From reducing prison sentences to developing thriving young adults, Community Passageways impact on our young people and the community is wide-reaching. While only 10% of King Countys 2 million residents are black, they now make up almost half of the detention population on any given day, and more than half of felony offenses. Many of us know that something is wrong with the criminal justice system, but we dont know what to do about it or where to start. Creative Justice and Collective Justiceare working with the King County Department of Public Defense to form Restorative Community Pathways, a consortium of service providers for children facing potential misdemeanor . Restorative Community Pathways is an evidence and community-based program to help change a youths behavior, reducing crime and creating a better future for themselves, their families, and our community, said Executive Constantine. The first program started in 2017 with a few youth and young adults, to date, Community Passageways serves over 500 young people a year with multiple programs, including school based, court advocacy, diversion, community support (emergency response), gang intervention, healing circles, youth advocacy, and family support. King County Executive Constantine speaks to early success of evidence Also, some downtown buildings are not open to the public due to a project to close the Administration Building and relocate the agencies affected. The same person who goes through the justice system as a victim one day goes through as a defendant the next. If the county wants to find alternatives to detention for the young people facing serious felony charges, she said, the solution may involve offering victim support services more widely. Restorative Community Pathways (RCP) is the best way to reduce the juvenile crime rate in King County, said Jimmy Hung, Chief Deputy Prosecutor at King County's Juvenile Division. The county will also begin to look for new alternatives to traditional fare enforcement on Metro buses. The result? hen King County launched Restorative Community Pathways two years ago, youth incarceration in King County had already reached record lows 43 juveniles per day, on average, in 2019. After citing existing law, the prosecutors office comes to this conclusion in this hypothetical scenario. We have a system that is wildly racially disproportionate, and its disproportionate despite what Fox News will tell you, because Black and brown people are treated differently throughout our society, including by every element of the criminal and legal system, Constantine said. If passed, the property tax levy will help fund behavioral health infrastructure in the region. The truth is, criminal rehabilitation and homelessness outreach must adopt the same strategy if theyre to succeed. Show them new paths. Jimmy Hung, chief deputy prosecutor of the King County Prosecuting Attorneys Offices juvenile division, spoke to the thousands of juvenile prosecution referrals his office would typically receive in past years and the difficult decisions he and his office have had to make about when it makes sense to bring a juvenile into the court system. It would launch by 2022 and would be the countys first diversion program, in this form, for felony offenders, said Anita Khandelwal, director of the King County Public Defenders office. We want to break institutional racist systems. Restorative Community Pathways has funds to offer the victims of crimes immediate restitution without going through a lengthy court process, Hung said. Contact the Council: Main phone: 206-477-1000: TTY/TDD: Relay: 711: Contact all 9 . Its quite possible that the treatment that we used wasnt the appropriate treatment. We have a four-pronged approach to community justice: Prevention: Keep youth on a good path. , The FIRS Center is a unique respite facility within the Patricia Clark Children and Family Justice Center offering analternative to secure detention for youth referred for family violence. During a Law, Justice, Health and Human Services Committee meeting on March 1, when the proposed motion was brought up, many community members testified against pausing the Restorative Community Pathways program and argued that the program was a necessity in the regions communities. Dominique was a gifted football player, who had to make the decision between his dream to play professionally or survive, he chose the latter. If we want to end this cycle of violence, if we want to see all of our community members thrive, then we must first see all of us as we see ourselves; flawed, human, and in our woundedness capable of causing harm and as we heal, capable of infinite good. But there are other treatments that are available. 4) Bring your own professional skills to the group whether you are a service provider, lawyer, mental health professional, emergency responder, parent, partner, teacher the list is endless. In 2016,Dominiqueestablished Community Passageways, after multiple gun related deaths and incidents on Rainier Avenue. The FIRS Center is staffed 24/7 by Pioneer Human Services. The same could be said for vehicle theft and other types of non-violent crime that undermine public safety and quality of life. Please reach out for more information on our volunteer needs. Marlon Brown, a board member of Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County, called the changes a first step. It could become a facility that serves an older population of young adults, said Nance. I think we as a society, and especially in America, need to have a come to Jesus moment on what our criminal justice system is actually capable of, Hung said. Maintaining those numbers, Constantine said, will allow the county to close one floor (out of 12) of the jail in downtown Seattle, resulting in a $1.9 million annual savings. Thats why RCP exists. , Making Diversion Programs More Culturally Responsive. Dolphy Jordan, a Seattle-based member of the Incarcerated Childrens Advocacy Network, spent 21 years in Washington prisons for a murder he committed when he was 16. Our community-centered and evidence-based model provides an alternative to the current criminal legal system. CLICK HERE to Download Full .PDF Acknowledgements Thank you to the thousands of citizens who, Jails, Sheriffs and Carceral Policymaking is a useful law review article about the hidden to, Irene then turned to helping others break free of our dysfunctional justice system, founding the, 11 x 17 LARGE POSTER FOR COMMUNITY EDUCATION TWO SIDED Side One- BLINDSPOTS:UNEXPECTED FINDINGS, Wow! Check out this County in Oregon! While Whatcom County could easily have been the, The Restorative Community Coalition She said leaders should listen to the first-hand experiences and experts who are involved with these programs. Diversion meetings happen in the community closest to where ayouth lives, with either a staff member or volunteers. 