Submitted by City of Carmel
Central Indiana mayors, police chiefs and county prosecutors gathered Monday, Aug. 3, for continued discussion and planning in support of public safety solutions that benefit residents and visitors.
Civic leaders from Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Madison, Marion, and Morgan counties met at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the second in a series of meetings that kicked off June 26. Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam led the public safety initiative in collaboration with Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett to host the summit.
City leaders and police chiefs were joined by eight county prosecutors, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Indiana and the Indiana State Police superintendent with a goal of understanding gaps and barriers in the legal system that result in repeat offenders cycling back into communities.
The conversation focused on the entire criminal justice continuum, recognizing that public safety depends on every part of the system working together. Participants discussed the importance of building stronger relationships between law enforcement and prosecutor offices to positively affect prescreening and charging decisions, Indiana Department of Correction policies on time-served and early release and information sharing across agencies. Leaders also examined how inadequate funding, gaps in communication and coordination, inconsistent approaches and public safety policies can contribute to repeat offending and identified opportunities for stronger collaboration among local, state, and federal partners.
Following Monday’s meeting, Mayor Finkam described the discussion as an example of working together to solve a regional problem.
Finkam
“Every community deserves a justice system that protects victims, holds repeat offenders accountable and gives law enforcement the support they need to keep dangerous individuals off our streets,” Finkam said. “Through collaboration and hard work we can find short-term and long-term solutions that improve public safety for every community.”
“Whether one is enforcing the law or seeking justice in a courtroom, it is clear that everyone involved in Monday’s conversation is deeply committed to their respective work in the criminal justice system,” said Mayor Hogsett. “I want to express my thanks to these regional partners for their ongoing collaboration to find solutions that will make our communities in Central Indiana safer.”
Monday’s Regional Mayors’ Public Safety Partnership Summit meeting was the second in a series of four meetings.