Press release from the North Carolina Judicial Branch:
Chief District Court Judge J. Calvin Hill, supported by all the district court judges of Judicial District 28 (Buncombe County), created an opportunity for local court, school, law enforcement, juvenile justice and county officials to safely sign a School Justice Partnership (SJP) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on March 18 while practicing social distancing. The stakeholders to the MOU have been meeting over the last couple of years to discuss and consider best practices that may help reduce school-based referrals of youth to the court for minor misconduct that does not pose a threat to the safety and welfare of others. A formal ceremony will take place at a later date when it is safe to gather.
“It was important to proceed with the signing of this MOU because the urgency of helping our youth stay in school so they may have opportunities to become thriving adults could not be delayed by the current community health concerns,” said Judge Hill. “I look forward to offering a more formal ceremony later this year.”
The School Justice Partnership offers a chance for stakeholders to shine a light on programs that work at school while helping manage the number of juveniles referred to the court system.
Buncombe County’s designated family court and juvenile courts are part of that system. The presiding judges of both courts voiced their support for the MOU and worked with Chief District Court Judge Hill to ensure the MOU addressed the specific needs of the community and provided a framework for accountability and data collection.
“We are grateful to see our community’s commitment to our youth,” said Judge Hill. “We appreciate the schools’ willingness to address these issues and law enforcement’s willingness to keep our communities safe in a way that also meets youth where they are.”
The Buncombe County School-Justice Partnership Agreement:
Buncombe County School-Justice Partnership Agreement by Laura Hackett on Scribd
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