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Gov. Bev Perdue on Thursday welcomed a new chairman and five other members to the Governor’s Crime Commission, which she called the voice of the criminal justice system and youth advocacy groups across the state. 

As chair, District Attorney Scott Thomas will lead the commission as it reviews federal block grants awarded each year to local and state governments and nonprofits to start new and innovative programs.

Chief Justice Sarah Parker administered the oath of office to Thomas along with other incoming members.  New members include Superior Court Judge Carl Fox, Charlotte/Mecklenburg Police Chief Rodney Monroe, Executive Director James Pierce of Kids Making It in Wilmington, Mecklenburg County Commissioners Chair Jennifer Roberts and District Attorney Richard Shaffer.

Appointed by the governor, the commission has 44 members and meets quarterly.  We welcome all the new members and look forward to working with them.

From the mountains to the coast, 315 new grants from the Governor’s Crime Commission will help protect North Carolinians and reduce crime.  Grants are going towards educational programs, domestic violence shelters and high-tech equipment for law enforcement.

More than $62 million is being distributed to 86 counties, five state agencies and six universities for these and other crime-fighting tools and programs. 

Many a success story has resulted from past grants.  For example, a program in High Point that gives offenders a second chance has become a national model in several major cities across the country.  Another example is the DREAMS Center of Wilmington which offers free arts education to underserved students in Wilmington. In 2007, the center received the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities Coming Up Taller Award.  Both programs received funding through the Governor’s Crime Commission.

We look forward to the latest innovative ideas that will be coming from this year’s grants.  Here is a small sampling:

Alamance County’s Domestic Violence Shelter, Brunswick County’s Adult Drug Treatment program, Buncombe County’s Gang Violence Prevention project, Morganton’s Public Safety Mobile, Chatham County’s Latino Youth Gang program, Clay County’s Mobile Data Computer, Durham’s Fiber Optic Initiative, Mecklenburg’s Child Advocacy Center, Southern Pines’ Livescan Fingerprint Project, Fayetteville State University’s Rape Aggression Defense program, and Wake County’s Comprehensive Court Advocacy program. 

These, and many other programs provide a great deal of hope for all of us who want North Carolina to be a safer place to live.