Boone County News Release

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Boone County Commissioner Janet Thompson Appointed to National and Statewide Committees

September 8, 2021 –On August 13, 2021, Boone County Commissioner Janet Thompson was reappointed to the National Association of Counties (NACo) Justice and Public Safety (JPS) Steering Committee as the Vice Chair, and to the NACo Healthy Counties Advisory Board. Janet has served on the JPS Steering Committee for six years and on the Healthy Counties Advisory Board for two years. Within a week of these appointments, the Missouri Association of Counties (MAC) announced Janet’s appointment as Chair to its Policing/Justice/Mental Health Steering Committee.

Prior to her service as Boone County Commissioner, Janet worked for 25 years in the Missouri State Public Defender System. Since her election to the Commission in 2012, she has focused attention on county-wide efforts to improve the criminal justice system, including addressing risk factors leading to involvement with the criminal justice system. These efforts include the County’s participation in the Stepping Up Initiative, which focuses on mental illness in jails, and the Data-Driven Justice Initiative, which focuses on developing resource-saving interventions for populations who may be better served by jail alternatives. Additionally, Janet is the Commission liaison for the 13th Judicial Circuit Family Court Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) Steering Committee, the Boone County Community Services Department and the Cradle to Career Alliance, all of which focus on reducing risk factors for at-risk youth and families and improving the odds of success for children, families and our community. Janet’s service as Commission liaison to the Board of Health, Boone County Family Resources, and Central Missouri Community Action connects her to not only the healthcare needs and resources in our community, but also to the vulnerable populations who are often most in need of healthcare access and advocacy.

NACo’s Justice and Public Safety Steering Committee has jurisdiction over the organization’s policies on all matters pertaining to criminal justice and public safety systems, including ​criminal justice planning, law enforcement, courts, corrections, homeland security, community crime prevention, juvenile justice and delinquency prevention, emergency management, fire prevention and control, and civil disturbances. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

NACo’s Healthy Communities Initiative is focused on public-private partnerships in local health delivery; access to, and coordination of, care for vulnerable populations in the community, including through health services in hospitals, community health centers and county jails, while concentrating on cost-containment strategies; and community public health and behavioral health programs. The Healthy Communities Advisory Board, comprised of county leaders who are health advocates and corporate partners, identifies priorities and ensures that other county leaders receive timely information to make appropriate health decisions for their counties.

The MAC Policing/Justice/Mental Health Committee is responsible for issues affecting the court system, jails, the prosecutorial system, probate, and the offices of the sheriff, prosecuting attorney, circuit clerk, and coroner. The committee is also responsible for issues affecting aging, public health, mental health, alcohol and drug abuse, developmental disabilities, social services, human services, nursing homes and mental health facilities.

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