The local crime debate...

[OnCrime]

On Sunday April 13th, I sent the following e-mail to local and state elected officials:

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From: CrimeInCharlotte.com [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Sunday, April 13, 2008 12:16 PM
Subject: A Great Example of what is wrong with our Justice System!!!

Would someone like to explain to me WHY a man like Charles Hall is still walking the streets of Charlotte??

Would someone like to explain to me WHY a man like Charles Hall is still walking the streets of Charlotte?? (His public record is shown below)

Thank you,
Kelly

More Info @ www.crimeincharlotte.com/2008/04/why-isnt-charles-hall-in-jail.html

ALL INFORMATION COMES FROM THE MECKLENBURG COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE RECORDS & NC DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION RECORDS:

ARREST DATE: 04/09/08
RELEASE DATE: 04/11/08
Court Case Arrest Type Charge Description Bond $ Amount Type Arrest Process
0821701001 FELONY MALICIOUS CONDUCT BY PRISONER 5000 SECURED
0821701101 FELONY MALICIOUS CONDUCT BY PRISONER 5000 SECURED
0821701201 FELONY MALICIOUS CONDUCT BY PRISONER 5000 SECURED
0821701301 MISDEMEANOR RESISTING PUBLIC OFFICER 5000 SECURED
0821701401 FELONY POSSESSION OF FIREARM BY FELON 25000 SECURED
0821701501 FELONY POSSESSION OF FIREARM BY FELON 25000 SECURED
0821684801 MISDEMEANOR LARCENY (MISDEMEANOR) - $200 & UP 1500 SECURED WARRANT

ARREST DATE: 03/24/08
RELEASE DATE: 03/24/08
Court Case Arrest Type Charge Description Bond $ Amount Type Arrest Process
0725433401 MISDEMEANOR LARCENY (MISDEMEANOR) - UNDER $50 4000 SECURED ORDER FOR ARREST
0821427501 FELONY ENGAGE IN CHOP SHOP ACTIVITY 1500 SECURED WARRANT
0821427601 FELONY ENGAGE IN CHOP SHOP ACTIVITY 1500 SECURED WARRANT
0821427701 FELONY ENGAGE IN CHOP SHOP ACTIVITY 1500 SECURED WARRANT
0821427801 FELONY ENGAGE IN CHOP SHOP ACTIVITY 1500 SECURED WARRANT
0821427901 FELONY ENGAGE IN CHOP SHOP ACTIVITY 1500 SECURED WARRANT

ARREST DATE: 03/14/08
RELEASE DATE: 03/14/08
OFA: Failure to Appear in Court for Larceny charge on 11/18/07
Court Case Arrest Type Charge Description Bond $ Amount Type Arrest Process
0725433401 MISDEMEANOR LARCENY (MISDEMEANOR) - UNDER $50 2000 SECURED ORDER FOR ARREST

ARREST DATE: 12/11/07
RELEASE DATE: 12/11/07
Court Case Arrest Type Charge Description Bond $ Amount Type Arrest Process
0725801601 MISDEMEANOR LARCENY (MISDEMEANOR) - $50-199 2500 SECURED
0725801701 TRAFFIC TAMPERING WITH VEHICLE - INTENT TO STEAL 2500 SECURED

ARREST DATE: 11/18/07
RELEASE DATE: 11/18/07
Court Case Arrest Type Charge Description Bond $ Amount Type Arrest Process
0725433401 MISDEMEANOR LARCENY (MISDEMEANOR) - UNDER $50 2000 SECURED

ARREST DATE: 09/25/07
RELEASE DATE: 09/25/07
Court Case Arrest Type Charge Description Bond $ Amount Type Arrest Process
0724524601 FELONY FELONY LARCENY - MORE THAN $1,000 1500 SECURED
0724524701 MISDEMEANOR RESISTING PUBLIC OFFICER 1000 SECURED
0724524801 TRAFFIC TAMPERING WITH VEHICLE - INTENT TO STEAL 600 SECURED
0724524901 TRAFFIC TAMPERING WITH VEHICLE - INTENT TO STEAL 600 SECURED
0724525001 TRAFFIC TAMPERING WITH VEHICLE - INTENT TO STEAL 600 SECURED
0723915701 TRAFFIC DRIVING WHILE LICENSE REVOKED 4000 SECURED ORDER FOR ARREST

