National Association of Prosecutor Coordinators
NAPC/NHTSA WORKING GROUP MINUTES
December 5, 2002The NAPC/NHTSA Working Group was called to order by Working Group Co-chair Peg Dorer. Additionally present were Group members Paula Calhoon, Rick Malone, Becky McClure, Carla Oglo, and David Wallace. Additional guests included John Bobo, NTLC; Alex Ross; Barbara Moore; Roxie Barrios; Liz Ziegler and Brian Chodrow, NHTSA.
Brian Chodrow introduced and welcomed Michigan prosecutor Herb Tanner as the new NAPC/NHTSA Prosecutor Fellow who will work with NHTSA to highlight and emphasize prosecutor issues at NHTSA.
Financial Report - Roxie Barrios presented the NAPC Financial Report showing there was a checking balance of $42,496.41. It was decided that the group would not request a draw down of funds at this time, but would do so in January to prepare for 2003 activities and expenses.
Report on Deliverables - Peg Dorer distributed a list of deliverables reporting that we are on task. Tasks for January will include the quarterly report, reports from the Prosecutor Fellow and Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutors and a draw down of funds.
Funding Requests - The Group reviewed and acted on the following requests for funding for 2003.
| Train the Trainer | Georgia | 09/03 | Approved $27,000 to include at least 5 out-of-state-attendees. |
| Lethal Weapon | Missouri | 09/03 | Approved $15,000 to include out-of-stat-attendees. |
| Basic DWI | Pennsylvania | Peg Dorer will direct PA to re-work and re-submit budget so that it does not include student expenses and will suggest the funds come from their state highway safety office. | |
| Lethal Weapon | Michigan | 03/03 | Approved $5,530 and will request MI get student expenses covered through state highway safety police. |
| Other Courses have been approved for Funding | |||
| Train the Trainer | West Virginia | 03/03 | |
| Lethal Weapon | California | 05/03 | |
| Prosecutor Mentor Program | Indiana | ||
Out-of-state attendees to a Train the Trainer program should get approval through their NAPC members from the Working Group to attend a program in another state.
Update on Program Manager - Liz Ziegler reported that the NAPC search committee has received numerous resumes, conducted interviews with four applications, but has not extended an offer at this time. The search will continue.
Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutors (TSRP) - Brian Chodrow reported that Pennsylvania is in the search process to fill a contractual position for this project. Rick Malone reported that Georgia has hired their TSRP effective 12/2/02. His name is Randall Duncan. Peg Dorer will make contact and advise the TSRP of his reporting responsibilities to the Working Group. Brian asked that Georgia send an announcement so that he could publicize the program throughout NHTSA.
NHTSA Report - Brian Chodrow reported that NHTSA's reorganization efforts were now complete and his group is now called the Prosecution Adjudication and Licensing Team. 2003 has been designated by NHTSA as "The Year of Renewed Emphasis on Impaired Driving." Mobilizations are scheduled for 2002 - 2003 as follows:
| Impaired Driving | December 20 - January 5 June 27 - July 13 December 19 - January 5 |
| Safety Belt Initiatives | May 19 - June 1 November 18 - December 1 |
NHTSA has named it's high priority states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, West Virginia. Brian is working on a modification to our cooperative agreement that would include $15,000 per state for NAPC mentoring.
Prosecutor Fellow Report - Herb Tanner reported that he had recently attended a Strategic Evaluation program. It was clear at this meeting that law enforcement does not understand the role of the prosecutor in DWI enforcement. However, NHTSA is beginning to understand the problems prosecutors face. There will be a big push in the near future to establish a TRSP in every state. He also reported that there is a movement to define performance standards for DWI prosecution and prosecutors should take the lead in establishing these standards.
National Traffic Law Center Report - John Bobo reported that he had funding for two more Protecting Lives Saving Futures and was looking for states to host. Coming up at the National Advocacy Center, he will be working on a DWI course, a Train the Trainer and an Lethal Weapon in the coming year.
Starting in February, APRI and NTLC will be publishing "to-go" guides for prosecutors on a variety of subjects. They will also be available on the NDAA website. The Group suggested he also send a copy to each prosecutor coordinator so that they could make sure their prosecutors are receiving them.
DWI Curriculum Revision Committee - Peg Dorer relayed a report from Ann Terry updating the Group on the curriculum revision. It was decided that members of curriculum revision committee would immediately format their sections into Protecting Lives Saving Futures, two-column format. They will then email them to Peg who will send the entire package out to revision committee members for final comment to be completed by January 6th. After the 6th, she will forward the final package to Brian. Then the revision committee will meet in Oklahoma City January 21st - 24th to finalize the revision. Revision committee members must notify Brian immediately by email to confirm their attendance in Oklahoma City.
Lethal Weapon Revision Committee - The next revision committee was appointed to include John Bobo, David Wallace, Paul Glover (from North Carolina) Ted Booras (from Florida) and Herb Tanner. David Wallace will chair this committee.
Website Additions and Improvements - Peg Dorer asked the group for suggestions on changes to the website. Group members suggested updating the course listings, adding the mobilization dates and including the minutes from the NHTSA Working Group meetings.
There being no further business, the Working Group adjourned.