>> FROM OUR STATE HOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M TODD STACY.

WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH A STORY THAT SHOOK UP THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE OVER THE WEEKEND - THE OUSTER OF DR. BARBARA COOPER AS SECRETARY OF THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

GOV.

KAY IVEY ON FRIDAY ANNOUNCED THAT COOPER HAD RESIGNED OVER THE USE OF A TEACHER TRAINING MANUAL THAT THE GOVERNOR SAID CONTAINED "“WOKE CONCEPTS."”.

THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, IN A PRESS RELEASE, CITED TWO EXAMPLES FROM THE BOOK - ONE DISCUSSING WHITE PRIVILEGE AND THAT "“THE UNITED STATES IS BUILT ON SYSTEMIC AND STRUCTURAL RACISM"” AND ANOTHER THAT IVEY'S OFFICE CLAIMED TEACHES LGBTQ+ INCLUSION TO 4-YEAR-OLDS.

AS SECRETARY, COOPER PRESIDED OVER THE STATE'S HIGHLY TOUTED FIRST CLASS PREK PROGRAM, THAT HAS CONSISTENTLY RANKED AS THE NATION'S BEST FOR QUALITY.

DR. JAN HUME WILL TAKE OVER AS INTERIM SECRETARY.

THE LEGISLATURE WILL RETURN TO ACTION TUESDAY, AS THE SESSION NEARS ITS HALFWAY POINT.

ONE ISSUE MANY EXPECT TO BE A TOP FOCUS IS CRIME.

IN PARTICULAR, STATE PROSECUTORS AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY ARE ASKING THE LEGISLATURE TO ENACT A LAW TO CRACKING DOWN ON RETAIL THEFT, INCLUDING ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT.

THEY SAY THE PROBLEM WILL LEAD TO MORE STORE CLOSURES IF THE ISSUE ISN'T ADDRESSED.

>> THE LARGE SECTION OF THE ASSOCIATION IS ABOUT TO ANNOUNCE THEY'RE GOING TO BE CLOSING HALF OF ALL OF THEIR STORES IN CHICAGO DUE TO THEFT.

HALF OF THE LARGEST MEMBER OF THE GROSS ASSOCIATION IN AMERICA IS ABOUT TO CLOSE HALF OF THE STORES IN CHICAGO TO SHUT IT DOWN.

THAT SHOULD SEND A CHILL ABOUT YEAR FIVE.

BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS CHICAGO HAPPENS HERE.

IT'S HAPPENING HERE BUT THAT'S A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF STORES CLOSING AT ONE ADVERTISEMENT.

IT'S SHOCKING.

>> I HAVE HAD ONE BIG BOX STORE, A NATIONAL CHAIN THAT TOLD ME THE NUMBER 1 REASON THAT HE CLOSED IN IN THE CITY OF MOMENT WAS DUE TO RETAIL THEFT.

I HAVE ANOTHER BIG BOX STORE, A NATIONAL CHAIN, THAT TOLD ME IT'S CRIPPLING THEIR BUSINESS.

SO THAT IS A HUGE ISSUE IN MY COMMUNITY OF MONTGOMERY.

I KNOW IT'S A HUGE ISSUE IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA, ESPECIALLY IN THE MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREAS AND OF COURSE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

>> LAWMAKERS WILL ALSO BE TALKING ABOUT STREET RACING.

HOUSE BILL 29 FROM REPRESENTATIVE ALLEN TREADWAY IS EXPECTED TO BE IN COMMITTEE THIS WEEK.

SEN. RODGER SMITHERMAN IS CARRYING THE SENATE VERSION.

>> IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS IS, THIS IS WHERE THEY COME DOWN THE STREET, DO DOUGHNUTS IN THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN.

WE HAVE HAD FOUR PEOPLE TO GET KILLED BECAUSE THE FOLKS ARE OUT THERE WITH THOSE CARS AND THE CARS GET OUT OF CONTROL.

AND I ACTUALLY SAW THIS MYSELF IN MIDTOWN, IF YOU HAVE YOU'RE EVER DOWN IN THE MIDTOWN AREA.

