COMMISSIONER SALLIE CLARK EXPLORES PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES AT NACo's ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM

Commissioner Clark joined Commissioners
from all over the U.S. for the annual
Justice and Public Safety Symposium
sponsored by National Association of Counties

WASHINGTON, D.C. – El Paso County, Colorado, Commissioner Sallie Clark, is taking the time to attend, participate, facilitate and learn about federal, state and local intergovernmental justice and public safety priorities at the 2012 National Association of Counties’ (NACo) Annual Justice and Public Safety Symposium held Jan. 25-28 in Fulton County, Ga.


Hosted by Fulton County and the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia, the symposium discussed these critical priorities with some of the nation’s foremost justice and public safety experts and considered how county officials can best shape federal policies and funding to ensure that services for residents in their communities are enhanced.

El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa
pictured here with Sallie,
NACo JPS Chair, Judge David Hudson
 and NACo President Lenny Eliaison

The theme of the symposium was “A National County Policy Symposium to Safely Lower Jail and Juvenile Detention Populations by Doing It Smarter.” The keynote speaker was former United States Ambassador to the United Nations and Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young, who shared insights about his lifelong work as a politician, human rights activist and businessman and how they relate to justice issues facing counties. El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa presented information and data on how El Paso County, Colorado, is utilizing re-entry and reintegration programs that are reducing the revolving door of recidivism. "We appreciate NACo allowing the participation of El Paso County's innovative approaches at this conference and our ability to share how we are working to reduce taxpayer costs and also keep the public safe", Commissioner Sallie Clark said about her county's participation.

Another special guest speaker was Dr. James Austin, director, JFA Institute, and former director of the Institute on Crime, Justice and Corrections at George Washington University. Dr. Austin discussed innovative ways local governments are addressing these challenging issues.  

Each year members of NACo’s JPS Steering Committee meet with local, state and national experts to discuss important justice and public safety priorities on behalf of the nation’s 3,068 counties. The committee is responsible for developing NACo’s Justice and Public Safety policies, and advocates for local government priorities before the U.S. Congress.

Other issues discussed during this year’s four-day symposium included: cost-effective pretrial justice programs, reentry programs, creating criminal justice coordinating councils, cybersecurity, and diverting the mentally ill from the criminal justice system.  

Commissioner Sallie Clark said that the NACo justice and public safety symposium was a great opportunity to hear directly from experts on many of the critical justice and public safety issues affecting counties across the country and said the critical matters explored at the meeting will improve and enhance public safety in states and local communities. As Chair of the Justice and Public Safety Committee's Court Subcommittee Chair, Clark also moderated a panel on Cybersecurity services for counties and why Commissioners should care. "As technology becomes more and more widely used and considering the amount of data and records county governments retain, we must keep up with the concerns that are associated with safe storage of information to protect the public's interest", Clark added.

For more information on the symposium or NACo justice and public safety policies, visit the Legislative and Policy section of the NACo website at www.naco.org or contact Jim Philipps at 202.942.4220 or jphilipps@naco.org.  

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The National Association of Counties (NACo) is the only national organization that represents county governments in the United States.  Founded in 1935, NACo provides essential services to the nation’s 3,068 counties.  NACo advances issues with a unified voice before the federal government, improves the public's understanding of county government, assists counties in finding and sharing innovative solutions through education and research, and provides value-added services to save counties and taxpayers money.  For more information about NACo, visit www.naco.org.