ARREST DATE: 08/22/07
RELEASE DATE: 08/23/07
Court Case Arrest Type Charge Description Bond $ Amount Type Arrest Process
0723915701 TRAFFIC DRIVING WHILE LICENSE REVOKED 4000 SECURED

ARREST DATE: 04/19/07
RELEASE DATE: 04/19/07
Court Case Arrest Type Charge Description Bond $ Amount Type Arrest Process
0721753401 TRAFFIC DRIVING WHILE LICENSE REVOKED 500 SECURED
0721753501 MISDEMEANOR STOLEN GOODS - POSSESSION OF
(MISDEMEANOR) 2500 SECURED
0721753601 MISDEMEANOR LARCENY (MISDEMEANOR) - $200 & UP 2500 SECURED

ARREST DATE: 01/03/07
RELEASE DATE: 01/04/07
Court Case Arrest Type Charge Description Bond $ Amount Type Arrest Process
01 FELONY BOND TERMINATION 15000 SECURED
01 FELONY BOND TERMINATION 10000 SECURED
01 FELONY BOND TERMINATION 5000 SECURED
0520829701 MISDEMEANOR PROBATION VIOLATION 5000 SECURED ORDER FOR ARREST

ARREST DATE: 11/17/06
RELEASE DATE: 11/17/06
Court Case Arrest Type Charge Description Bond $
Amount Type Arrest Process
0625009601 FELONY BREAKING AND/OR ENTERING (FELONY)- WITH
FORCE 15000 SECURED WARRANT
0625009701 FELONY LARCENY AFTER BREAK/ENTER - $200 AND UP 10000 SECURED WARRANT
0625009801 FELONY CONSPIRACY - FELONY 5000 SECURED WARRANT

ARREST DATE: 10/19/06
RELEASE DATE: 10/19/06
Court Case Arrest Type Charge Description Bond $
Amount Type Arrest Process
0624897901 TRAFFIC DRIVING WHILE LICENSE REVOKED 1000 SECURED
0624898001 MISDEMEANOR RESISTING PUBLIC OFFICER 1000 SECURED

ARREST DATE: 05/24/06
RELEASE DATE: 05/24/06
Court Case Arrest Type Charge Description Bond $
Amount Type Arrest Process
MISDEMEANOR IV-D NON-SUPPORT OF CHILD NONE - ORDER FOR ARREST

- SERVED JAIL TIME: 4/15/05 to 02/17/06 -

ARREST DATE: 02/22/05
Charge Description Conviction- Sentencing
DAMAGE TO PROPERTY DISMISSED
RESISTING AN OFFICER DISMISSED
ASSAULT ON AN OFFICER PROBATION

ARREST DATE: 10/27/04
Charge Description Conviction- Sentencing
INTERFERE WITH GAS/ELECTRIC METER DISMISSED

ARREST DATE: 07/26/04
Charge Description Conviction- Sentencing
INTERFERE WITH GAS/ELECTRIC METER DISMISSED

ARREST DATE: 06/07/04
Charge Description Conviction- Sentencing
INTERFERE WITH GAS/ELECTRIC METER DISMISSED

ARREST DATE: 02/09/04
Charge Description Conviction- Sentencing
INTERFERE WITH GAS/ELECTRIC METER DISMISSED

ARREST DATE: 12/02/03
Charge Description Conviction- Sentencing
POSSESSION OF STOLEN GOODS PRO

ARREST DATE: 11/12/03
Charge Description Conviction- Sentencing
ETHNIC INTIMIDATION PROBATION
ASSAULT & BATTERY DISMISSED
COMMUNICATING THREATS DISMISSED