I'M SITTING AND LOOKING DOWN AND SEEING THEM DOING DOUGHNUTS AND SPINNING AND THIS IS WHERE PEOPLE LIVE IN THE AREA, IN THE AREA WHERE ABOUT 20,000 PEOPLE LIVE IS WHERE YOU HAVE OLD PEOPLE GOING AND ALL OF THESE FOLKS WALKING AROUND THE STREETS AND THESE PEOPLE COMING DOWN THERE.

SO THE LAW DOES NOT PERMIT OFFICERS TO BE ABLE TO REGULARLY ENFORCE THIS.

IT'S A LITTLE MISDEMEANOR THE WAY IT IS NOW.

THE HOUSE CONVENES AT 1:00 AND THE SENATE GOES IN AT 2:30.

AND WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH TONIGHT'S GUESTS.

>> JOINING ME NEXT IS KIM BOSWELL, COMMISSIONER OF THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH.

COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANKS, TODD.

I'M GLAD TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION.

>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 988.

A LOT PEOPLE DON'T 9818 A CRISES HOTLINE SIMILAR TO 911 FOR MENTAL HEALTH REASONS.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THAT WORKS AND HOW IT CAME ABOUT?

>> 988 IS THE 911 FOR MENTAL HEALTH CRISES.

IF YOU'RE HAVING DIFFICULTY -- LIKE NOW IF YOU HAVE A HEALTH EMERGENCY YOU CALL 911.

IF YOU'RE HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCY YOU CAN CALL 988 AND GET THE SERVICES THAT YOU NEED.

IF YOU DIAL THAT NUMBER THERE'S A COUNSELOR ON THE OTHER END OF THE PHONE WHO CAN HELP YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON.

IF YOU NEED SOMEONE TO COME TO YOU.

OF COURSE, WE CAN DEPLOY OUR MOBILE CRISES TEAMS, OR IF YOU NEED SOMEWHERE TO GO YOU CAN GO TO ONE OF OUR CRISES CENTERS.

AND JUST IN THE SIX MONTHS -- ACTUALLY NINE MONTHS ALMOST NOW SINCE 988 STARTED WE HAVE HAD OVER 30,000 CONTACTS.

>> WOW.

>> SO CALLS, TEXTS AND CHATS.

THAT GIVES YOU A LITTLE BIT OF AN IDEA OF HOW MUCH NEED IS OUTDOOR THERE.

>> SO THE WORD HAS GOTTEN OUT.

>> YES.

>> THAT'S GOOD.

AND I HAVE TO IMAGINE THAT PART OF IT IS, YOU KNOW, NOT EVERYBODY NEEDS TO CALL 911.

YOU CAN'T OVERLOAD THAT SYSTEM.

IT'S A DIFFERENT NEED.

>> UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS A LOT OF TIMES, WHEN SOMEONE IS IN A MENTAL HEALTH CRISES.

IF THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHO TO CALL, THEN THEIR NATURAL TENDENCY IS TO DIAL 911.

AND UNFORTUNATELY IF YOU DIAL 911 YOU'RE GOING TO GET EMS OR LAW ENFORCEMENT OR BOTH.

AND, OF COURSE, EMS COMES OR LAW ENFORCEMENT COMES THEY HAVE LIMITED OPPORTUNITY.

THEY'RE EITHER GOING TO TAKE YOU TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.

OR SOMETIMES IF LAW ENFORCEMENT COMES AND THEY HAVE NO OTHER OPTION THEY MAY WIND UP TAKING YOU TO JAIL.

SO LAW ENFORCEMENT IS VERY EXCITED.

I HAVE TALKED TO A LOT OF DINNER GROUPS AROUND THE STATE.

AND LAW ENFORCEMENT IS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THIS GIVES THEM AN OPTION TO TAKE FOLKS TO A CRISES CENTER TO HELP THEM CONNECT TO SERVICES SO THAT YOU GET A MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE DURING THAT CRISES INSTEAD OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE.

>> LOOK, THIS IS A STATE SERVICES.

