ADOPTED - OCTOBER 25, 2005

Agenda Item No. 25

Introduced by the Judiciary Committee of the:

INGHAM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

RESOLUTION REQUESTING SUPPORT OF THE MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES 2005/2006 JUDICIARY & PUBLIC SAFETY PLATFORM

RESOLUTION #05-291

WHEREAS, Ingham County is experiencing an overcrowded Ingham County Correctional Facility on a regular basis; and           

WHEREAS, discussions with the local Judiciary have indicated that State sentencing guidelines have limited the local Judiciary’s discretion over many sentences; and

WHEREAS, the County was forced to appropriate additional local general funding to maintain the Friend of the Court at a serviceable level for the 2005/06 Fiscal Year largely due to the State changing the local incentive payments process and reducing incentives to Counties; and                             

WHEREAS, these State practices have eroded Ingham County’s ability to provide good quality services to our residents over the past several years.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Ingham County Board of Commissioners request the Michigan Legislature to support the Michigan Association of Counties 2005/2006 Judiciary & Public Safety Platform, specifically:

1)   The Ingham County Board of Commissioners supports creative proposals to reduce local incarceration

commitments and recidivism.  However, Ingham County opposes any efforts by the State to alleviate prison

overcrowding by shifting responsibilities to the County level unless full funding for all related costs are also

appropriated.

2)   The Ingham County Board of Commissioners fully endorses statewide community corrections programs and

      urges total cooperation in the development and funding of these programs.

3) The Ingham County Board of Commissioners requests the Michigan Legislature to restore the incentive

payments provisions so that Counties are guaranteed their $14.5 million for this fiscal year before the State appropriates any of these federal funds for state purposes

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County Clerk is directed to send a copy of this resolution to the County’s legislative delegation, the Governor, and the Michigan Association of Counties.

JUDICIARY:  Yeas:  Holman, Weatherwax-Grant, Nolan, Swope, Schafer, Dougan

Nays:  None          Absent:  None        Approved 10/13/05