2) Reach out to us related to the iChange Justice Podcast offer suggestions, ask questions, nominate guests. They feel like they have to act differently. Rep. Harris-Talley has spent over 20 years building powerful movements for change in our region and statewide . ChangeWA is a non-partisan 501(c)(4) organization focused on advancing common sense policies around smart growth, public safety, government accountability and good governance throughout Washington state. To be fair, the point isnt entirely false. And they come even as the coronavirus pandemic has forced cutbacks across nearly all branches of county government. 1) It helps real people in real time to deal with real issues up close and personal. University of Washington, Michael G. Foster School of Business. From his perspective, a restorative justice model that automatically divides violent offenders from their peers is counterproductive. We know that felonies carry with them collateral consequences that affect a persons ability to get a job, or get education, or to get housing all of those things really lead to de-stabilize that individual and their neighborhood and their family, King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg said. 3) Crisis and trauma have individual ripple effects; yet together by giving our ideas and resources we can do turnarounds and make waves of positive change. Held alongside them were others held for more minor crimes, including one young person charged with misdemeanor assault and another charged with possession of a stolen vehicle. At the same time, Change Washington believes other reforms should include the following: Theres been enough wasted spending and no accountability when it comes to addressing the homelessness crisis in King County. Learn more about Restorative Community Pathways. He detailed how a juveniles involvement in the court system and the criminal justice environment can damage a young persons self-esteem and self-worth, making them more likely to develop a life of criminality. She believes diverting these kinds of juvenile offenders from courts could allow them to escape accountability. Volunteering with Community Passageways is a way to invest your skills, heart, and mind into our young people. Thediversion process is usually quicker and less stressful than the court process. In particular, it is shockingly irresponsible to remove legal consequences for any firearm-related crime at a time when gun violence is surging to an all-time high. What's Next in King County's Path to Ending Youth Detention? You can choose your level of involvement.It will take many hands working together at different levels to bridge the gaps while rebuilding healthy communities. This is a new "restorative justice" program that provides alternatives to jail time. PO Box 31026, Bellingham, WA 98228 He has published work withKUOW,North Carolina Public Radio, andThe Progressivemagazine, and he is currently working on a podcast forKUAFin Fayetteville, Arkansas. He said RCP provides better accountability for the offender and more support for the victims of crimes compared to the traditional court system. Working hands-on with those directly impacted, You will learn to innovate and bring forward new solutions that help people adjust. Restorative Community Pathways Community Navigator. The FIRS Center is a safe, positive, andsupportive space. But even as the overall number decreased, our current juvenile legal system has a disproportionately harmful impact on youth of color, particularly black youth. Restorative Community Pathways (RCP) was implemented in November. It would work with already established local organizations, like Choose 180, Creative Justice and Community Pathways. An additional $2.7 million investment would divert about 1,000 first-time, nonviolent adult offenders out of the judicial system. Community testifies in support of restorative justice for youth in It may be something that looks very much like detention, but are we going to call it something different and claim that were at zero youth detention?. Dow Constantine. Dominique served as Co-Director of the Choose 180 Program from 2011 to 2016, which was named2015Best New Nonprofit by Seattle Foundation and Seattle Met Magazine under his leadership. 6) As an elected official, political activist, or civic involved person, come and learn or share your concerns for systemic change. Bottomline, the accumulated effect is that we are ending habitual trauma cycles that plague individuals, families and the whole community network. Executive Constantine highlights anti-racism and criminal legal system Dunn proposes pause to highly controversial criminal diversion program Carr then pivoted to the newly-implemented Restorative Community Pathways (RCP). We look at the complexity, notice the tough spots, the complications and identify your optimal frugal need, so you and your family can get a leg up in the process. Jimmy Hung heads the juvenile division at the King County Prosecutor's Office.. . Become a changemaker with us! Theres nothing about that new building that feels like a therapeutic space, he said. Over time, the RCP Youth Steering Committee will develop to be directed by youth and young adults who have completed the RCP program. This includes increased gun violence in domestic violence situations, around homelessness, and interestingly enough, road rage. Whats listed their charge provides the legal basis for a judge to deprive them of their freedom. "RCP at its core is a program that provides healing and restoration for youth. Brockman said she believes restorative justice and public safety can coexist and that restorative justice that works to rehabilitate rather than punish is a public safety strategy. This is a community-led initiative, supported by the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) that