THIS IS A SERVICE JUST LIKE A LOT OF SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED.

THE SERVICES COST MONEY.

SO THERE'S GOING TO BE LEGISLATION, I UNDERSTAND, TO BOLSTER SOME FUNDING TO SUPPORT THIS AND FUND IT PROPERLY.

>> CORRECT.

SO THE ALABAMA 988 ACT WOULD INS SENSE HELP US FUND THE LIFE SAVING CRISES SERVICES THAT WE HAVE BEGUN OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.

WE HAVE BEEN ON YOUR SHOW.

TIMES TALKING ABOUT CRISES SERVICES.

THE DILEMMA IS THOSE SERVICES ARE NOT AVAILABLE STATEWIDE AND WE DON'T HAVE A CRISES CENTER IN EVERY COMMUNITY.

WE DON'T HAVE MOBILE CRISIS TEAMS.

WE NEED DIFFERENT FUNDING FOR CALL CENTERS TO RESPOND TO THOSE 988 CALLS.

SO REALLY WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS A 98-CENT SURCHARGE ON CELL PHONE USAGE AS A WAY OF GENERATING REVENUE SO THAT WE CAN EXPAND CRISES SERVICES ACROSS THE STATE.

THAT'S VERY SIMILAR TO THE WAY 911 IS CURRENTLY FUNDED.

CURRENTLY EVERYONE PAY'S SURCHARGE FOR OF THE 911 SERVICES THAT WE HAVE IN OUR STATE.

SO REALLY WITH THE NATIONAL ACT THAT WAS PASSED IN '20, THE FCC ALLOWED FOR SURCHARGE ON CELL PHONE USAGE FOR 988 ON CRISES EFFORT SO THIS IS ALABAMA'S EFFORT TO TAKE THAT FEDERAL LEGISLATION AND IMPLEMENT IT IN ALABAMA AND GENERATE REVENUE SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THOSE LIFE SAVING SERVICES ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

>> WELL, THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS TO THINGS HERE IN THE LEGISLATURE.

SOMETIMES YOU PUT THINGS IN YOUR BUDGET AND YOU CAN COUNT ON THE GENERAL FUND.

THIS IS DIFFERENT.

THIS IS A STAND ALONE BILL.

WITH THE 98-CENT SURCHARGE, WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THAT ROUTE INSTEAD OF ASKING FOR APPROPRIATION?

>> SO WE THINK IT'S A PRETTY HEAVY LIFT FOR THE GENERAL FUND.

AS YOU KNOW, WE RECEIVED SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN FUNDING IN THE GENERAL FUND OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.

THIS WOULD GENERATE ABOUT $68 MILLION IN REVENUE TO HAVE THOSE SERVICES STATEWIDE.

I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT SURVIVED PRORATION THE LAST TIME.

SO REALLY, FOR ME, I GET A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT PRORATION, YOU KNOW, WE TOOK A $40 MILLION CUT IN OUR BUDGET THE LAST TIME PRORATION HIT AND WE PRETTY MUCH DISMANTLED THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM OVER THAT TIME PERIOD.

SO REALLY IT'S A PRETTY BIG LIFT AS THE GENERAL FUND AND THIS IS THE WAY THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT INFLATION AND REVENUE THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE GENERAL FUND.

I GET A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT OUR ABILITY IS IT TO SUSTAIN THOSE KIND OF INCREASES IN THE GENERAL FUND EVEN THOUGH THE LEGISLATURE HAS DONE A FACEMASK JOB OF SHORING UP THE REVENUE STREAMS FOR THE GENERAL FUND WE DO GET A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW SUSTAINABLE THAT IS OVER ADVERTISEMENT.

THIS REVENUE WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO US IN 2025, SO IT REALLY WOULDN'T HAVE A BUDGET IMPACT IN 2024, AND SO, WITH THAT IN MIND, WE WERE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT -- ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THE FUNDING THAT WE HAVE SEEN FOR CRISES SERVICES AND WE REALLY DON'T WANT TO PROTECT THAT FUNDING AND BUILD ON THE FUNDING INCREASES THAT WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN IN THE GENERAL FUND BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN VERY GENEROUS WITH US.

