We have civic leadership opportunities, mentoring, and change-making resources available so you can feel confident and be an effective ally for those who have been silenced by the criminal legal sector. Dunns proposal was in response to concerns about the program brought up by South King County Mayors Jim Ferrell (Federal Way), Nancy Backus (Auburn), Dana Ralph (Kent) and Armondo Pavone (Renton). Phone: 360-354-3653 , Youth are referred to diversion by the Prosecuting Attorneys Office. King County Executive Dow Constantine proposes new - The Seattle Times Constantine is proposing cutting $4.6 million in funding that the Sheriffs Office gets from tax on retail marijuana sales. He received his PhD in the streets, from the University of Rainier and Henderson. KUOW - King County gave millions to 'No New Youth Jail' activists to We support our youth and young adults at every stage of the criminal legal processfrom prevention to detention. Restorative Community Pathways (RCP) was implemented in November. Young people kept in the community through their dedication and our support have gone on to enroll in college, start businesses, graduate from high school, and help rebuild our communities. Izzy Eads. Cynthia Ricks-Maccotan, who works for a youth violence prevention program under Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, said the reason the RCP program allows referrals of youth who have committed offenses among those objected to by city leaders such as Backus and Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell is because those are the offenses that historically have been disproportionately more punitive for youth of color. The KCPAO will forward. Community Passageways CP COVID-19 Response: We are continuously committed to helping young people, their families, and the community by meeting basic needs, meeting virtually, and advocating for the release of incarcerated people. Jayanna Thompson. One can presume that this same foundational premise will be used for the adult version of this program the county intends to start soon. Bringing a gun to school and unlawful possession of a firearm in the second degree is on that list, he said. The FIRS Center is a safe, positive, andsupportive space. 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. When you make that distinction, the kid feels it. In comparison, data from the State Department of Children, Youth, and Families showed that from 2011 through 2018 juveniles sent to state prison have a recidivism rate of between 49% and 58% annually. 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?. Jay Inslee for his expected signing. Please reach out for more information on our volunteer needs. From his perspective, a restorative justice model that automatically divides violent offenders from their peers is counterproductive. In my opinion, thats a fundamental misunderstanding of what restorative justice is. The county prosecutors office expects to refer between 700 and 800 young people to the program by 2022 or 2023: as much as 80% of the prosecutors current juvenile caseload. Support: Support people already in the prison system. 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. , Youth who are eligible for diversion, along with their parent or guardian, meet with a team of trained volunteers (learn more about the Partnership for Youth Justice program and theDiversion Community Accountability BoardHERE)oran individual staff member todetermine what goes into the Diversion Agreement. We cover Seattle and King County on a budget that is funded entirely by reader contributionsno ads, no paywalls, ever. But lets not pretend theyre only targeting petty, seemingly harmless crimes. It could become a facility that serves an older population of young adults, said Nance. Instead of frustration and denial, we build purpose and opportunity. Actor and comedian Tim Allen is an example of that after being given a reduced sentence for drug charges when he was a young adult. Advocacy Program Coordinator. PDF Seattle Public Schools Seattle, Washington, United States513 followers 500+ connections. Chase Gallagher, a Constantine spokesperson, said the Sheriffs Office was consulted. There should be real ramifications, including prosecution, for these dangerous crimes.. Young Men of Color ages 16 to 25 are the primary drivers of long-term sentences in Washington State, said Martina Kartman, the founder of Collective Justice, a victim-focused restorative justice program. 2 dead, 1 critically wounded in shooting at Cal Anderson Park in Seattle, Think Seattle-area property taxes are rising fast? The final steps toward the goal of ending youth detention by 2025 will require the County to agree to non-detention-based alternatives that can support young people in the most dire circumstances including people for whom the County doesnt see a space in the existing restorative justice programs. Extensive information about Step-Up, including program curriculum, is available, Step-Up accepts referrals from court staff, community providers and families and facilitates both individual and group. In January 2022, King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn proposed a pause to the countys Restorative Community Pathways program. This includes increased gun violence in domestic violence situations, around homelessness, and interestingly enough, road rage. It is headed to Gov. Reintegrate: Ensure a smooth, successful integration into the community. King County Executive Constantine speaks to early success of evidence 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. If you or someone you care about is being negatively impacted by public health and safety issues, we are here for you. Over