An ordinance establishing the Criminal Justice Steering Committee of the Metropolitan Government to address issues affecting the criminal justice system of the Metropolitan Government.

An ordinance establishing the Criminal Justice Steering Committee of the Metropolitan Government to address issues affecting the criminal justice system of the Metropolitan Government.

WHEREAS, the United States District Court of the Middle District of Tennessee, after determining that unconstitutional conditions existed in the Metropolitan Government's jails, entered a population cap injunction order on July 25, 1990, and this population cap remained in effect for nearly 11 years; and

WHEREAS, in the year 2000, the Metropolitan Government filed in the United States District Court a Final Jail Management Plan that included the establishment of the Criminal Justice Steering Committee to assist in coordinating criminal justice policy and decision-making; and

WHEREAS, in December 2000, the Mayor formed the Criminal Justice Steering Committee, comprised of the Mayor, the District Attorney, the Public Defender, the Sheriff, the Chief of Police, the Director of Law, the Director of Finance, a General Sessions Judge, and a Criminal Court Judge, to address current criminal justice policy and procedures and future needs of Davidson County's criminal justice system; and

WHEREAS, the United States District Court recognized the Criminal Justice Steering Committee in a March 2001 Order and Memorandum dissolving the injunction and dismissing the case; and

WHEREAS, through the assistance provided by the Criminal Justice Steering Committee, the Metropolitan Government has overcome significant problems affecting overcrowding of its detention facilities; and,

WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Government is committed to managing its criminal justice detention facilities in a constitutional manner; and,

WHEREAS, by Ordinance No. BL2005-558 the Metropolitan Government created the Criminal Justice Planning Unit, a department of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, for the purpose of providing accurate and timely data to the Metropolitan Government’s policy makers so that they can make informed decisions affecting the criminal justice system and the Metropolitan Government’s detention facility needs; and,

WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the citizens of the Metropolitan Government that the Criminal Justice Steering Committee continue to meet and address criminal justice policies.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1.     There is hereby created the Criminal Justice Steering Committee of the Metropolitan Government.

Section 2.     The following elected and governmental officials shall be members of the Criminal Justice Steering Committee:

                   1.                  Mayor
                   2.                  A Davidson County Criminal Court Judge
                   3.                  A Metropolitan General Sessions Court Judge
                   4.                  Sheriff
                   5.                  District Attorney General
                   6.                  Criminal Court Clerk.
                   7.                  Public Defender
                   8.                  Chief of Police

Section 3.     All members of the Committee may select designees to appear on their behalf at meetings of the Committee.

Section 4.     The Mayor shall serve as the Chair of the Criminal Justice Steering Committee. 

Section 5.     The Criminal Justice Steering Committee shall meet monthly to address current criminal justice policies and procedures, as well as the future needs of the criminal justice system of the Metropolitan Government.

Section 6.     The Criminal Justice Planning Unit shall serve as staff to the Criminal Justice Steering Committee and the Director of Law shall furnish legal advice to the Committee.

Section 7.     That this Ordinance shall take effect from and after its final passage, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Ginger Hausser Pepper

Amendment No. 1
To
Ordinance No. BL2007-1461

Mr. President:

            I move to amend Ordinance No. BL2007-1461 by deleting Section 2 in its entirety and substituting in lieu thereof the following new Section 2:
“Section 2.     The following elected and governmental officials shall be members of the Criminal Justice Steering Committee:
                   1.                  Mayor
                   2.                  A Davidson County Criminal Court Judge
                   3.                  A Metropolitan General Sessions Court Judge
                   4.                  Sheriff
                   5.                  District Attorney General
                   6.                  Criminal Court Clerk.
                   7.                  Public Defender
                   8.                  Chief of Police

1. The Chair of the Council Public Safety Committee”

Sponsored by: Ginger Hausser Pepper

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
Introduced:	June 5, 2007
Passed First Reading:	June 5, 2007
Referred to:	Public Safety Committee
Amended:	June 19, 2007
Passed Second Reading:	June 19, 2007
Passed Third Reading:	June 26, 2007
Approved:	June 27, 2007
By: