,” said Basnight, who allowed that he and other senators “despise this thought.”
We have proposals before us to build two more prisons,” said Basnight, who allowed that he and other senators “despise this thought.”
Instead of building more prisons, Basnight said he hoped the state could find alternate ways to punish offenders, reserving incarceration for violent and habitual criminals…..
….”At some point, the needs of the court system are tested against the needs of education, Medicaid and the other focuses of government,” (House Speaker Joe) Hackney told the crowd.
He said that good schools would help cut down on law enforcement’s workload by helping children stay out of trouble.
“If we can get them engaged and trained for a meaningful occupation that is fulfilling, that has an impact on you all as well,” Hackney said.
Meanwhile, state health officials have capped admissions at four state-run psychiatric hospitals.
But while that development doesn’t look good for mental health reform in North Carolina, the head of NAMI North Carolina isn’t panicking — yet:
Deby Dihoff, the executive director of NAMI North Carolina, an advocacy group for the mentally ill, said she worries about hospitals delaying admissions.
“Crises are going to happen,” she said. “There have to be beds to serve people with mental illness.”
North Carolina does have good long-term plans for treating people who need help quickly, she said. There are plans to improve community treatment for drug and alcohol abusers, and the state is expanding crisis services.
“I think the division is doing a good job planning for the future,” she said. “It’s the present we’re all a little worried about.”
That’s a major component of the state’s mental health reform — making sure those with substance abuse problems aren’t taking beds away from people with true mental health issues. Whether or not that approach reduces the demand on beds remains to be seen.
This is all complicated –and expensive– stuff.
