Title
Briefing on Olympia Municipal Community Court
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee
City Manager Recommendation:
Receive the information. Briefing only; no action requested
Report
Issue:
Whether to receive a briefing from the Olympia Municipal Court on Community Court. This is a therapeutic court held weekly in conjunction with the Wednesday arraignment calendar to provide a different approach to the legal problems that are resistant to the traditional court solutions.
Staff Contact:
Scott Ahlf, Municipal Court Judge, Court, 360.753.8025
Diane Whaley, Community Court Executive/Public Defense Coordinator, Administrative Services Department, 360.753.8057
Rocio Ferguson, Chief Prosecutor, Prosecutor’s Office, 360.753.8043
Monica Schneider, Probation Services Supervisor, Probation, 360.753.8707
Diana Duch, City of Olympia Public Defender, 360.584.9243
Maryam Olson, Court Administrator, Court 360.709.2783
Presenter(s):
Diane Whaley, Community Court Executive/Public Defense Coordinator
Scott Ahlf, Municipal Court Judge
Rocio Ferguson, Chief Prosecutor
Background and Analysis:
Due to the increasing homeless population in the City, a large number of the filings in the court are for quality of life offenses within the downtown core such as criminal trespass, theft, possession of drug paraphernalia, marijuana possession, etc. Many of the defendants charged with these crimes often suffer from mental illness/chemical dependency issues. These are repeat offenders who need help to stop committing re-occurring crimes. These individuals need direct access to service providers including housing, chemical dependency, mental health, employment, education, health care/basic needs, family support, transportation, LGBTQ/Victim’s Services, and youth services. In the past, resources in Thurston County have been spread out and spread thin.
Community Court provides an opportunity for an immediate link to social services. By providing an immediate link, the goal is to stabilize the defendant so that they can become self-sufficient. The ultimate goals of Community Court are to break the cycle of low-level offending, hold offenders accountable through visible restitution, and increase public safety and trust.
Community Court welcomes anyone in need. Accordingly, a person does not need to participate in Community Court nor be a criminal defendant to utilize the services.
Community Court operates each Wednesday morning with on-site social service providers at the courthouse. Upon first court appearance, each eligible defendant is individually assessed via a risk assessment. Feedback is gathered from individual service providers and an individualized plan is cooperatively created by the defendant, defense attorney, and prosecutor. Cases in Community Court can resolved either with a plea of guilty with a deferred sentence to dismiss if all conditions are met, or by an amendment to an infraction depending on the underlying charge.
Once a defendant opts in, the length of time spent in the program can vary from 30 days to nine months, with the average length at six months. Based on 2017 statistics, the top three crimes of those defendants of Community Court who choose to opt in are:
1) Theft (83 charges in 2017)
2) Criminal Trespass (10 charges in 2017)
3) Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (6 charges in 2017)
Since its inception, Community Court has opted in 242 defendants and has had 95 successful graduates. In 2017, of the cases that closed, 85% completed their social service conditions and 89% met their community service/work crew requirements.
History
Olympia Community Court “soft launched” on January 6, 2016 and fully launched on January 4, 2017, after a year of development, with a celebratory ribbon cutting.
Initially, Community Court started in a hallway with four volunteer providers: SideWalk (Housing), Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council (Employment), SeaMar (Basic Needs), and South Puget Sound Community College (Education).
In 2016, Olympia was selected as one of ten sites by the Center for Court Innovation to receive a $200,000 Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance grant over the course of two years from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2018.
The grant funded some of the existing providers and allowed for the funding of a drug and alcohol and mental health service provider.
All providers were transferred to the former court services building, which is now referred to as the Community Court provider building. The grant further funded additional employee hours for data collection/resource coordination, a case manager, seven new computers, one printer/copier; network wiring, utility payments for the provider building, security, office supplies, a community garden, and travel funds for educational opportunities.
Over the course of its development, Community Court has acquired eleven providers. In addition to those named above, additional providers include Northwest Resources (drug and alcohol), Pinnacle Peak (mental health), Family Support Center of South Sound (family/housing services), Intercity Transit (transportation services), Department of Social and Health Services (social services), Community Youth Services (youth services), and Partners in Prevention Education (LGBTQ/victims services).
Public Safety Levy
With the recent passage of the public safety levy, Olympia will be able to sustain this program. From the levy, $125,000 per year has been allocated to sustain Community Court so as to provide a seamless transition from grant period to post public safety levy. Some highlights include the ability to sustain our current providers, the provider building, the Community Court garden, case management, data collection, resource coordination, and security.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Public safety
Options:
Briefing only; no action requested
Financial Impact:
N/A
Attachments:
Quick Facts
Court Policy
Community Partners Brochure
Community Court Brochure