THE GOVERNOR AND THE SILVER FOLKS HAVE BEEN VERY GENEROUS IN FUNDING CRISES SERVICES.

>> ALSO IT'S VERY MUCH LIKE 911.

IT'S A USER FEE.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO NEED IT BUT YOU'RE GLAD YOU HAVE IT WHEN IT HAPPENS.

WE ONLY HAVE A FEW MINUTES LEFT.

I WANTED TO ASK FOR AN UPDATE.

YOU MENTIONED THE CRISES CENTERS.

THIS HAS BEEN A BIG ENDEAVOR FOR YOUR OFFICES AND THE LEGISLATURE, FUNDING IT.

BUILDING UP THESE CRISES CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

WHERE ARE WE?

I'M LOSING COUNT WITH WHERE WE ARE AND HOW THEY ARE.

>> WE HAVE THREE CRISES CENTERS THAT ARE FULLY OPERATIONAL THAT HAVE BEEN OPERATING FULLY IN CALENDAR YEAR 2022.

JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, FOR THOSE CRISES CENTERS DURING THAT TIME WE HAD 412 PEOPLE SHOW UP AT A CRISES CENTER WHO WERE CONTEMPLATING SUICIDE, SO WE REALLY FEEL LIKE THE MODEL WORKS.

WE HAVE PROVEN DATA.

SO THOSE THREE CENTERS HAVE BEEN OPERATING WRONGER THAN A YEAR.

IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, WE HAVE A CRISES CENTER THAT REALLY JUST BECAME FULLY OPERATIONAL ABOUT A MONTH AGO, SO THAT'S OUR 4TH CRISES CENTER IN BIRMINGHAM.

AND THEN IN TUSCALOOSA AS WELL AS DOTHAN THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS OF STANDING UP CRISES CENTERS IN THOSE COMMUNITIES.

WE ANTICIPATE THAT THEY WILL HAVE AT LEAST TEMPORARY OPERATIONS OFFER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

>> IT'S INTERESTING TO HEAR YOU TALKING ABOUT IT, BECAUSE I REMEMBER THE DAYS OF THE MID 2000S WHEN ALL OF THOSE CUTS AND ON TOP OF THAT, AND IT SEEMS TO BE -- IT'S DEFINITELY BECOME A PRIORITY FOR THIS LEGISLATURE AND FOR THE STATE, AND SO CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.

I KNOW THERE'S A LONG WAY TO GO BUT AT LEAST IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S BEEN SOME PROGRESS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WELL, WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

BUT THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COMING BY AND EXPLAINING SOME OF THIS STUFF.

>> THANK YOU AGAIN, TODD.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

CLEAR.

>> JOINING ME NEXT IS LEAH NELSON RESEARCH DIRECTOR AT ALABAMA APPLE SEED.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> YOU KNOW IT IS VICTIM'S WEEK AND YOU HAVE A REPORT DEALING AND LOOKING INTO VICTIMS AND HOW THE STATE SORT OF DEALS WITH THAT AND HOW COMMUNITIES DEAL WITH IT.

CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH THE HIGH POINTS OF WHAT YOUR RESEARCH FOUND?

>> YEAH.

SURE.

SO I THINK, AS YOU KNOW, APPLESEED TENDS TO WORK SHE DOES AROUND MASS INCARCERATION.

WE HAVE REPRESENTED INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SENTENCED TO DIE IN PRISON AND GOTTEN SOME OF THEM OUT.

THIS WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A PIVOT FOR US.

AND IT HAPPENED BECAUSE AS WE SPEND TIME IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT OUR GUYS, THE PEOPLE THAT WE REPRESENT, ON WHOSE BEHALF WE ADVOCATE, AS WE SPEND TIME WITH THEM AND GET TO KNOW THEM AND HANG OUT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, WE WERE HEARING A COMPLICATED STORY THAT WE FELT NEEDED TO BE FURTHER EXPLORED.

