On June 9, 2020, Governor Roy Cooper established the North Carolina Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice Task Force with executive order 145. This group’s purpose was to develop and help implement solutions that will eliminate disparate outcomes in the criminal justice system for communities of color. At the end of 2020, the Task Force made 125 recommendations and worked with policymakers over the span of two years on implementing ways to reimagine public safety in the state.
The Task Force is made up of 27 members representing law enforcement professionals, government officials, legal experts, organizations that represent marginalized communities and others from across the state. The group is led by Associate Justice Anita Earls and NC Department of Public Safety Secretary Eddie Buffaloe Jr. Buffaloe assumed the role of co-chair from predecessor Attorney General Josh Stein.
“It is an honor to serve as a member of this Task Force alongside public safety professionals and community leaders who are dedicated to improving the criminal justice system,” said Buffaloe. “Participating in this initiative is just another way the Department of Public Safety upholds its mission to protect everyone within our state’s borders.”
As 2023 starts, the Task Force enters a new phase with executive order 273 extending its work into 2024. The TREC 2.0 team will divide work into four different committees. These committees are based on an implementation strategy, to include: Executive Committee, Judicial Committee, Legislative Committee and Local Policy Committee.
“This initiative is very important for the state of NC and the work that was done during TREC 1.0 has been valuable in developing and implementing solutions and recommendations to eliminate disparate outcomes in the criminal justice system,” said DPS’ TREC Director Brandy McKoy. “As we look to reimagine public safety in NC, NCDPS stands ready to lead TREC 2.0 by supporting the task force and committees with implementation of the recommendations.”
The 2.0 Task Force planning meeting took place January 25, where members met – some for the first time in person – and laid out their hopes for future sessions. The first official meeting of the year is on Friday, February 24, at 10:00 AM. Members of the public can watch the livestream on the DPS YouTube channel.