time, the RCP Youth Steering Committee will develop to be directed by youth and young adults who have completed the RCP program. "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. Jeremy Crowe, Restorative Programs Supervisor, (206) 477-6528, Step-Up is an internationally recognized adolescent family violence intervention program designed to address youth, violence (including threats, intimidation, property destruction, degrading language and physical violence) toward, family members. For the same period, 233 juveniles were charged through traditional prosecution, with 47, or just over twenty percent, seeing new case referrals. Lily Anderson, Senior Social Worker, or theStep-UpTeam (206)-477-2071,lily.anderson@kingcounty.gov. Contact King County Executive Dow Constantine and tell him not to move forward with the RCP for adults! Jimmy Hung heads the juvenile division at the King County Prosecutor's Office.. He argued that these juveniles are still children, just trying to discover their own identity in a system that is treating them like an adult criminal and not a child in need of guidance. Restorative Community Pathways Community Navigator. Posting comments is now limited to subscribers only. Community Passageways Early data suggests program can reduce recidivism in King County 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. Whats listed their charge provides the legal basis for a judge to deprive them of their freedom. But there are other treatments that are available. Jun 2022 - Present11 months. But his push to cut funding to the Sheriffs Office brought immediate pushback from Sheriff Mitzi Johanknecht, whose office said she was not consulted. of sentencing relative to initial charges. team are to define what restorative practices are and are not, identify pathways for gathering relevant qualitative data, assess the readiness and engagement levels of schools and staff, and evolve and strengthen relationships between the team, the department, schools, and other central office staff and community stakeholders. Rivera said that the South King County mayors who objected to RCP do not understand the methodology of restorative justice or its effectiveness. The great thing about Restorative Community Pathways is that the folks in the community who run this program treat the person who has been harmed and the person who has caused harm as equals and they provide support for both of them, Hung said. After citing existing law, the prosecutors office comes to this conclusion in this hypothetical scenario. We are living with the side effects of inherited, complex and inhumane systems that need renovation. FIRS and Step Up focus on families experiencing family violence. , The FIRS team works with families to assess risk, identify needs, complete safety planning and refer for appropriateservices. 80% of people imprisoned are nonviolent and could be contributing to their families and local economies. Featured Image: A No New Youth Jail advocate protests outside the Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center. If someone had an infectious disease, Goode said, You would isolate that person, keep them away from others for a period of time to keep them from being a harm to themselves or others, and simultaneously treat the disease. Although that model sounds similar to youth detention, Goode said, choosing new caregivers and administrators would be a game changer.. Dow Constantine. This includes participating in the hiring of community navigators by RCP consortium members. All crimes that hurt the safety of our communities such as shoplifting rings, home burglaries, and car thefts need to be taken seriously so that folks are not re-victimized and the security of our neighborhoods is preserved, Dunn said. Khandelwal called it a a long overdue departure from a racist, ineffective and failed legal system.. the King Countys Restorative Community Pathways (RCP) program, Contact King County Executive Dow Constantine, actual shootings preceded by telltale warning signs, Seattle Mayor plans to focus on root causes of homelessess, Dont be fooled by homeless spending proposals, We need a better approach to end homelessness, Criminal youth dictating how the program is run, Zoom meetings as punishment for organized theft and burglaries, Refusal by prosecutors to file charges even for serious offenses. All Rights Reserved. Last July, Constantine made a commitment to guide the County toward an end to youth detention by 2025, promising to transition the new detention center to other uses and [shift] public dollars away from systems that are rooted in oppression and into those that maintain public health and safety, and help people on a path to success.. Our Team CHOOSE 180 However, that doesnt take away their moral agency, and the worst thing to teach them is that their behavior and subsequent arrest wasnt their fault, but was due to systemic oppression. I frankly have no idea what people who live in neighborhoods where bullets are flying past their head are going through, Hung said. Contact the entire King County Council and tell them to pass a resolution postponing the adult version of the Restorative Community Pathways program until it includes accountability measures and the judiciary! Youthhave the opportunity tosign out-of-court agreements in lieu of criminal charging and formal court. 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. 