SO WE'RE OFTEN LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE FINES AND FEES, WHAT HAPPENS AFTER PEOPLE ARE PUNISHED?

ARE THEY ABLE TO MEET THE MARK OF THE PUNISHMENT?

DO PUNISHMENTS IN ALABAMA MAKE SENSE?

WHAT WE WERE HEARING AT THE SAME TIME AS PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN EXCESSIVELY PUNISHED FOR TALKING TO US IS THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED A LOT OF VIOLENCE AND VICTIMIZATION IN THEIR LIVES.

IN PARTICULAR, MY COLLEAGUE KELLY GREER WHO HAS LIVED IN SELMA AND MONTGOMERY TALKS A LOT ABOUT THINGS LIKE OWING FINES AND FEES AND THAT BEING VERY FRUSTRATING TO HER.

SHE SPENT SOME TIME IN PRISON.

BUT SHE ALSO LOST HER ADULT SON TO HOMICIDE IN MONTGOMERY ON FATHER'S DATE ABOUT 25 YEARS AGO.

AND KELLY MANY, MANY OTHER PEOPLE TALK IN THIS VERY NUANCED WAY ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE OF THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN CRIME AND VIOLENCE OCCURS.

SO WHAT WE DID WAS GO BACK INTO THOSE SAME COMMUNITIES THAT WERE OFTEN WORKING WITH -- SORT OF ON THE DEFENSE ORIENTED SIDE AND ASK THEM ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH VIOLENT VICTIMIZATION AND THE LOSS OF LOVED ONES TO VIOLENCE.

SO WE WENT ALL AROUND THE STATE AND WE SURVEYED 401 PEOPLE WHO HAVE EITHER PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, ASSAULT, BEING SHOT OR SHOT AT, BEING RAPED OR WHO HAVE LOST LOVED ONES TO HOMICIDE.

AND WE ASKED THEM KIND OF WHAT HAPPENED AFTERWARDS?

WAS THERE EVER A POINT WHERE THEY GOT WHAT THEY NEEDED FROM THE SYSTEM?

WHAT WOULD THEY HAVE WANTED, IN ADDITION TO WHAT THEY GOT?

WHAT WOULD THEY HAVE WANTED INSTEAD OF WHAT THEY GOT?

WHAT WOULD THEY DO DIFFERENTLY IF THEY COULD WAVE A MAGIC WAND.

>> I NOTICE THAT YOU PROFILED SUMMER STURDIVANT FROM SELMA, AND THIS IS A COMPELLING STORY.

LIKE YOU SAID, SHE HERSELF WASN'T THE RECIPIENT OF THE VIOLENCE BUT SHE HAD A BROTHER WHO DIED, AND IT CATALOGS ALL OF HER FRUSTRATION DEALING WITH A SYSTEM THAT DIDN'T SEEM EQUIPPED TO DO THIS.

SO I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU WHAT WOULD IT TAKE?

IS IT A FUNDING THING, A RESOURCE THING, OR IS IT MORE OF A CHANGE OF FOCUS TYPE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD SEEKS FROM THESE FINDINGS.

>> WELL, FUNDING IS ALWAYS AN ISSUE.

BUT MONEY FOLLOWS OUR VALUES; RIGHT?

WE FUND THE THINGS THAT WE CARE ABOUT.

OR AT LEAST WE TRY TO.

SO SUMMER AS 25 YEARS OLD A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHEN SHE GOT A PHONE CALL FROM A PANICKED FRIEND WHO TOLD HER THAT HER BROTHER HAD BEEN SHOT IN SELMA.

SUMMER WAS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER SO SHE RACED TO THE SCENE AND GOT THERE BEFORE ANY 1ST RESPONDERS DID.

AND HER BROTHER WAS SHOT IN THE HEAD.

HE WAS STILL ALIVE BUT HE WAS DYING.

HE WAS HER YOUNGER BROTHER BUT WAS ALSO A YOUNG ADULT HIMSELF.

SO HE HAD A SMALL SON AS WELL.

HER BROTHER DIED ON THE SCENE.

