HomeMy WebLinkAboutCriminal Justice Oct 10 2023COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
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Committee Minutes - Final
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
1 PM
Hybrid Meeting
HYBRID MEETING - ADJOURNS BY 1:35 P.M. (PARTICIPATE IN -PERSON, SEE
REMOTE JOIN INSTRUCTIONS AT www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil, OR
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 October 10, 2023
Safety Committee
Call To Order
Committee Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 1:01 p.m.
in a hybrid meeting.
Present: 3 - Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, and Carol Frazey
Also Present: Todd Donovan and Kaylee Galloway
Announcements
Special Presentation
1. AB2023-610. Report from Superior Court
Buchanan stated this is Dave Reynolds' last report to the Council because
he is retiring, and he thanked him for all the work he has done.
Dave Reynolds, Superior Court Director, read from a presentation (on file).
He stated that Superior Court administration in Whatcom County is made
up of three separate departments and it has been that way since 2012. We
have Superior Court, Juvenile Court and the County Clerk.. Whatcom
County is one of 4 of 39 counties that have combined Superior and Juvenile
Administrators, but effective November 28, 2023 Whatcom County will
have a stand-alone Clerk's office for the first time since 1988.
He answered how the new Clerk's office is going to change how things are
done, the advantages and disadvantages of having the Clerk out of Superior
Court, and whether it will be part of the budget of the Executive's Office.
Buchanan thanked him for his years of service.
This agenda item was REPORTED.
2. AB2023-661 Report from District Court
Bruce Van Glubt, District Court Administrator, reported on the following:
• Updates and programs in District Court
• A high number of jury trials
• Challenges in District Court, including an outdated case management
system and a lot of resources going to jury coordination
• An increase in revenue brought in by District Court because of an
increase in case filings and infractions and connected to an increase
Whatcom County Page I
Council Criminal Justice and Public Committee Minutes - Final October 10, 2023
Safety Committee
Adjournment
in workload
Donovan asked why our courts are bringing in revenue, why our Finance
Department is looking at our courts as a source of revenue, what the
revenue is, and who is paying it, and the following District Court judges
spoke:
® Judge Angela Anderson
® Judge Jonathan Rands
Judge Anderson stated before anyone is sentenced we are required, and have
been very diligent, to do a financial inquiry. If anyone is found to be
indigent or unable to pay, we have a very strict policy that we are reducing
these fines and fees enormously. She and Judge Rands are actually reducing
the fines and fees and maybe it is a situation where, when it is an amount
that people can actually afford, they are paying it, versus just completely
ignoring those obligations. She stated that is complete speculation, but she
wants the Council to be assured that they are not racking up fees on the
backs of indigent people.
Van Glubt stated that Whatcom County District Court has been recognized
as a leader in the state in allowing flexibility and options for defendants to
take care of obligations to the court and almost every financial obligation in
the court can be worked off through community service.
Judge Anderson and Judge Rands answered whether they are doing more
jury trials than before the COVID-19 pandemic and whether two judges and
a commissioner is adequate to handle the workload they have.
There were no agenda items added by revision.
There was no other business.
The meeting adjourned at 1:29 p.m.
Whatcom courtly Page 2
Council Criminal Justice and Public Committee Minutes - Final
Safety Committee
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Kristi Felbinger, Minutes Transcription
October 10, 2023
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WA
Barry Buchanan -via email 10/17/2023
Barry Buchanan, Committee Chair
Whatcom County Page 3