Hello fellow 'Lensers"!

I was invited to join Lens On Atlanta by Amani Channel. I look forward to connecting with you and please let me know how we can be of value to each other.

-John Eaves

Chairman, Fulton County Board of Commissioners

Hello, Commissioner Eaves.  Great to have you on Lens.  I do have a question for you.  I saw you speak on prison overcrowding one time this past fall (at IBM).  You gave examples of how they were turning around the problem with repeat offenders in New York by providing more training for inmates so they can be productive citizens on the outside.  Given our massive budget challenges in the state and the fact that public safety - and namely corrections - are a huge chunk of that budget, doesn't it make sense to establish similar programs in Georgia/Fulton County/City of Atlanta?  Leading to all the obvious benefits: reduced crime, reduced expenditures on prison, reduced government expenses on court costs, more tax paying citizens, etc. etc.!

Hello Jeannie,

Thank you for having me here. I'm looking forward to the dialogue.

In response to our cir****tances, I have initiated the Fulton County Reentry Task Force to reduce recidivism. The group began meeting in April 2009 and was formally recognized by the entire Board of Commissioners in June. The Task Force includes the heads of the criminal justice agencies, educational institutions and social service agencies who are indeed working together to establish similar programs in Fulton. There is a growing trend in other local governments to reallocate dollars to help offenders stay out of jail. We are also applying for a federal grant to aid in our efforts to successfully reintegrate offenders back into communities. We believe this will benefit not only the county but the region as a whole.

I hope that answered your question.