Hi a l l , I hope you’ v e had a wonderful  Thanksgiving with family and friends, and didn’t over indulge too much of the Thanksgiving feast!

As the bleak predictions of lower severance tax collections start to materialize, our legislative priority of working with RJA and the Legislature to find ways to contain regional jail costs becomes crucial to local government budget survival! The Jail Steering Committee met on November 19,
2012, and renewed our enthusiasm for the coming session, however it will take each one of us, pursing the goals, to attain some level of success.

We are seeking a better method for collecting currently outstanding court costs; supporting passage of a pretrial diversion program similar to one being used in Maryland, called “Probation Before Justice;” supporting RJA’s proposals for more latitude in per diem formula and personnel budgeting; supporting legislation to require all arresting officers’ entities to have “skin in the game:” and finally following the session, to hold regional meetings to share best management practices among ourselves. We need your help and support for these initiatives! Please make an effort to attend the CCAWV Regional Roundtables coming to your area in the next couple of weeks and talk with your local legislators about problems and solutions for this dilemma! I hope to see you there!

As the holidays approach, I hope you have the opportunity to slow down a bit and enjoy time with family and friends. Make yourself feel good by doing something for someone less fortunate. Merry Christmas to ALL!