HomeMy WebLinkAboutres2015-021WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL NO. 2015-047L
CLEARANCES
Initial
Date
Date Received in Council Office
Agenda Date
Assi ned to:
twh
05128115
06.09.1 S
Finance
Ori inator.-
E C E B V E D
Council
Division Head:
Dept. Head:
JUN 0 2 2015
WHATCOM COUNTY
Prosecutor:
(lb /whg
Purchasin /Bud et:
COUNCIL
Executive:
/OZ 4
TITLE OF DOCU N Resolution authorizing Executive and Council support of the National Stepping Up Initiative
designed to reduce the number of people with mental illness in jail.
ATTACHMENTS: Memo
Resolution
SEPA review required? ( ) Yes ( ) NO
Should Clerk schedule a hearing ? ( ) Yes ( ) NO
SEPA review completed? ( ) Yes ( ) NO
Requested Date:
SUMMARYSTATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE: (If this item is an ordinance or requires a public hearing, you
must provide the language for use in the required public notice. Be specific and cite RCW or WCC as appropriate. Be clear in
explaining the intent of the action.)
Executive Louws respectfully requests Council support and approval to sign on to the Call to Action to reduce the number of
people with mental illnesses in our county jail and to commit to sharing lessons learned with other counties in our state and
across the country to support a national initiative and encourage all county officials, employees and residents to participate in
Stepping Up.
COMMITTEE ACTION:
COUNCIL ACTION.•
6/9/2015: Forwarded to Council for approval
6/9/2015: Approved 7 -0, Res. 2015 -021
Related County Contract #:
Related File Numbers:
Ordinance or Resolution Number:
Res. 2015 -021
Please Note. Once adopted and signed, ordinances and resolutions are available for viewing and printing on the County's website
at: www.co.whatcom.wa.us /council.
SPONSORED BY:
PROPOSED BY: Executive
INTRODUCTION DATE: June 9, 2015
Resolution 2015- 021
Resolution to Support the National "Stepping Up" Initiative Designed to
Reduce the Number of People with Mental Illnesses in Jails
WHEREAS, counties routinely provide treatment services to the estimated 2 million people
with serious mental illnesses booked into jail each year; and
WHEREAS, prevalence rates of serious mental illnesses in jails are three to six times higher
than for the general public; and
WHEREAS, almost three- quarters of adults with serious mental illnesses in jails have co-
occurring substance use disorders; and
WHEREAS, adults with mental illnesses tend to stay longer in jail and upon release are at a
higher risk of recidivism than people without these disorders; and
WHEREAS, county jails spend two to three times more on adults with mental illnesses that
require interventions compared to those without these treatment needs; and
WHEREAS, without the appropriate treatment and services, people with mental illnesses
continue to cycle through the criminal justice system, often resulting in tragic outcomes for
these individuals and their families; and
WHEREAS, Whatcom County and all counties take pride in their responsibility to protect and
enhance the health, welfare and safety of its residents in efficient and cost - effective ways; and
WHEREAS, Whatcom County has developed a continuum of behavioral health programs
funded through the Behavioral Health Sales Tax Fund, which helps people stay out of jail by
offering mental health and substance use disorder treatment and support; and
WHEREAS, the continuum of behavioral health programs address four primary goals, one of
which is to provide interventions that divert mentally ill and chemically dependent citizens
from the criminal justice system to more appropriate options of care; and
WHEREAS, Whatcom County has established an Incarceration Prevention and Reduction
Task Force intended to provide the County Council and County Executive recommendations,
oversight, and specific timeframes on the development of new, or enhancement of existing
programs designed along a continuum that effectively reduces incarceration of individuals
struggling with mental illness and chemical dependency, and minimizes jail utilization by
pretrial defendants who can safely be released; and
WHEREAS, through the Stepping Up Initiative, the National Association of Counties, the
Council of State Governments Justice Center and the American Psychiatric Foundation, are
encouraging public, private and nonprofit partners to reduce the number of people with
mental illnesses in jails; and
NOW, THEREFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED, that I, Jack Louws, County Executive, with the
support of the County Council, do hereby sign on to the Call to Action to reduce the number
of people with mental illnesses in our county jail, commit to sharing lessons learned with
other counties in my state and across the country to support a national initiative and
encourage all county officials, employees and residents to participate in Stepping Up. We
resolve to utilize the comprehensive resources available through Stepping Up to:
• Convene or draw on a diverse team of leaders and decision makers from multiple
agencies committed to safely reducing the number of people with mental illnesses in
jails.
• Collect and review prevalence numbers and assess individuals' needs to better
identify adults entering jails with mental illnesses and their recidivism risk, and use
that baseline information to guide decision making at the system, program and case
levels.
• Examine treatment and service capacity to determine which programs and services are
available in the county for people with mental illnesses and co- occurring substance
use disorders, and identify state and local policy and funding barriers to minimizing
contact with the justice system and providing treatment and supports in the
community.
• Develop a plan with measurable outcomes that draws on the jail assessment and
prevalence data and the examination of available treatment and service capacity, while
considering identified barriers.
• Implement research -based approaches that advance the plan.
• Create a process to track progress using data and information systems, and to report
on successes.
APPRUMM �tr;f6IWar d&y,pf June, 2015
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Dana E roWnr. '�r�;i �y' • `' ��
Clerk 6i4he Cou'llcil ' ® ,`%`�
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Chief Civil Deputy Prosecutor
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Carl Weimer,
Council Chair