ARREST DATE: 07/28/03
Charge Description Conviction- Sentencing
LARCENY DISMISSED

ARREST DATE: 04/14/03
Charge Description Conviction- Sentencing
RESISTING AN OFFICER 2 DAYS IN JAIL

ARREST DATE: 04/04/03
Charge Description Conviction- Sentencing
ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON DISMISSED
ASSAULT ON A FEMALE DISMISSED
COMMUNICATING THREATS DISMISSED

ARREST DATE: 04/09/02
Charge Description Conviction- Sentencing
POSSESSION OF STOLEN GOODS DISMISSED
HABITUAL FELON DISMISSED

ARREST DATE: 02/21/02
Charge Description Conviction- Sentencing
POSSESSION OF STOLEN GOODS DISMISSED

ARREST DATE: 02/01/02
Charge Description Conviction- Sentencing
ASSAULT ON AN OFFICER DISMISSED
RESISTING ARREST DISMISSED

ARREST DATE: 08/24/01
Charge Description Conviction- Sentencing
BREAKING & ENTERING- VEHICLES JAIL TIME
RESISTING ARREST DISMISSED

ARREST DATE: 01/01/01
Charge Description Conviction- Sentencing
ASSAULT ON AN OFFICER PROBATION

ARREST DATE: 04/09/00
Charge Description Conviction- Sentencing
POSSESSION OF STOLEN GOODS PROBATION

ARREST DATE: 10/09/99
Charge Description Conviction- Sentencing
MAINTAIN PLACE FOR CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE DISMISSED

-SERVED JAIL TIME: 01/12/98 to 10/14/98 -

ARREST DATE: 02/18/97
Charge Description Conviction- Sentencing
USE/POSSESS DRUG PARAPHERNALIA DISMISSED
POSSESSION W/ SCHEDULE II & VI DRUGS DISMISSED
MAINTAIN PLACE FOR CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE DISMISSED

-SERVED JAIL TIME: 05/10/96 to 10/11/96 -

ARREST DATE: 07/06/95
Charge Description Conviction- Sentencing
MAINTAIN PLACE FOR CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE PROBATION

ARREST DATE: 04/11/95
Charge Description Conviction- Sentencing
MAINTAIN PLACE FOR CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE JAIL TIME
POSSESSION W/ SCHEDULE II DRUG DISMISSED
POSSESSION OF A FIREARM BY FELON JAIL TIME

ARREST DATE: 02/15/95
Charge Description Conviction- Sentencing
POSSESSION W/SCHEDULE II DRUG PROBATION
VIOLATION OF DRUG LAWS PROBATION

ARREST DATE: 12/01/94
Charge Description Conviction- Sentencing
POSSESSION W/SCHEDULE II DRUG PROBATION
VIOLATION OF DRUG LAWS PROBATION
POSSESSION OF STOLEN PROPERTY DISMISSED

ARREST DATE: 10/12/93
Charge Description Conviction- Sentencing
FIRST DEGREE KIDNAPPING DISMISSED
A/W/D/W/I/T/K/S/I DISMISSED
ROBBERY WITH A DANGEROUS WEAPON DISMISSED
POSSESSION W/ SCHEDULE II DRUG DISMISSED

ARREST DATE: 07/30/93
Charge Description Conviction- Sentencing
POSSESSION W/ SCHEDULE II DRUG DISMISSED

ARREST DATE: 07/20/93
Charge Description Conviction- Sentencing
POSSESSION OF A STOLEN GUN DISMISSED
DRIVERS LICENSE REVOKED FINED

ARREST DATE: 02/19/93
Charge Description Conviction- Sentencing
POSSESSION OF FIREARM BY FELON DISMISSED

ARREST DATE: 02/19/93
Charge Description Conviction- Sentencing
POSSESSION OF FIREARM BY FELON DISMISSED