AND THEY ARRESTED THE MAN WHO SHOT HIM, AND THAT MAN IS STILL WAITING FOR TRIAL.

YOU KNOW, IT IS A LONG TIME IN A MURDER CASE TO GET TOGETHER EVERYTHING YOU NEED AND DECIDE WHAT THE APPROPRIATE APPROACH IS FROM THE PROSECUTOR'S PERSPECTIVE.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME SUMMER AND HER FAMILY HAD A LOT OF IMMEDIATE EMERGENCIES TO DEAL WITH.

THE 1ST WAS A FUNERAL.

SO FUNERALS RUN 7- TO $8,000 IN ALABAMA ON AVERAGE.

THAT'S LOT OF MONEY.

AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY BUT THEY WANTED TO DO -- THEY WANTED TO HONOR HIM PROPERLY, SO THEY, YOU KNOW, PAID FOR A FULL FUNERAL.

THEY PULLED TOGETHER THE MONEY THEY COULD AND THEY ALSO APPLIED TO THE CRIME VICTIMS COMPENSATION FUND BY DUDS PAY EMERGENCY EXPENSES FOR THINGS LIKE FUNERALS AND THEY FILLED OUT ALL OF THAT PAPERWORK AND SENT IT IN.

ANOTHER EMERGENCY THEY HAD TO DEAL WITH RIGHT AWAY WAS THIS LITTLE BOY THAT HER BROTHER LEFT BEHIND WHOSE MOTHER, IN THAT MOMENT, WAS NOT EQUIPPED TO BE HIS SOLO PARENT.

SHE WAS VERY YOUNG.

THE WHOLE FAMILY LOVES HIS LITTLE BY.

I DON'T WANT TO TALK TO HIM LIKE HE'S A BURDEN.

HE'S THEIR SON AND NEPHEW AND EVERYTHING.

BUT KIDS ARE EXPENSIVE.

AND BECAUSE SUMMER OF'S BROTHER DIDN'T SIGN THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE AND THERE WAS NO LEGAL CONNECTION BETWEEN THE BOY AND HIS FATHER, IT WAS VERY COMPLICATED TO GET ANY KIND OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT THIS CHILD WHOSE FATHER HAD JUST DIALED.

AND THEY NEEDED THINGS IMMEDIATELY.

DIAPERS, THE DISPOSABLE STUFF THAT KIDS GO THROUGH REALLY FAST, AND AS SHE WAS CALLING THE DA'S OFFICE, IT WAS NOT GETTING THE MEET EMERGENCY HELP THAT SHE NEEDED.

IT'S BEEN PRETTY WELL DOCUMENTED OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, WITH STORIES FROM AL CALL, THAT THE VICTIM'S COMPENSATION COMMISSION IS UNDERSTAFFED AND IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO GET BACK WITH PEOPLE ABOUT THEIR CLAIMS.

SO WHEN I TALKED WITH TUMOR, THE FUNERAL HOME WAS THREATENING TO TAKE HER FAMILY TO SMALL CLAIMS COURT.

AND THAT IS AN UNNECESSARY STRESS AS IS THE STRESS OF HAVING A CHILD WHO HAS NEEDS AS MUCH -- THEY ADORE HIM AND THEY WANTED TO KEEP HIM.

THEY LOVE HIM BUT THEY NEED FINANCIAL HELP WITH HIM.

AND I THINK SUMMER'S EXPERIENCE REALLY REFLECTS A LOT OF WHAT WE HEARD FROM PEOPLE AS WE WENT AROUND THE STATE.

IT'S NOT THAT THEY OBJECT TO THE COURT IS THEM SO MUCH AS THAT THEY NEED MORE FOR THE OTHER KINDS OF EMERGENCIES THAT OCCUR IN THE WAKE OF VITAL VICTIMIZATION OR HOMICIDE.

SO ONE THINGS CONCRETELY THAT WE NEED IS TO FIGURE OUT A FASTER WAY TO MEET THOSE NEEDS THAT DOESN'T REACH SO MUCH OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE THEM.

