The Chattanooga-Hamilton County NAACP is challenging the county's recent adoption of a court-ordered victim services fee and wants a broader conversation on justice reform.
The $45 victims' assistance assessment, intended to provide revenue to a pair of nonprofit victim services agencies, passed by a 5-0 margin on Aug. 3, with commissioners Greg Beck and Warren Mackey essentially abstaining by voting "present."
A judge may levy the fee against a defendant found guilty of crime punishable by imprisonment and a fine of at least $500. Fee revenues will be split between the Partnership for Families, Children and Adults and the Children's Advocacy Center of Hamilton County.
The Chattanooga-Hamilton County NAACP has issued a statement condemning the victim services fee as "a dangerous precedent" and cautioning against excessive fees that amount to "revenue generators that adversely affect, cause irreparable harm and undue hardship to the working class poor, African-Americans and other minority groups."
On Wednesday, NAACP branch secretary Eric Atkins asked the Hamilton County Commission to reconsider its stance on the victim services fee.
"We need to have a discussion on criminal justice reform in this county," Atkins said. "Our system sort of slants toward retributive justice, and focuses on punishments and penalties. What we support is restorative justice because we want people to make amends and atone."
Mackey, who has repeatedly called for more resources to rehabilitate prisoners instead of punishing them more, agreed with Atkins' call for a public forum.
Beck and Mackey both said they wanted to see better outcomes for nonviolent offenders.
In other business, Commissioner Joe Graham made a second public plea for the county commission to consider appointing an interim replacement to temporarily fill the District 3 seat. Commissioner Marty Haynes, who now holds the seat, will serve his last day on Aug. 31 and begin his new job as the Hamilton County assessor of property on Sept. 1.
A special election on the November ballot will determine who holds the seat until the 2018 election cycle, according to previous statements made by Commission Chairman Chester Bankston.
Graham voiced concerns over 4-4 deadlocks that might occur while the district goes unrepresented, especially in light of sensitive issues or unexpected crises.
Commissioner Randy Fairbanks said the commission ought to defer to Haynes on transition plans for the district.
After the meeting, Haynes said his constituents have not expressed concerns over the vacancy.
Contact staff writer Paul Leach at 423-757-6481 or pleach@timesfreepress.com. Follow on Twitter @pleach_tfp.