# Justice Resource Advisory Council Meeting | Dec. 5, 2025 **Body:** Buncombe County Government — Justice Resource Advisory Council **Date:** December 5, 2025 12:35 PM EST (2025-12-05T12:35:12-05:00) **Link:** https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/533 ## Summary **Justice Resource Advisory Council Meeting Recap: December 5, 2025** The Justice Resource Advisory Council (JRAC) convened on December 5, 2025, to focus primarily on the development of its two-year strategic plan. The council also reviewed proposals for organizational changes, received updates on housing and behavioral health initiatives, and considered an external assessment of its operations. A motion was passed to restructure the agenda, moving the Vice Chair nomination and election to the end of the meeting to prioritize the strategic plan discussion. The central discussion of the meeting involved the refinement of JRAC’s strategic goals, which were categorized into four key areas: Behavioral Health, Community Engagement, Courts, and Law Enforcement. The council reviewed specific objectives, such as expanding inpatient treatment bed capacity for detox and rehabilitation, developing processes for law enforcement assisted diversion programs, and creating standards for case management. During the debate, the council agreed to broaden the goal of engaging individuals with lived experience, envisioning a group that would provide feedback across all JRAC initiatives. Concerns were raised regarding the feasibility of certain goals, and the council acknowledged the need to address disparities in arrests and court data, particularly in light of new legislation impacting bond eligibility. Ultimately, the council confirmed the listed goals and assigned responsible parties to each, including the Behavioral Health and Justice Collaborative, the Community Engagement Work Group, and the Coordinated Community Response Team. Regarding organizational changes, the council discussed a proposal to rename JRAC to the "Criminal Justice Coordinating Council." The transcript indicates that the council will explore this renaming and present the proposal to County Commissioners. Additionally, Tom Eberle and Denise Chandler from the Justice Management Institute (JMI) presented a proposal for a six-month assessment of JRAC, which would evaluate the council’s alignment with national best practices. After discussing the potential benefits, the council decided not to proceed with the JMI assessment at this time, citing a current focus on strategic planning and concerns about timing. Angie Garner, Community Relations Regional Director for Vaya Health, presented an update on various housing and reentry programs. She detailed the status of the "Money Follows the Person" transition coordination program, the Integrated Supportive Housing Program, and the Justice Reentry Program, which provides case management for individuals returning to the community after incarceration. Garner also shared data on the Co-Responder Program, noting that in the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2026, 78% of referrals were diverted from the emergency department, while only 0.6% resulted in an arrest. The council discussed the funding challenges associated with these housing initiatives and the importance of collaboration to address housing needs within Buncombe County. No public comments were recorded during the meeting. Regarding next steps, the transcript summary states that JRAC will continue to refine the strategic plan and develop measures for tracking progress. Staff will gather data and feedback on housing initiatives to inform future discussions. The council will also explore the renaming of JRAC to the "Criminal Justice Coordinating Council" and present the proposal to County Commissioners. A special meeting may be scheduled in January to further discuss community program updates and potential collaborations. ## Agenda - [Strategic Plan (40 min )](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/533/item/24444) - [Vice Chair Nominations and Election ( 10 min )](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/533/item/24445) - [Presentations:](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/533/item/24446) - [JMI ( 10-15 min )](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/533/item/24447) - [Vaya Health (15-20 min)](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/533/item/24448) - [Bylaws Update ( 10 min )](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/533/item/24449) - [Name Change-Criminal Justice Coordinating Council](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/533/item/24450) - [Other Changes](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/533/item/24451) - [Committee Updates](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/533/item/24452) - [Behavioral Health Justice Collaboration ( 10 min )](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/533/item/24453) - [Partner Updates:](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/533/item/24454) - [District Court](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/533/item/24455) - [Superior Court](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/533/item/24456) - [Sheriff’s Office](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/533/item/24457) - [District Attorney](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/533/item/24458) - [Community Program Introduction ( 5 min )](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/533/item/24459) - [Public Comments](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/533/item/24460) - [Roll Call](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/533/item/25263) - [Approval and/or Corrections to the October 3rd, 2025 Minutes](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/533/item/25264) - [Partner Updates: District Court](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/533/item/25265) - [Partner Updates: Sheriff’s Office](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/533/item/25266) - [Adjournment](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/533/item/25267) ## Video & Transcript - Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m55UsNRg0QA - Transcript: https://sunshinemeetings.org/transcript/220/segments ## Documents - [supporting_2025-12-05.pptx](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/533?document=15732) - [supporting_2025-12-05_2.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/533?document=15734) - [agenda_2025-12-05.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/533?document=15733) - [supporting_2025-12-05_3.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/533?document=15735) ## Sources - [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m55UsNRg0QA)