>> THE OTHER THING THAT SUMMER DUDS AND THIS WAS ALSO COMMON IN THESE COMMUNITIES IS SHE'S INVOLVED WITH OTHER WHOM THAT THESE KIND OF HOSPITALS AND OFTEN THERE ARE COMMUNITIES THAT EXPERIENCE A LOT OF VIOLENCE, A LOT OF DEATH OF YOUNG PEOPLE BY HOMICIDE.

AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN DOINGS THIS RESEARCH, WE ENCOUNTERED PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY WORKING IN THEIR COMMUNITIES TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER.

NOT NECESSARILY FINANCIALLY, BECAUSE THERE'S NOT THAT MUCH MONEY TO GO AROUND.

BUT TO BE THERE FOR EACH OTHER.

AND THAT ACTUALLY IS SOMETHING YOU ASKED FUND.

WE HAVE A REALLY INTERESTING MODEL IN THE STATED INVOLVING PEER SPECIALISTS IN THE STUBS USES CONTEXT WHERE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN RECOVERY CAN GET CERTIFIED AND TRAINED TO WORK WITH OTHER PEOPLE JUST LIKE THEM.

AND KIND OF HELP THEM NAVIGATED RECOVERY.

AND I WONDER ABOUT WHETHER A SIMILAR NETWORK COULD BE DEVELOPED OF PEOPLE WHO CAN HELP OTHERS NAVIGATE AFTER VIOLENCE OCCURS.

SO THIS IS NOT ABOUT GETTING RID OF THE SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE.

IT'S ABOUT ADDING A PARALLEL SYSTEM OF SUPPORT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RECOVERY RECOVERING FROM VIOLENCE AND LOSS.

>> I WAS I'M GOING TO ASK BECAUSE SOMETIMES THAT MEANS GOVERNMENT.

SOMETIMES IT MEANS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, CHURCHES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO IS THERE A PRIVATE SECTOR NONPROFIT -- DO YOU THINK THAT HAS A ROLE TO PLAY HERE?

>> I THINK THAT THERE ARE ANY NUMBER OF WAYS THAT IT COULD GET DONE AND CERTAINLY CHURCHES ARE A MAJOR SOURCE OF THIS KIND OF HELP.

WHERE THE STATE COULD BE USEFUL I THINK, ONE WOULD BE FUNDING POTENTIALLY BECAUSE THESE ARE VERY HARD JOBS, THEY'RE EMOTIONALLY DEMANDING AND THEY HAVE FOUND STUDYING FOR PEER SPECIALISTS IN THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE CONTEXT.

BUT ALSO IN EXAMINING THE OBSTACLES THAT PEOPLE LIKE SUMMER FACE IN GETTING MONEY, YOU KNOW, FOR THAT CHILD.

AND THERE ARE A LOT OF CHILDREN WHO ARE ORPHANED AFTER PARENTS DIE.

IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR PEOPLE TO FACE THE KIND OF WHAT ICK OBSTACLES THAT SUMMER OF FACED.

AND I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE SOLUTION IS BUT I FEEL SURE THAT YOU COULD SIT DOWN AND THINK THROUGH, ALL RIGHT, HOW DO WE CREATE SOME SORT OF EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE THAT'S AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY AND DOESN'T HAVE QUITE SO.

LEGAL HURDLES TO CLEAR FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ALSO GRIEVING A CLOSE FAMILY MEMBER, SUDDENLY EXPERIENCING FAMILY, PARENTHOOD, AND NOW, YOU KNOW, DON'T NEED TO GET 9,000 THINGS NOTARIZED.

>> SURE.

WHAT I HAVE YOU ON AND WE HAVE A MINUTE OR SO LEFT, BUT THERE ARE FINDINGS IN HERE ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND HOW THESE FOLKS THAT YOU HAVE SURVEYED PEEL ABOUT THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY A MAJORITY SAYING THEY ALMOST NEVER OR NEVER CALL THE POLICE IN RESPONSE.

PLENTY ALSO SAYING THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN TREATED WITH RESPECT BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.

