Pitt County approves pretrial services expenditure budget amendment to expand local options for low-level defendants

The Pitt County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 13 approved a pretrial services expenditure budget amendment tied to a pretrial services board the county established by ordinance in November 2023.

Matt Gibson presented the proposed expenditure budget; he and others said the pretrial services advisory board and outside consultant Jessica Ireland produced recommendations describing program scope and costs. Supporters said the program will create alternatives for low-level, nonviolent defendants to remain in the community while receiving services, reduce unnecessary jail time and provide more targeted oversight for people who need supervision.

Members of the advisory board — including Ferris Dixon and local judges and public defenders present at the meeting — described studies showing that people held for minor offenses can be negatively influenced by longer jail stays. Gibson and advisory-board members asked the commissioners to approve the detailed budget the board requested after adopting the initial ordinance. The board voted to approve the expenditure budget amendment; a motion, second and approval were recorded in the transcript, but a combined roll-call tally by name is not in the meeting record.

Advisory-board composition and vacancies were discussed: the board said there were eight filled positions with two vacancies (one behavioral-health seat open) and that one seated member is female; consultant Jessica Ireland (not a board member) is leading parts of the planning effort.