ARREST DATE: 04/12/92
Charge Description Conviction- Sentencing
DISORDERLY CONDUCT FINED

ARREST DATE: 12/30/87
Charge Description Conviction- Sentencing
BREAKING/ENTERING ¡V LARCENY DISMISSED
POSSESSION OF STOLEN GOODS PRISON TIME
ASSAULT W/ DEADLY WEAPON ON GOV¡¦T OFFIC PRISON TIME

ARREST DATE: 12/23/86
Charge Description Conviction- Sentencing
BREAKING/ENTERING ¡V LARCENY DISMISSED
POSSESSION OF STOLEN GOODS PRISON TIME
ASSAULT W/ DEADLY WEAPON ON GOV¡¦T OFFIC-PRISON TIME

ARREST DATE: 11/04/86
Charge Description Conviction- Sentencing
BREAKING/ENTERING ¡V LARCENY DISMISSED
POSSESSION OF STOLEN GOODS DISMISSED
ASSAULT ON AN OFFICER DISMISSED

ARREST DATE: 09/25/86
Charge Description Conviction- Sentencing
BREAKING/ENTERING ¡V LARCENY DISMISSED
ASSAULT ON AN OFFICER DISMISSED

ARREST DATE: 05/09/86
Charge Description Conviction- Sentencing
BREAKING/ENTERING ¡V LARCENY DISMISSED

- SERVED JAIL TIME: 09/30/85 to 02/19/86 -

ARREST DATE: 02/19/84
Charge Description Conviction- Sentencing
BREAKING/ENTERING ¡V LARCENY OVER $200 PROBATION

ARREST DATE: 01/03/84
Charge Description Conviction- Sentencing
BREAKING/ENTERING ¡V LARCENY OVER $200 PROBATION

ARREST DATE: 10/20/83
Charge Description Conviction- Sentencing
LARCENY- OVER $200 PROBATION

ARREST DATE: 10/13/83
Charge Description Conviction- Sentencing
LARCENY- OVER $200 DISMISSED

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Here are the replies:

From: "Dan Bishop" <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], "'Pat McCrory'" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]
CC: [e-mail], "Ada Nicolay" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], "Neil Cooksey" <[e-mail]>, "'Ann Doss Helms'" <[e-mail]>, "'April Bethea'" <[e-mail]>, "'Charlotte Observer City Desk'" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], "'Ed Williams'" <[e-mail]>, "'mark pellin'" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], [e-mail], "'Shawn Flynn'" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], "'WBT Newsroom'" <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: A Great Example of what is wrong with our Justice System!!!
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2008 09:44:29 -0400

Dear Kelly,

From the Board of County Commissioners, here is part of the answer. We have nearly 600 inmates sleeping on the floor on peak nights (average 399) due to insufficient jail space, but rather than move forward urgently with building needed, permanent jail facilities, we have been awaiting for more than a year the development of consultant recommendations for how to jail fewer people. You might want to read that sentence again.

That's right, the executive summary of a soon-promised Jails Master Plan received from our consultants last night -- with the enthusiastic endorsement of the Democrats -- proposes eliminating approximately 23% of jail admissions. 20% is proposed to come from training police officers to issue more citations in lieu of sending people to jail. Another 4% will come from "jail diversion" of mentally ill arrestees. Expanded pretrial release is also in the works.

So for persons whose catalytic converters were cut out by Charles Hall, the answer to why he is in and out of jail will be that he won't be in jail at all. See?

Since before last year's capital budget planning process, the Sheriff (Pendergraph) has been applying quiet pressure for us to get on with building additional jail space. The Manager has deferred action on, for example, a bond request, on the basis of the need for a comprehensive jail planning process. I had assumed that detailed space and design planning was going on together with development of ideas for more efficient use of jail space. As it turns out, all of the studying has been about enlightened ways to reduce incarceration and thereby cut the amount of jail space built.

