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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCriminal Justice Jul 11 2023Whatcom 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 Tuesday, July 11, 2023 2:05 PM Hybrid Meeting HYBRID MEETING - ADJOURNS BY 2:25 P.M. (PARTICIPATE IN -PERSON, SEE REMOTE JOIN INSTRUCTIONS AT www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil, OR CALL 360.778.5010) 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 July 11, 2023 Safety Committee Call To Order Roll Call Committee Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 2:10 p.m. in a hybrid meeting. Present: 3 - Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, and Carol Frazey Also Present: Todd Donovan, Ben Elenbaas, and Kaylee Galloway Announcements Special Presentation 1. AB2023-343 Presentation of the Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force's 2023 Annual Report The following people reported: • Jack Hovenier, Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force Co -Chair Stephen Gockley, Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force Co -Chair Hovenier reported on the work of the Stakeholder Advisory Committee with the Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force, challenges with the Fentanyl crisis and shortages in workforce, the Anne Deacon Center for Hope crisis stabilization center and where it has room for improvement in terms of accessibility for first responders, and the need for more data. Gockley reported on the issues of competency evaluation and restoration impacts and providing re-entry services for people being released from jail to lessen recidivism, how the Task Force is doing with the recommendations of the Vera Report, improving communications about the work of the Task Force with the public, and the formation of the Justice Project Oversight and Planning (JPOP) Committee. He answered why Whatcom County was reported to be off the charts compared to other counties in our rates of requests for competency evaluations and whether we have data on how many diversions to the Anne Deacon Center of Hope are from the Emergency Department, law enforcement, etc... Galloway pointed out page 14 of the report (on file) and stated that might have the answer to the question about diversion and asked whether the Task Whatcom County Page Council Criminal Justice and Public Committee Minutes - Final July 11, 2023 Safety Committee Force has any observation on what has or has not been working for the different first responder agencies and different case managers. Hovenier stated they would like to see the diversion numbers higher for the jail but they believe the numbers are under -reported, in part, because there is not really a reporting mechanism, and also the data may not be complete. They do know there is room for improvement and that there is a lack of awareness with some first responders and law enforcement as to who they can take, how quickly they can go, and how fast they can get in and out, and that is definitely being worked on. This agenda item was REPORTED. Items Added by Revision Other Business Adjournment There were no agenda items added by revision. There was no other business. The meeting adjourned at 2:38 p.m. ATTEST: WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WHATCOM COUNTY, WA 0 Q arry Buchanan -via email 7/17/2023 Oana Ord Y�- avi odncil Clerk Barry Buchanan, Committee Chair i Kristi Felbinger, Minutes Transcription Whatcom County Page 2