Olympia's Community Court awarded $400,000 federal grant, officials plan to increase services

Alternative adjudication program is one of only four in the United States

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Olympia's Community Court was recently awarded a $400,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, which court officials plan to spend on increased housing, mental health and addiction services for court participants.

Olympia’s Community Court system is one of four courts of its sort in the entire United States.

Since launching in January 2016, the court has seen a sizable reduction in recidivism among its participants. Currently, only 19 percent of court graduates have been accused of crimes after graduation — compared against the national average of around 45 to 50 percent, according to Community Court Judge Scott Ahlf.

The court is considered a therapeutic court; it takes a “non-traditional approach to low-level offenses,” said Diane Whaley, the court’s executive coordinator. Individuals who qualify for the Community Court Program — which is determined by the type of crime the person is accused of — are given a risk assessment. That determines what social needs the person needs to help them back on their feet and reduce their chances of committing another offense.

“One of the primary goals of Community Court is to stabilize the participant so that they are self-sufficient, with a long-term goal of increased community safety and reduction in recidivism,” said Whaley during the council meeting.

Rather than be incarcerated, the participant takes part in community service and sessions with service providers.

Since its inception, Community Court has had 443 participants and 194 graduates of the program. Currently, housing and mental health issues rank as the top two needs among Community Court participants. Court data show that 59 percent of all participants were in need of stable housing and mental health services. Drug and alcohol addiction services were the next largest need, with 54 percent.

During Tuesday’s city council meeting, court officials discussed their plans for allocating grant funds across a number of needs — primarily caseload staffing and providing for additional housing and addiction services.

Currently, Community Court contracts with third-party providers that offer a bevy of social services. One of them is SideWalk, which helps homeless individuals find housing and offers short-term rent assistance. Another, Pinnacle Peak, offers addiction and mental health services. Over the next two years, community court officials plan to use grant funding to pay for more services in these areas.

The city provides $81,483 for the Community Court budget. The grant funding may pay for more services from the existing service providers, or for additional service providers. A budget presented to council members this week projects an additional $70,000 to be spent on housing services, $156,970 on mental health and addiction services and $159,218 on increasing case management resources (currently, one case manager works for the court for 30 hours per week. This funding would allow for two full-time case managers). Ahlf noted that these allocations aren’t set in stone yet. The final approval will come from the U.S. Department of Justice.

For someone to become a participant of the Community Court system, they must be accused of a crime within Olympia and have their case heard in Olympia Municipal Court. The municipal court handles misdemeanor and other low-level offenses. The court prosecutor will evaluate whether the person fits the criteria for community court.

“The prosecutor may, in his or her discretion, decide that a person charged with a crime is eligible to opt into Community Court on minor nonviolent offenses. In determining eligibility for Community Court, the prosecutor should consider all available information, including the nature of the offense, the facts alleged in the police report, any prior violent and/or felony history, and any behavior that demonstrates a level of criminal sophistication which exceeds the scope of available resources. Factors to consider for inclusion into Community Court include the following: a demonstrated willingness to comply with conditions and/or accept responsibility, a need for social services, a lack of resources in the county of residence, and motivation to make changes,” reads the community court handbook.

The handbook includes the following list of offenses as ones commonly eligible for community court participation, but noted that any offense tied to domestic violence is an automatic disqualification from the program:

  • Trespass
  • Camping
  • Urinating in Public
  • Pedestrian Interference
  • Failure to Respond to Notice of Infraction
  • Minor in Possession
  • Minor Exhibiting Effects
  • Supply Liquor to Minor
  • Driving While License Suspended Third Degree
  • Theft
  • Possession of Stolen Property
  • Unlawful Issuance of Bank Checks
  • Vehicle Prowling Second Degree
  • Malicious Mischief
  • Property Damage
  • Graffiti
  • Violation of Exclusion Order
  • Littering
  • Disorderly Conduct
  • Possession of Marijuana
  • Use Drug Paraphernalia
  • Obstructing Justice
  • Hindering Law Enforcement
  • Resisting Arrest
  • False Statement to a Public Servant
  • Criminal Impersonation
  • Possession of Dangerous Weapon
  • Carry Concealed Weapon

During Tuesday’s council meeting, Council member Lisa Parshley noted that the council has talked about transforming the local justice system, in the wake of national and local demonstrations demanding an increased focus on equity.

“I need to thank all of you because you give us that pride, and you’re helping us look forward and see the transformative change can happen, because it already is happening,” said Parshley.

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