To be sure, the average length of stay for Mecklenburg County Jail inmates has risen dramatically because state courts don't handle their business efficiently. (A large chunk of the inmate population is awaiting trial rather than serving a sentence.) The state needs to fix that, like, yesterday. Still, local government doesn't have the luxury of skimping on crime-fighting over a turf argument.

The notion that we can anticipate significantly reduced incarceration rates in the future while effectively combating crime is, to this commissioner at least, absurd. Prevention of crime is the first priority of government at all levels. We need to get on with building ample jail space immediately rather than depend on the root-cause folks solving our problem by issuing more tickets. I suspect some people in Dilworth, Ballantyne, Providence Country Club and Myers Park might agree, and progressively more as additional doors are kicked in for invasions.

The chairman will squawk like she did last night, but the issue is very simply a partisan one. Democrat-led governments don't seriously take on crime. Sometimes Republican governments don't either, but that's the only chance.

Dan Bishop

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From: "Jim Puckett" <[e-mail]>
To: "'Dan Bishop'" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], "'Pat McCrory'" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]
CC: [e-mail], "'Ada Nicolay'" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], "'Neil Cooksey'" <[e-mail]>, "'Ann Doss Helms'" <[e-mail]>, "'April Bethea'" <[e-mail]>, "'Charlotte Observer City Desk'" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], "'Ed Williams'" <[e-mail]>, "'mark pellin'" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], [e-mail], "'Shawn Flynn'" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], "'WBT Newsroom'" <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: A Great Example of what is wrong with our Justice System!!!
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2008 10:21:09 -0400

I offer up a partial solution that I made a few years ago to no avail. For those inmates who are awaiting trail for state related crimes due to inadequate state funding, rather than housing them in Mecklenburg, I suggest we purchase a Greyhound type bus and offer these inmates the option of jail or a bus ride, run a daily route from Charlotte to Raleigh terminating at the Capitol where we release the State’s judicial “customers” and let Raleigh deal with the issue in whatever matter and on whatever schedule them deem needed.

Jim Puckett
Electro Painters

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From: "William F. James, Jr." <[e-mail]>
To: "'Dan Bishop'" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], "'Pat McCrory'" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]
CC: [e-mail], "'Ada Nicolay'" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], "'Neil Cooksey'" <[e-mail]>, "'Ann Doss Helms'" <[e-mail]>, "'April Bethea'" <[e-mail]>, "'Charlotte Observer City Desk'" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], "'Ed Williams'" <[e-mail]>, "'mark pellin'" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], [e-mail], "'Shawn Flynn'" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], "'WBT Newsroom'" <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: A Great Example of what is wrong with our Justice System!!!
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2008 10:32:06 -0400

Dan is correct.

By the time the Democrats are done ‘revising’ the Jail process we will be letting some 20% of the inmates out (or out early), handing out ‘tickets’ instead of jail time.

The Democrats prefer ‘prevention’ to ‘prosecution’. While they want to reduce the number of inmates in the jail, they refuse to use local dollars to increase both court sets and DA’s to really get the scum bags off the street.

Very predictable. Last night for the second time, the Democrats refused to even vote on checking the number of illegals working for the County. They wouldn’t even vote ‘no’ for fear of attracting negative political baggage. Instead they just made their own motion to ‘defer’. This was designed to protect Jennifer so she did not have to say she was voting ‘no’ (thereby taking a stand that would be unpopular with a large portion of the voting public). Instead, they pandered to the fringe illegal Hispanic audience in favor of more illegal immigration and just ‘deferred’ the matter.

If your politicians won’t take a stand on something like that is it likely they will take a stand on ‘crime’? (which Jennifer said last night wasn’t all that bad). She was worried about leaving a bad impression to those moving here. That is a pretty insane statement in and of itself.

No way anything is going to change with these guys in charge. Soft on crime – Soft in the head. Compassion for the crook run amok with none for the victims.

When they let the other 23% out they actually think crime will go down.