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. He said RCP provides better accountability for the offender and more support for the victims of crimes compared to the traditional court system. FAX: 206-296-0194, Dan Satterberg, King County Prosecuting Attorney, Sheila Ater Capestany, Children Youth and Young Adults Division Director, Department of Community and Human Services, Sean Goode, Executive Director, Choose 180 Program, Find certified small business contractors and suppliers, data from the State Department of Children, Youth, and Families. At the end of public comment, the motion came up for a vote among the committee, during which it was rejected as every committee member other than Dunn voted against it. The program diverts kids who have committed a crime away from the prison system and instead focuses on rehabilitation through community-based organizations that specialize in restorative justice. 2) Reach out to us related to the iChange Justice Podcast offer suggestions, ask questions, nominate guests. A proposal to pause the recently implemented Restorative Community Pathways program, a program intended to divert juvenile criminal cases from the juvenile justice system into a. Paul reports on police accountability for PubliCola. While at the FIRS Center, youth engagein activities and discussions to empower, teach, and challenge them to take responsibility, make amends, restorefamily relationships, and promote positive youth development. "RCP at its core is a program that provides healing and restoration for youth. Initially, he supported the supposed tough on crime approach toward dealing with the crime by locking people up. Every dollar you donated helps to prevent youth from going to the prison system while realizing their full potential. And the variety of diversionary services available to young people is slowly growing. Restorative Community Pathways offers diversion for youth involved in a range of felony crimes, including organized retail theft, assault, residential burglary, burglary, and unlawful display and possession of a firearm. There are many, many steps still to take.. Within the first year, RCP aims to divert 400 low-level, first-time juvenile cases to an existing network of restorative justice organizations that provide immediate responses and support for youth and harmed parties. 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. With everything going on in this country youre going to allow people to go to a program with no checkback thats brought a gun to school?. "This restorative community pathway builds up the young person, sees them as a possibility to be developed and not a problem to be solved, while simultaneously making sure that the harmed party . King County group hopes to prove diversion program can be 'far more Available data for the program provided by the Prosecuting Attorneys Office, while early, is promising. RCP is an important step on King Countys journey to zero youth detention, as the County divests from the juvenile legal system responses to youth in crisis and invests in a community-based diversion response, and the early results are promising. The goals of FIRSinclude:decreasing violence in the home,preventing further police contact, and increasing family safety and well-being. CONTACT When you get involved helping people, or doing community advocacy, we provide coaching. 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 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. A World That Relies on Community and Not Courtrooms. Kristin Elia, Executive Office, 206-477-8209, Main phone: 206-263-9600 Restorative Community Pathways has funds to offer the victims of crimes immediate restitution without going through a lengthy court process, Hung said. 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. The truth is, criminal rehabilitation and homelessness outreach must adopt the same strategy if theyre to succeed. 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. interventions at the Patricia Clark Child and Family Justice Center and in the community. Be the first to get new stories sent straight into your inbox. Its no Bellingham, WA lawmakers deadlocked as drugs ravage Snohomish County, rest of state, Woman shot in West Seattle, hours after 2 killed on Capitol Hill, Oregon tells a cautionary tale about drugs, but were not listening, fare enforcement disproportionately targets. Restorative Community Pathways. The Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center, which opened quietly in February 2020, replaced the countys aging Youth Services Center. Instead of jails, we will have homes, schools, jobs, and a community that stands with our youth. It. Most of theseservices are offered without the filing of criminal charges or formal court processing. It has great artwork and lounge areas, but that doesnt make it therapeutic., Hung knows that the aesthetic changes to the detention center dont amount to a kind of restorative justice. A bill partially unwinding a 2021 policing reform clears the Legislature. This is a new "restorative justice" program that provides alternatives to jail time. They will be responsible for the direction of RCP, hold a central role in supporting community evaluations of RCP, and support in the distribution of funds. Instead, that money would be used to help people vacate old marijuana-related convictions and settle old fines and court fees. Extensive information about Step-Up,including program curriculum, is availableHERE. In study after study, children prosecuted in juvenile court achieve less success and do more harm than comparable youth who have been diverted out of the formal court system. Earlier this year, Constantine said the county would repurpose its new youth jail by 2025 and close the adult jail in Seattle at an undetermined point in the future. 