Steering committee sets sights on underage drinking

The NCACC Justice and Public Safety Steering Committee met the morning of Aug. 15 to discuss underage drinking and means in which counties can partner with the state, schools and other groups to help prevent it.

William Lassiter, manager of the Center for Prevention of School Violence, addressed the committee on ties between school violence and underage drinking. According to Lassiter, the Center for the Prevention of School Violence is one of the top resources for school violence prevention. The center provides a great deal of information on its Web site, www.cpsv.org, including instructions on designing a safe school, how to reach out to parents during the early grades, and how to work with center staff for school safety assessments.

Lassiter agreed with Wake County Commissioner Kenn Gardner that teens need to begin accepting responsibility for placing their lives in danger by riding in vehicles driven by other inebriated teenagers. Gardner suggested stiffer penalties for teens that drink and drive. Because teens place a high value on their driving privileges, revoking the driver’s licenses for those teens might be a good way to finally get the message through, he said.

Lassiter reported that the Department of Public Instruction runs several programs that have proven effective, including “DARE” and “Prom Promise.” He also distributed various school posters produced by Alcohol Law Enforcement.

Rep. Rick Glazier reviewed legislation that was passed or considered during the 2007 session that would help stem drinking and driving. Among bills becoming law is H1277, which, effective Dec. 1, revokes the driver’s license of any person convicted of selling alcohol to a minor.

Dwayne Patterson, deputy secretary for the N.C. Department of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention, requested support for juvenile diversion programs, which saw funding cuts in the state budget. Patterson pointed out that putting a juvenile offender through the program is less expensive than incarceration and offers a higher likelihood of behavioral change.

Members also reviewed current committee priority issues: the mentally ill in jails, illegal immigration and its affect on counties, and jail overcrowding.