DPS FY2013/14 Budget Reflects Core Mission, Finds Efficiencies, Reinvests Savings
The 2013 session of the North Carolina General Assembly ended on July 26. It was a busy session as the legislature worked to finalize the fiscal year 2013-14 budget. Department leaders worked closely with the Governor’s Office and the legislature in preparing a budget that focused on the core mission of the agency, while finding efficiencies and reinvesting savings into community-based treatment and proven programs designed for long term improvements in public safety.
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The overall mission of the Department of Public Safety is to improve the quality of life Highlights of the Budget: > Funds the Center for Safer Schools > Fully funds the completion of the Voice Interoperable Plan for Emergency Responders (VIPER) system > Funding to address critical renovation needs at 15 National Guard armories across the state > Funding for the creation of 175 new probation and parole officer positions to reach the legislative target caseload of 60 offenders per officer > Funds $2 million for each year of the biennium to expand drug treatment options within Community Corrections > Provides capital funding to rehabilitate the old Samarkand Youth Development Center in Moore County as a training facility Additionally, other items were funded to aid DPS in carrying out its public safety mission more efficiently to include: technological upgrades to provide troopers with more access to data on the road; expansion of electronic monitoring for offenders on community supervision; and use of technology advances for improved financial reporting and other operational measures. Read more about the DPS FY2013-14 budget in the August 2013 On The Scene newsletter. DPS Furthers Consolidation Efforts, Advances Department Initiatives In 2013, the Department assumed several agency-wide initiatives to strengthen its operations, increase efficiencies and achieve cost savings: FirstNet — DPS was awarded a federal grant to implement FirstNet in North Carolina, a secure nationwide wireless broadband network dedicated to public safety that will allow federal, state, local and tribal public safety personnel to Human Resources — Implemented and oversaw agency-wide adoption of the North Carolina Office of State Human Resources Learning Management System which is enabling more efficient management of training and policy acknowledgement. Participated in statewide team to redesign the Employee Service Awards and successfully promoted the use of Correction Enterprises at the state’s vendor. Information Technology — DPS IT made it easier for agency staff to work together by developing a standard directory structure which helps locate DPS people and resources around the state. An important part of this was deciding how to properly maintain the security and certainty of operation needed by law enforcement and emergency management, which IT achieved. Policy & Strategic Planning — DPS has continued work on a policy development initiative in the areas of Purchasing, Travel, Human Resources, Equal Employment Opportunity, and Information Technology. The initiative advanced in 2013 with nearly 60 percent policy projects completed, and an additional 18 percent in final review or review status. Executive management continues to identify and employ best practices. DPS is also developing a Strategic Capital Plan (SAP) to encourage better utilization of state resources and facilities.
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| W. Ellis Boyle Deputy Secretary/ General Counsel |
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| Lorrie L. Dollar Commissioner of Administration |
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| W. David Guice Commissioner of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice |
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| Gregory K. Baker Commissioner of Law Enforcement |
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| David Shehdan Director Human Resources |
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Safety, Occupational & Environmental Health — DPS made safety and health improvements in several areas including the development of new safety training and programs; improved safety and health procedures; and further reduction in the department DART rate, a safety metric that calculates how many workplace injuries and illnesses required employees to miss work, perform restricted work activities or transfer to another job.
Governor Establishes Center For Safer Schools within DPS
Gov. McCrory’s earliest goal related to public safety came to fruition this year, with funding set aside for the department’s Center for Safer Schools.
The General Assembly fully funded the governor’s request for the center, which serves as a clearinghouse of information on school safety and provides training and technical support to educators, law enforcement agencies and parents statewide.
The center is located in the Department of Public Safety to leverage DPS’ unique combination of juvenile justice, law enforcement and emergency management professionals.
Governor’s Crime Commission Executive Director Appointed; Panel Sets Priorities, Carries Out Initiatives
In June, Gov. Pat McCrory announced the appointment of Sheriff David Huffman as executive director of the Governor’s Crime Commission (GCC) to provide the panel a law enforcement leadership perspective.
Under Huffman’s leadership, the GCC has undertaken initiatives consistent with the governor’s priorities on improving public safety and security. The chief initiatives include safer schools, gang prevention and intervention, partnership with veterans, and ongoing support for local law enforcement through a strengthened local law enforcement block grant program.
A few of the GCC’s major accomplishments in 2013 include: providing support and funding for the newly-established North Carolina Center for Safer Schools; initiating discussions to determine how best to confront the proliferation of gangs in North Carolina and address their harsh effects on our neighborhoods and youth; and the opening of North Carolina’s first veterans treatment court in Harnett County. The GCC is working to establish a second veterans treatment court, with the goal of having a veterans court in each county that houses a veterans hospital.
Office of Victim Services Continues Mission, Improves Processes, Expands Services
The Office of Victim Services (OVS) continues to provide support and assistance to citizens who have been victims of crime in North Carolina. The N.C. Crime Victims’ Compensation Commission met quarterly to review claims for more than $12,500. OVS awarded nearly 10 million dollars in compensation to victims in Federal Fiscal Years 2012–2013. Other major accomplishments in 2013 include a 6 percent reduction in the CVC claims 
processing time and the development of a home leave notification process in both sections of OVS.
The notification system complements the North Carolina Statewide Automated Victims Assistance Notification (SAVAN) in providing multiple avenues of notification for victims.
Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Implemented; Standards Applied in All Adult, Juvenile Facilities
DPS has worked diligently this past year to comply with new federal standards of the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003.
DPS was able to meet the standards and comply with the federal government’s Aug. 20 deadline. As a result, DPS employees are more prepared to prevent, detect and respond to sexual abuse and harassment within confinement facilities as a result of enhancing response efforts.
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Contact: Crystal Feldman
Phone: (919) 733-5027