Article I
Name
The name of the Committee shall be the Caldwell County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council hereinafter identified as “JCPC” or “the Council”.
Article II
Purpose
Appointed by the Caldwell County Board of County Commissioners the council’s charge is to assure coordination of services across the community agencies who serve youth who are in trouble with the law or at risk of legal difficulties. In addition to providing advice to the Board of County Commissioners on issues involving youth services, the Council carries out other specific duties including:
1. Identifying the problems and needs of youth in trouble or at-risk of trouble with the law in Caldwell County.
2. Assessing the availability of programs to meet needs.
3. Recommending programs for funding that have demonstrated effectiveness or show potential for positively effecting the prevention of juvenile crime and delinquency.
4. Monitoring JCPC funded programs for effectiveness in preventing crime, delinquency, and institutionalization; and improving community based service alternatives.
Article III
Membership
The members of the JCPC are appointed by the Caldwell County Board of Commissioners to serve a two year term with terms beginning on July 1 and ending on June 30th. Members may serve or be appointed for successive terms at the discretion of the Commissioners. The voting membership shall be comprised of the following:
- Local School Superintendent or designee
- A Chief of Police
- County Sheriff or designee
- District Attorney or designee
- Chief Court Counselor or designee
- Area Mental health Director or designee
- County D.S.S. Director or designee
- County Manager or designee
- County Commissioner
- Substance Abuse Professional
- Faith Community Representative
- Two youth members, under the age of 18
- Juvenile Defense Attorney
- Chief District Court Judge
- Business Representative
- Public Health Director or designee
- United Way Representative
- Representative from a Parks and Recreation Program
- Up to seven public members-at-large
Vacancies will be filled by the Board of County Commissioners representing the appropriate agency or category.
Article IV
Functions & Responsibilities
1. To publish the availability of funds under the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
2. To assist applicant agencies and programs understanding and meeting funding requirements of the Office of Juvenile Justice.
3. To serve as the review committee for proposals for Office of Juvenile Justice funding, making recommendations to the County Commissioners for programs to be funded and their priority.
4. Assess, at least annually, the needs of youth and the community’s response to those needs as they affect the target population.
5. Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of JCPC funded programs in meetings goals and appropriately utilizing funds.
6. To provide periodic reports – at least annually – to the County Commissioners on the program accomplishments and expenditures funded through JCPC.
7. Educate agency partners and community at large to the availability of other resources to target problems of juvenile crime and delinquency.
8. Assist community partners in securing funding to impact juvenile crime and delinquency.
Article V
Meetings
Regular meetings will be held at least six (6) times per year and upon the call of the Council Chair with seven (7) calendar days notice.
Article VI
Attendance
Attendance is essential to the effectiveness of the Council. Members missing meetings will be excused from attendance per their request to the Council. Two (2) consecutive unexcused absences shall result in a notice to the County Commissioners of non-attendance. A third consecutive unexcused absence will result in a request by the Council to the Commissioners for removal of the member.
Members representing agencies may appoint an alternate to attend subject to the same attendance requirements of appointees. Appointment of alternates will require a written request from the agency to the JCPC Chair.
Article VII
Governance - Officers
The officers shall include a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and Secretary, who shall serve a one year term. Officers are eligible to be re-elected each year.
- The Chair’s duties will include: (1) Scheduling/calling meetings; (2) Presiding at meetings; (3) Facilitate the development of the work plan for the year; (4) Oversee the sub-committee appointment process.
- The Vice-Chair will assume the duties of the Chair in his/her absence. In addition the Vice-Chair shall serve on the nominating committee for the succeeding year.
- The Secretary shall record attendance of meetings and forward minutes and other correspondence to the Council as needed. In addition the Secretary shall assist the Chair in submitting reports to the State Juvenile staff and assist the Governance Sub-Committee in executing the annual bid and proposal review process.
Governance - Voting
- A quorum is constituted by a majority of the members.
- Roberts Rules of Order, Revised will be used on the standard of procedure.
- Approval of motions will be upon a single majority of quorum present.
Governance – Conflict of Interest
- Committee members who represent or are employed by funded JCPC programs will abstain from making motions and/or voting on all matters pertaining to the funding of their individual programs.
- The minutes of meetings of the JCPC or its sub-committees in which votes regarding funding issues will reflect abstentions from voting.
Article VIII
Governance – Sub-Committees
The JCPC will execute its work through the following committee structure.
A. Governance Sub-Committee
The tasks of the Governance Sub-Committee will be to insure the effective operation of the overall JCPC structure. Areas of responsibility include:
1. Maintaining membership – assuring regrets for appointments are made in a timely manner.
2. Follow up on attendance issues with members as needed.
3. Maintain By-laws and other procedures and guidelines.
4. Provide periodic oversight on the efficiency and effectiveness of JCPC funded programs through site visits, review of quarterly reports.
5. Provide feedback to appropriate agencies/staff to insure monitoring results are acted upon for continuous improvement.
6. Submit a report to the full JCPC annually on each funded program.
7. Assure that the annual community needs assessment for at-risk youth is completed.
8. Assure the RFP process for JCPC grants is completed and forward an initial draft recommendation of programs for funding to the JCPC as a whole on the schedule determined by the JCPC.
9. Appoint an ad hoc nominating committee to develop a slate of officers for the succeeding year. The nominating committee should be chaired by the vice-chair of the JCPC.
B. Finance Sub-Committee
The JCPC Finance Sub-Committee will be accountable for the following:
1. Develop an annual JCPC administrative budget for consideration and approval by the JCPC.
2. Authorize expenditures for JCPC administrative expenses and maintain documentation for said expenses within the parameters set by the JCPC. The Chair of the Finance Sub-Committee shall serve as the officer to execute these fiscal responsibilities.
3. Monitor JCPC spending and report expenditures on a monthly basis.
4. Recommend adjustments in the JCPC administrative budget in a timely way so as to maximize JCPC revenues.
C. Communications/Outreach Sub-Committee
The Communications/Outreach Sub-Committee shall be responsible for:
1. Schedule agendas and notifying membership of JCPC meetings n concert with the Chairperson giving a one week notice of meetings.
2. Develop a plan for dissemination to the public that delineates the goals for JCPC, calendar of significant events, and outcomes achieved through JCPC funded programs.
3. Publicize information to members and community partners about training opportunities and emerging resources targeting at-risk youth.
4. Develop feedback tools for eliciting feedback on the effectiveness of the JCPC process and the effectiveness of funded program.