Panel to Examine Criminal Justice in Fulton County
A new council will spend more than a year examining how to streamline criminal justice in Fulton County.
The Smart Justice Advisory Council will start meeting early next month. The 35 to 40 person panel will include private citizens and members who serve in law enforcement, education and criminal justice. Fulton Commission Chairman John Eaves says the council will examine the county’s entire criminal justice system in order to improve public safety while looking for ways to reduce costs.
“The system that we have in place collectively can be fine-tuned, can be tightened, can be enhanced, can be better streamlined, can be done in a more effective and efficient manner, so that’s the main thrust of this council.”
Eaves says the council will look at ways to reduce recidivism, whether there is a more effective way of adjudicating cases and how to prevent students from dropping out of school. He also says the council will explore diversion and prevention programs.
“I just think that the possibility of something very positive coming out of it is really good, and there certainly a level of engagement, interest among many folks in our communities.”
Currently, Fulton County spends about 40 percent of its budget on criminal justice.
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