House Select Committee on Sex Offender Registration and Internet Crimes Against Children, report to the 2007 General Assembly of North Carolina

              training. Representative Ray recognized Mr. Greg McLeod, NC Department of Justice
( NCDOJ). Mr. McLeod said the funding being discussed by Ms. Johnson would include
both the Justice and Sherriff Departments.
Chair recognized Representative Kiser. He said if the committee requests too much
money, he is afraid the whole Sex Offender Bill proposal will be in jeopardy.
Representative Glazier said he will like to make a motion to accept sections one, two, and
three of bill draft “ DOJ funds.” Representative Goforth seconded the motion.
Representative Grady asked if the motion would also include sections four and five of the
draft. Ms. Johnson said no.
During further discussion, Representative Kiser asked if the funding for this bill had been
included in the Governor’s budget. Mr. Jim Mills with committee staff said this
information had been submitted to the Governor. However, at this time, the Governor
has not made a decision.
Representative Ray questioned Mr. McLeod about section three of the bill draft
concerning $ 489,700 to provide full funding for four new DNA Technicians. Mr.
McLeod said he would like to keep this section in the bill draft, as it will help in
processing all criminal cases.
Representative Goforth asked Representative Glazier if he would be willing to change his
motion to include approving only sections one and two of this draft. Representative
Glazier agreed. The motion was seconded and passed.
Ms. Johnson referenced Exhibit III, page two, under section Pre- release Mental Health
Treatment and Psychiatric Evaluation, stating the staff has not drafted any legislation;
however, the section includes recommendations made by the committee.
Representative Kiser asked if the Sex Offender Accountability and Responsibility
( SOAR) program had been successful. Representative Goforth said out of 157 inmates
completing this course, only two had returned back to prison. Representative Ray said
the committee was impressed with the success of the SOAR program.
Representative Goforth asked Mr. Mills the cost for increasing the SOAR program to
make it mandatory for all incarcerated sex offenders to successfully complete this
program before being released. Mr. Mills said there are approximately 817 sex offenders
released from prison annually; thereby, making the program mandatory would be a start-up
cost of approximately five million dollars with an annual cost of 4.5 million dollars.
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