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Safety council to air meetings on public TV Law enforcement officials who guide criminal justice policy in Jackson County say they want to bring more of the community into their discussions. Beginning Tuesday, the county's Public Safety Coordinating Council will air its monthly meetings on public television. "We look forward to the broadcast of our meetings," said Judge Ross Davis, council chairman. "It's an opportunity to engage the public in local justice activities." The council officially formed in January 1997, when Gov. John Kitzhaber signed a bill requiring each county to convene a safety coordinating council to develop and recommend plans for offender treatment, education, employment and intervention strategies. In Jackson County, the council includes 22 representatives from law enforcement, corrections and criminal justice offices. The group monitors law enforcement issues and makes recommendations to the Jackson County Board of Commissioners. "The council very much wants the public to see what it's doing and have a chance to provide input," said Bob Grindstaff, the county's chief parole and probation officer. Jail overcrowding is one such problem, he said. In recent years, the council spearheaded efforts to establish a work release center at a county corrections building in Talent and spearheaded a criminal justice levy, which voters turned down. A pre-trial release supervision program was recommended to the Jackson County Board of Commissioners and implemented in January. The council meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at 11:30 a.m. in the Jackson County Courthouse auditorium. Tuesday's meeting is the first that will be aired live on Rogue Valley Community Television channels 9 and 30. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA