Criminal Justice Improvement Committee Meets in Greensboro August 3-4
Programs funded by the Governor's Crime Commission

GREENSBORO - Three major crime issues will be discussed Aug. 3-4 when the Criminal Justice Improvement Committee of the Governor's Crime Commission meets at the Clarion Hotel. The re-entry of prison inmates back into the community, the rising gang membership, and services Hispanics need as victims of crime are the main topics of the two-day conference.

Participants in the meeting include heads of several law enforcement agencies from across the state; officials with the Dept. of Crime Control and Public Safety, the Administrative Office of the Courts, the Dept. of Justice and the Dept. of Correction; state legislators and local elected officials.

Topics to be addressed by the Commission and law enforcement agencies will help prepare new legislation to help curb the following crime trends:

A large number of inmates being released in the next year will create a potential spike in crime. The Governor's Crime Commission committee is investigating re-entry programs to help inmates make a successful transition back into society.

The number of gangs are growing across the state. The Governor's Crime Commission staff has identified 188 gangs in North Carolina with 3,500 members. The committee will talk about ways to intervene and suppress gang involvement.

Hispanics are not only victims of crime from scam artists, but they have experienced an increase in human trafficking. With prostitution, drugs normally follow. In addition, Hispanics are typically not receptive to law enforcement. Discussions will center on how to prevent crime in the Hispanic communities.

The meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday and ends at noon on Friday.

For more information, contact GCC's lead criminal justice planner, Craig Turner, at 919-733-4564, ext. 233.