Key county priorities included in State of the Union Address

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Association of Counties (NACo) today responded to President Obama’s final State of the Union Address and vowed to work with the President and Congress to achieve shared priorities important to the nation’s counties, including reforming our criminal justice system.   

NACo joined the President in applauding the contributions of county officials, particularly Edith Childs, a councilmember from rural Greenwood County, S.C. and Mark Luttrell, county mayor in urban Shelby County, Tenn., who were seated with the First Lady.  

“The Administration is focusing on domestic policy issues that directly impact county governments,” said NACo Pres. Sallie Clark, commissioner, El Paso County, Colo.  “We look forward to continuing to work with the White House and leaders on Capitol Hill because federal decisions have a cascading effect on county governments and residents.  

“We stand ready to strengthen intergovernmental collaboration to make our neighborhoods and our nation safer and more prosperous.”

One of the President’s top priorities is making sure more Americans feel the national economic resurgence he discussed.  While economic recovery has advanced across counties, gaps in opportunity remain.   

According to NACo’s County Economies 2015 report released earlier today, 2015 was a year of growth; however, most county economies have not recovered to pre-recession levels on jobs and unemployment.  Only 7 percent of county economies have fully recovered on four key economic indicators — jobs, unemployment rate, economic output (GDP) and median home prices.  Additionally, between 2009 and 2014, real wage growth has not always kept pace with productivity gains.

As local governments and states work with the Administration to bolster economic recovery on the ground, we must also work to improve America’s criminal justice system at all levels — federal, state and local. 

The county role in criminal justice reform is especially important because counties own 85 percent of American jails, and these jails house more than one-third of the country’s incarcerated population. 

Counties have undertaken initiatives to ensure that criminal justice systems operate in the most equitable, efficient manner possible and that justice-involved individuals struggling with mental illness or substance abuse receive the treatment they need in appropriate settings.  

This past summer, NACo, the Council of State Governments Justice Center and American Psychiatric Association Foundation launched Stepping Up: A National Initiative to Reduce the Number of People with Mental Illnesses in Jails.  Since then, more than 200 counties have joined the call to action.  

Mayor Luttrell, who serves as vice chair of NACo's Large Urban County Caucus and subcommittee chair of its Justice and Public Safety Steering Committee, encouraged bipartisan approaches to addressing criminal justice reform to achieve the best results for our residents.  “This is a great opportunity to really highlight those areas where we can build consensus and collaboration around national issues,” he said.   “We welcome a renewed emphasis on the importance of correcting our criminal justice system and doing this in a nonpartisan, collective way.”  

NACo Executive Director Matthew Chase said, “It's clear that federal policies matter to county governments and county governments matter to America.  Every level of government must work together to shape policies that improve the quality of life for all Americans. 

“Whether it’s building and maintaining infrastructure, providing essential services or fostering conditions for economic growth, counties are on the front lines serving communities.  NACo stands ready to work with the Administration and Congress to make America’s counties healthier, more vibrant and safer places to live and work.”

For more information about County Economies 2015, visit: www.naco.org/CountyEconomies.  

Click below to watch Shelby County, Tenn. Mayor Mark Luttrell, who sat with the First Lady along with Greenwood County, S.C. Councilmember Edith Childs, discuss the importance of criminal justice reform.