Commissioner Bill James (R, District 6)

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From: "Roberts, Jennifer" <[e-mail]> Add Mobile Alert
To: "Dan Bishop" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], "McCrory, Pat" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], "Parks Helms" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], [e-mail], "Wilhelmenia Rembert" <[e-mail]>, "James, Bill" <[e-mail]>
CC: "CountyCommissioners" <[e-mail]>, "Ada Nicolay" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], "Neil Cooksey" <[e-mail]>, "Ann Doss Helms" <[e-mail]>, "April Bethea" <[e-mail]>, "Charlotte Observer City Desk" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], "Ed Williams" <[e-mail]>, "mark pellin" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], [e-mail], "Shawn Flynn" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], "WBT Newsroom" <[e-mail]>

Dear Kelly,

I do not know why Commissioner Bishop hates Democrats so much, maybe something happened in his past, but I am sure you would rather hear what is going on and what we can do about it instead of his whining about Democrats. I will remind you, and him, that the outgoing Sheriff Pendergraph, who instituted the 287(g) program to identify and deport illegal immigrants--a program that has become a national model for removing criminals from our communities-- is a Democrat.

In any event, we are very troubled about what is happening in our criminal justice system. The report we received Tuesday revealed some information about what can be done, but it did not paint the whole picture since it did not have input from the police department and many items that it suggested might not work in our particular community. There were over 20 different changes that were suggested, and the one Commissioner Bishop refers to about issuing citations was just one, and it may be one that is not prudent. No one ever said, by the way, that robbery or larceny or vehicle theft would be one of the crimes that can be dismissed with a fine instead of a night in jail. We have not seen any list of crimes that would qualify, the only one mentioned was violating an ordinance (like a noise ordinance). We just received the report last night. There was no vote taken on it and it was not endorsed by anyone. The consultants presented an overview of the types of things that have worked in other places but we now need to do the work of defining what that means here in Charlotte.

We are in the midst of constructing a jail facility in the north that is scheduled for completion in August of this year. It will have 320 beds and will relieve much of the current overcrowding. In addition, we will be placing a bond on the ballot this fall for a new facility. It seems that it will likely be in the $200-$250 million dollar range for a facitliy that should serve us for the next decade, when we may need yet another jail.

The length of stay for pre-trial inmates is well above the state average and above the rates in many other urban centers. This is just one fact that demonstrates that our courts are inefficient and lack sufficient resources from the state. We are putting together a task force to work with the city and county managers, the Sheriff, the police, the D.A., etc., to improve on this as quickly as possible.

Another thing we learned, by the way, is that the number of police officers per capita that we have in Charlotte is low compared with other urban centers in NC. I can try to find the number for you if you are interested.

Thanks for writing. We are all outraged by the increase in property crime and we need to work together to address it as soon as possible.

Let me know if you would lke a copy of the summary report on detention facilities that we received.

Jennifer Roberts
Chair, County Commission

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From: "William F. James, Jr." <[e-mail]>
To: "'Roberts, Jennifer'" <[e-mail]>, "'Dan Bishop'" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], "'McCrory, Pat'" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], "'Parks Helms'" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], [e-mail], "'Wilhelmenia Rembert'" <[e-mail]>
CC: "'CountyCommissioners'" <[e-mail]>, "'Ada Nicolay'" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], "'Neil Cooksey'" <[e-mail]>, "'Ann Doss Helms'" <[e-mail]>, "'April Bethea'" <[e-mail]>, "'Charlotte Observer City Desk'" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], "'Ed Williams'" <[e-mail]>, "'mark pellin'" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], [e-mail], "'Shawn Flynn'" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], "'WBT Newsroom'" <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: A Great Example of what is wrong with our Justice System!!!
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2008 19:33:02 -0400

I don’t think that Dan ‘hates’ Democrats.

One of the issues that you need to deal with is that you have gotten away from the rules governing County meetings.

The Chairman is to ‘run’ the meeting, not provide blow by blow commentary and response to every perceived slight you think has been uttered by any Republican.