builds on King Countys current plans and investments to realize the vision of a community where every person can thrive, said Sheila Ater Capestany, Children Youth and Young Adults Division Director in DCHS. If a youth does not complete a Diversion Agreement or does not respond to requests to meet to establish a Diversion Agreement,Juvenile Court sends the case back to the prosecutor, at which time the prosecutor might decide to file criminal charges. My proposals for anti-racism and criminal legal system transformation Beyond this, the community-based organizations can help victims of crimes in areas that have nothing to do with the crime itself such as housing or food insecurity. But despite the new alternatives, the number of young people spending the night in cells in the mural-bedecked facility on Alder Street has effectively plateaued. Karen Pillar, director of policy for youth legal services office, cited stats from the last time the state studied recidivism rates for incarcerated youth. When you make that distinction, the kid feels it. Khandelwal called it a a long overdue departure from a racist, ineffective and failed legal system.. The new center was built next to the decaying, 69-year-old Youth Services Center. Reintegrate: Ensure a smooth, successful integration into the community. The program diverts kids who have committed a crime away from the prison system and instead focuses on rehabilitation through . Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. Dominique often says it will take the community to heal the community--we are the ones we have been waiting for. The Restorative Community Coalition We create alternatives to incarceration for youth and young adults by rebuilding our communities through committed relationships centered on love, compassion, and consistency. 2) You are investing in the future while healing the past. The COVID recession, along with the need to fundamentally transform our criminal legal system, created necessary budget reductions for the King County Sheriffs Office, Gallagher said. "Restorative Community Pathways (RCP) is an evidence-based strategy for holding young people who commit a first-time offense accountable, reducing youth incarceration, and racial disproportionality in the juvenile justice system," the statement continued. King County's shadow juvenile crime system needs reform To demonstrate this philosophy, he used an example of a situation in which two school students see each other outside of school and one decides he is going to bully the other and take his backpack. We support our youth and young adults at every stage of the criminal legal processfrom prevention to detention. FIRS and Step Up focus on families experiencing family violence. Restorative Community Pathways (@restorative_community - Instagram Below is a snapshot of our effectiveness between 2017 and 2018. off prison time compared to initial charges. By 2020, Choose 180s annual report noted that 96% of the young people it served did not reoffend within a year. Get directions. Kids engage in risk-taking, Hung said. Even though he was involved in making quick money, he had a desire to give back through coaching and personal training. King County Council approves program to let community groups - KOMO At the end of a Thursday in early March, 28 teenagers sat in the King County Juvenile Detention Center on Alder Street in Seattles Central District. Similarly, Jordan suggested that young people who are unable to have a positive response to out-patient restorative justice programs might need a long term in-patient care facility staffed by counselors who have experienced mental health crises, substance abuse, systemic racism, and housing insecurity. This is designed to replace the school-to-prison pipeline with a school-to-life success pipeline. Jayanna Thompson. In a recent news story by KUOW (NPR-Seattle), King County prosecutor candidate and Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell called attention to the types of crimes that would fall under the RCP. But lets take organized retail theft or organized burglary, which also falls underneath the program and is a huge problem right now in King County. However, just as there are many homeless who have no desire to reenter normal society, there are criminals who plan to continue that lifestyle. KUOW Public Radio on Instagram: "On a Sunday morning last November, an Juvenile division prosecutor defends Restorative Community Pathways Kristin Elia, Executive Office, 206-477-8209, Main phone: 206-263-9600 OPINION: The World We Need Must be Built by Community Not Courtrooms We will gather a wealth of wisdom from our diversity: 1) Join us at our monthly community Membership meeting to learn from others directly about their experiences, their problems and resolutions. Moreover, what is left out is whether keeping a juvenile in jail or giving them social services is in the best interest of public safety. King County has historically proven that diversion works to reduce juvenile crime, and thats exactly what RCP aims to do, said Dan Satterberg, King County Prosecuting Attorney. Mental Health Therapist. And so someone who is drafting a motion like that just doesnt understand it.. Jeremy Crowe, RestorativePrograms Supervisor, 206-477-6528,jeremy.crowe@kingcounty.gov. Follow us and connect below: 1429 AVENUE D #262, SNOHOMISH, WA, 98290-1742. Ferrell has described the program as easily fixable, stating that accountable and judicial oversight needs to incorporated. Hung said the way Dunn and other community leaders have framed restorative justice as being separate or counter to community safety is misguided. Be the first to get new stories sent straight into your inbox. He knew felony diversion would be a foundational and life changing juncture for young people and he developed a four-prong approach prevention, diversion, incarceration (support) and re-entry. Dominique believes those closest to the problem can solve the problem! Lily Anderson, Senior Social Worker, or theStep-UpTeam (206)-477-2071,lily.anderson@kingcounty.gov. , Youth are referred to diversion by the Prosecuting Attorneys Office. Diverting a potential school shooter to a social program, when there have been repeated instances of actual shootings preceded by telltale warning signs, is beyond irresponsible.
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