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. By 2020, Choose 180s annual report noted that 96% of the young people it served did not reoffend within a year. She argued that RCP was designed to better address and rehabilitate these behaviors and do so better than the court system, criminal records and incarceration have ever done. In 2020, the Metropolitan King County Council established Restorative Community Pathways, a coalition of youth serving organizations and peer navigators, including Collective Justice who focuses on Restorative Community Conferencing for youth. RCP at its core is a program that provides healing and restoration for youth. The goal of Step-Up is for youth to stop violence and abuse toward their family and develop. In study after study, children prosecuted in juvenile court achieve less success and do more harm than comparable youth who have been diverted out of the formal court system.. 932 views, 5 likes, 9 loves, 2 comments, 15 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Covid19 Mutual Aid - Seattle: Learn about this amazing work! 5) Ally with us as a non-profit, share your point of views, your challenges and wisdom, so we can team up to bridge gaps and resolve conflicts. Over the last 20 years in Seattle, we have seen a sharp decline in the number of young people in detention. What must be made clear to them is that criminal behavior is not acceptable regardless of who does it, that they have a moral obligation to respect other peoples rights and property as others do toward them, and that there are long-term repercussions if the behavior continues. Seahawks Social Justice | Seattle Seahawks - Seahawks.com 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. Director . Sean Goode, the director of Choose 180, said ending youth detention as it currently exists will require the county to invest more faith in programs like his. She said 50 percent of incarcerated youth end up returning to the criminal justice system. . Restorative Community Pathways includes appropriate services and support for harmed parties, and restitution so that youths who cannot pay fines and other financial obligations do not end up in a cycle of probation violations and incarceration. Among the organizations thats received taxpayer money as part of the RCP is Community Passageways, which states on its website that the juvenile criminals they work with are the real victims. Juvenile division prosecutor defends Restorative Community Pathways Jana Detrick. If a young person goes through programming and they end up slipping back into behavior thats challenging or problematic, then people look at the work and say, Oh, well, this program didnt work, he said. This 2020 short documentary presented by the Seattle Seahawks, tells the story of Restorative Community Pathways, a program that seeks to alter the current juvenile legal system and instead. And thats where I think the community comes in and they do a much much better job than we could ever do.. The ripple effect is a tsunami of deep economic, generational, civic and historical traumas. Step-Up accepts referrals from court staff, community providers and families and facilitates both individual and groupinterventions at the Patricia Clark Child and Family Justice Center and in the community. Jasmin Tucker. Investing in people who are striving to rebuild their lives has a multiplier effect. The new justice center has 156 beds, and King County Executive Dow Constantine has said the County doesnt intend to fill them all. , When a youth completes all requirements in the Diversion Agreement, they do not have a criminal record and no charges are filed. In 2021, we had, by far in the history of this county, the lowest number of juvenile referrals into my office, Hung said. The new building includes a gym, a clinic, a library, and a spiritual center, as well as a room stocked with donated clothes for young people to wear to court appearances or job interviews. King County Prosecutor's race Q&A: Diversion programs, sexual offenses The goals of FIRSinclude:decreasing violence in the home,preventing further police contact, and increasing family safety and well-being. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), to guide the County toward an end to youth detention, Patricia H Clark Children and Family Justice Center, Filipino Restaurant CheBogz Rallies Support for Beacon Hill Grand Opening, Weekend Reads | COVID Responses Across the U.S.: What Worked, What Didnt, and What Made a Difference, OPINION | Guns Have Become the Tools of Cowards, OPINION | Get in the Game for Girls Sports. 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. Homelessness, criminalization of poverty, the Covid crisis, technology and social justice issues are only part of the problems we face. . And racial disparities persist: nearly half of the children currently in detention are Black, and a quarter are Latinx; only a fifth are white. He said the referrals from police departments recommending prosecution of a juvenile has drastically decreased from the tens of thousands of referrals he would receive annually in the mid-1990s, to now just over 1,000 in 2021. Resolving a case using the diversion process can helpyouth and their family access helpful services in our community. Youth who successfully complete a diversion have the addedbenefit of handling a criminal incident without having a criminal conviction. If passed, the property tax levy will help fund behavioral health infrastructure in the region. Thediversion process is usually quicker and less stressful than the court process. Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. Karen Pillar, director of policy for youth legal services office, cited stats from the last time the state studied recidivism rates for incarcerated youth.
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