HomeMy WebLinkAboutCriminal Justice Nov 24 2020Whatcom County
Council Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360) 778-5010
Committee Minutes - Final
VIRTUAL MEETING - VIEW ONLINE;
ENDS NO LATER THAN 10:25 A.M.
Tuesday, November 24, 2020
9:25 AM
Virtual Meeting
COUNCILMEMBERS
Barry Buchanan
Tyler Byrd
Carol Frazey
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
Dana Brown -Davis, C.M.C.
Council Criminal Justice and Public Committee Minutes - Final November 24, 2020
Safety Committee
Call To Order
Roll Call
Committee Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 9:25 a.m.
in a virtual meeting.
Present: 3 - Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd and Carol Frazey
Absent: None
Also Present: Rud Browne, Todd Donovan, Ben Elenbaas, and Kathy Kershner
Special Presentation
AB2020-501 Presentation and discussion of Public Defense Policies for conflict of Codefendants
and Case Weighting Standards for Whatcom County Public Defender's Office
The following people briefed the Councilmembers and answered questions:
• George Roche, Prosecuting Attorney's Office
• Starck Follis, Public Defender's Office
They answered questions about why the Public Defense Policies Memo
lists conflict of interest as a challenge facing indigent defense, who is on
the Public Defense Advisory Committee and whether these policies have
been vetted through that committee, how many other counties have
case -weighting policies, whether the proposed weighting system is a
standard from the State or a system the Public Defender's Office has
historically been using, whether this would be neutral in how the cases are
measured per attorney or whether the Public Defender's Office would need
to bring more contract work in at times should these policies get put in
place, and when the proposed policies should come before the Council for
formal consideration.
This agenda item was PRESENTED AND DISCUSSED.
Items Added by Revision
Other Business
Adjournment
There were no agenda items added by revision.
There was no other business.
The meeting adjourned at 9:53 a.m.
Whatcom County Page 1
Council Criminal Justice and Public Committee Minutes - Final November 24, 2020
Safety Committee
ATTEST:
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WA
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Kristi Felbinger, Minutes Transcription
Whntcom County page 2