While Parks and I had our differences and still do, he spoke last and did not interject himself into every debate.

From my perspective, some of what you perceive is a response to some bad habits you have gotten into.

I know that one reason that I will talk over you on issues (on purpose) is because you are debating with other Commissioners which is disallowed under our rules.

If Dan (or any Commissioner) says something you disagree with you have to wait your turn just like the rest of us and tradition says the Chair goes last not at every opportunity. If you ignore that rule then I and others will as well.

Your job is to run the meeting, not engage in a point-counter point debate from the dais like this was CNN. Managing the meeting means you have to learn to not talk. In Parks’ case – he always enlisted Dumont to carry his water for him.

Of course, these are my thoughts only. If you check the BOCC’s procedures or talk with Parks you will see that this is laid out. The Chair is ‘first among equals’ you get no more turns at the mic than the rest of us.

Commissioner Bill James (R, District 6)

---

From: "Dan Bishop" <[e-mail]>
To: "Roberts, Jennifer" <[e-mail]>, "Dan Bishop" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], "McCrory, Pat" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], "Parks Helms" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], [e-mail], "Wilhelmenia Rembert" <[e-mail]>, "James, Bill" <[e-mail]>
CC: "CountyCommissioners" <[e-mail]>, "Ada Nicolay" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], "Neil Cooksey" <[e-mail]>, "Ann Doss Helms" <[e-mail]>, "April Bethea" <[e-mail]>, "Charlotte Observer City Desk" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], "Ed Williams" <[e-mail]>, "mark pellin" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], [e-mail], "Shawn Flynn" <[e-mail]>, [e-mail], "WBT Newsroom" <[e-mail]>

Jennifer, common sense Democrats are plentiful, just not among the leadership as best I can tell. (Almost-Chief Mackey as an example.) I don't hate anybody, and I certainly like you. I just disagree with you. It's a good thing, not hateful, to recognize our differences. If one thinks the crime situation calls for years of study, fewer arrests and shorter jail stays, he should vote Democrat. If one thinks rising and shocking forms of property crime and 600 inmates on the floor calls for urgency in constructing new jail space and more incarceration, she should vote Republican. Nothing wrong with voters choosing your way if they think it's best. Nothing wrong with them choosing differently if they want a different approach.

Chill.

Dan

[The Mob of Rome]

WOW It's easy to see why our community has a problem getting anything done. To paraphrase a old line (Nero fiddled while Rome burned)---
I think that fit's well with this situation.

[cathyn]

I listen to this meeting of the Master Jail Plan & was floored to here the suggestion the OUR OFFICERS should write more CITATIONS than transport to jail. If the First Day Coats the Most, WHY, WHY, WHY< would the Magistrate lower the set bond to accomidate the criminals finances? My case is a Prime example of what I'm trying to say. On paper it says I paid $1500.00 to bond my Thug in Training son out, yet NO MONEYS were paid & I was told I can face charges by not signing him out.
The next City Council meeting with a Citizens Forum will be held on Monday 4/28/08 @ 6:30 in room 267. I will be there to address this. I hope to see many of the faces their that met with our Police in South Charlotte.
Please understand the Police are doing everything they can & without us speaking up for them nothing will change. We have the right to attend these meeting both with the City Officals & our County Commissers. So Please just do it. If enough of us ask to speak on crime they will listen.

I was Fired UP while watching this meeting 4/15/08 & to hear the jail is overcrowder is just not good enough. So Please let the Elected hear form you, Face To Face.

To hear they way the other Members jumped on Mr.Bishop for his questioning of this Master Jail Plan is just plain childish. Check into the meeting yourself & mark your Day Planner.
Still Lost.

[OnCrime]

Apr 20, 2008 12:51:52 GMT -5 @The Mob of Rome said:

WOW It's easy to see why our community has a problem getting anything done. To paraphrase a old line (Nero fiddled while Rome burned)---
I think that fit's well with this situation.

I could not have said that better myself!!! It is very sad!