IF I'M LAW ENFORCEMENT, I DO NOT WANT TO SEE THESE NUMBERS BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T HAVE TRUST IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT YOU'RE POLICING, THAT'S A REAL PROBLEM.

SO TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT AND WHAT POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS MIGHT BE OUT THERE ON THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE?

>> YEAH.

THAT WAS A FINDING THAT WAS PRETTY STAGGERING OF HOWEVER IT'S KEEPING IN NATIONAL NUMBERS.

SO FEWER THAN 50 PERCENT OF PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE VITAL VICTIMIZATION CALL THE POLICE.

SO WE JUST ABOUT MATCHED THAT NUMBER IN PEOPLE WHO AGREED WITH THE STATEMENT "I NEVER OR ALMOST NEVER CALL THE POLICE IN RESPONSE TO VICTIMIZATION THAT I EXPERIENCED.

AND I DID DRILL DOWN WITH PEOPLE.

IF YOU WITNESSED A MURDER WOULD YOU CALL THE POLICE?

AND PEOPLE SAID NO.

I WAS SURPRISED BECAUSE I WOULD.

AND THE REASONS WERE COMPLICATED.

SOME OF THEM FELT BECAUSE OF THEIR IDENTITIES THEY COULDN'T CALL THE POLICE.

SO WE DID A FOCUS GROUP WITH SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS WHO EXPERIENCE PRETTY HIGH LEVELS OF VICTIMIZATION AND FEEL LIKE THEY CAN'T CALL THE POLICE BECAUSE IT COULD TRIGGER DEPORTATION AGAINST THEM: I SPOKE WITH TRANS WOMEN WHO FEEL LIKE THEY CANNOT CALL THE POLICE BECAUSE THERE ARE TOO MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY THE GENDER ON THEIR ID DOESN'T MATCH HOW THEY'RE PRESENTING AND THEY, IN THE WAKE OF VIOLENCE, DON'T FEEL ABLE TO EXPLAIN THEMSELVES.

THEY NEED COMFORT AND HELP NOT QUESTIONS ABOUT WHO THEY ARE AND WHY THEIR ID LOOKS THE WAY IT DOES.

EVEN PEOPLE WITH COMMUNITIES WITH A HIGH LEVEL OF VIOLENCE, THERE MAY BE OTHER ISSUES FLOATING AROUND IN THE COMMUNITIES FAMILY THAT EXPERIENCES VITAL VICTIMIZATION.

MAYBE SOMEONE IN THE COMMUNITIES HAS A FAILURE TO APPEAR WARRANT.

MAYBE SOMEONE IN THE COMMUNITIES RECREATIONALLY USES MARIJUANA, AND THOSE THINGS ARE PRESENT SO WHEN YOU'RE CALLING THE POLICE ARE YOU PUTTING YOUR BROTHER OR SISTER OR EVEN YEARS AT RISK?

SO PEOPLE ARE MAKING A LOT OF DIFFERENTIAL CALCULATION IT.

AND THERE'S NO EASY ANIMALS TO IT.

WE EXPECT LAW ENFORCEMENT GENERALLY TO ARREST PEOPLE WHEN THERE'S A WARRANT, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY OBSERVE ILLEGAL BEHAVIOR.

SO I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THE QUESTION OF HOW DO WE SOLVE THAT.

AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN BLAME ON INDIVIDUAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

I THINK AS A STATE WE NEED TO STEP BACK AND THINK ABOUT OUR PRIORITIES AND WHO NEEDS WHAT WHEN.

AND HOW WE CAN PROVIDE A MORE APPROACHABLE SYSTEM FOR PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE VIOLENCE.

AND YOU KNOW, WHAT DO WE VALUE AND WHAT TO WE PRIORITIZE AND PEOPLE ARE HURT.

>> WE'RE OUT OF TIME BUT WILL SHARE THE LINK TO THE REPORT FOR OUR VIEWERS, AND I ENCOURAGE THEM TO LOOK IT OUT.

>> LEA NELSON, WE APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE WILL BE BACK TOMORROW NIGHT AT 10:30 WITH MORE CONVERSATION OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

I'M TODD STACEY.