KUOW - King County gave millions to 'No New Youth Jail' activists to Show them new paths. King County Council approves program to let community groups - KOMO She said leaders should listen to the first-hand experiences and experts who are involved with these programs. Support: Support people already in the prison system. After citing existing law, the prosecutors office comes to this conclusion in this hypothetical scenario. If passed, the property tax levy will help fund behavioral health infrastructure in the region. Cortez Charles. Then also have a reality check on the very real damage that it causes to human capital.. In January 2022, King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn proposed a pause to the countys Restorative Community Pathways program. Our coalition has found that the roots of the problem start local. The rise in gun crime has been associated with adults who havent been involved with gun crime before, not kids, Hung said. Jeremy Crowe, RestorativePrograms Supervisor, 206-477-6528, Find certified small business contractors and suppliers, For Families Experiencing Violence in the Home. Who is responsible? Beyond this, the community-based. There should be real ramifications, including prosecution, for these dangerous crimes.. 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. Full Bio. The truth is, criminal rehabilitation and homelessness outreach must adopt the same strategy if theyre to succeed. As part of RCP, youth are able to connect to services and interventions aimed at repairing the harm that they caused and reducing their likelihood of reoffending. Gun violence related to gang activity has actually remained relatively stable over the course of the pandemic, Hung said. Executive Constantine highlights anti-racism and criminal legal system . We have a four-pronged approach to community justice: Prevention: Keep youth on a good path. We have a four-pronged approach to community justice: Prevention: Keep youth on a good path. From a legal perspective, this would be a felony robbery. 1,706 Followers, 64 Following, 49 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Restorative Community Pathways (@restorative_community_pathways) Since 2021, Collective Justice has been receiving cases pre-charge . 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. Contact King County Executive Dow Constantine and tell him not to move forward with the RCP for adults! 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. But there are other treatments that are available. This is a community-led initiative, supported by the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) that builds on King Countys current plans and investments to realize the vision of a community where every person can thrive, said Sheila Ater Capestany, Children Youth and Young Adults Division Director in DCHS. Hung said the way Dunn and other community leaders have framed restorative justice as being separate or counter to community safety is misguided. 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. 2) You are investing in the future while healing the past. 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. Thats why our Coalition did a deep dive into the school-to-prison pipeline. Learn more about Restorative Community Pathways. If passed, the property tax levy will help fund behavioral health infrastructure in the region. Christina Umali. And the variety of diversionary services available to young people is slowly growing. In particular, it is shockingly irresponsible to remove legal consequences for any firearm-related crime at a time when gun violence is surging to an all-time high. It costs taxpayers anywhere from $30,000 to $250,000a year to keep someone in jail. Most of theseservices are offered without the filing of criminal charges or formal court processing. Seattle, WA. The greater challenge, he said, is reducing the need for those services and deciding whether an end to youth detention is actually the end of detention in its current form. Its emotionally rewarding, humanizing and good business to reclaim lives and invest in human potential. New youth program divides candidates for King County Prosecutor The RCP literally does the opposite, as county documents explicitly state: Since youth are most impacted by decisions related to RCP, the consortium members, program managers, and the County will be accountable to the youth. Our community-centered and evidence-based model provides an alternative to the current criminal legal system. "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. 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. But Goode and other advocates for diversionary programs also see the need for some means to separate young people from their community during a serious behavioral crisis. These can include receiving services, doingcommunity service, or paying a victim to compensate for their financial loss. Also, some downtown buildings are not open to the public due to a project to close the Administration Building and relocate the agencies affected. This includes participating in the hiring of community navigators by RCP consortium members. 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. Restorative Practices | Empoweredpathwayscny interventions at the Patricia Clark Child and Family Justice Center and in the community. Below is a snapshot of our effectiveness between 2017 and 2018. off prison time compared to initial charges. However, just as there are many homeless who have no desire to reenter normal society, there are criminals who plan to continue that lifestyle. Dunn also proposed the motion on behalf of the mayors of Auburn, Federal Way, Kent and Renton cities that have experienced a major uptick in crime and with mayors who have previously opposed the Restorative Community Pathways program. The county will launch new restorative justice programs, for both adult and youth offenders, aimed at keeping people out of the traditional criminal justice system. , Making Diversion Programs More Culturally Responsive. 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. . Restorative Community Pathways (RCP) was implemented in November. Community Passageways is driven by the belief that guidance and support are more effective in inspiring people to make positive choices, seeing their unlimited potential and envisioning a future where they can live their lives fully. There must be a case number to track these offenses and the serious felony crimes should be removed from eligibility. Restorative Community - Covid19 Mutual Aid - Seattle | Facebook But theyre also overlooked as victims. Instead of suspensions and expulsions, we strive for restorative and culturally-relevant programming. We know that felonies carry with them collateral consequences that affect a persons ability to get a job, or get education, or to get housing all of those things really lead to de-stabilize that individual and their neighborhood and their family, King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg said. , 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. KC Councilmember Reagan Dunn wanted to pause the program after local mayors expressed concern. Photo courtesy of King County. 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. King County's shadow juvenile crime system needs reform Henok Gebreyohannes. Mediation allows people an opportunity to speak . A $6.2 million program called "Restorative Community Pathways" would refer up to 800 young people, by 2023, to community-based services, rather than filing criminal charges against them. If implemented as designed, those running the RCP show could potentially include kids whove committed brutal attacks, harassed others, broke into homes, or even brought guns to school and threatened to kill other students. But lets take organized retail theft or organized burglary, which also falls underneath the program and is a huge problem right now in King County. So what happens when the juvenile, having completed the program from his bedroom computer, promptly goes back to school and this time actually shoots one or more people? Bottomline, the accumulated effect is that we are ending habitual trauma cycles that plague individuals, families and the whole community network. 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. She argued that restorative justice programs such as RCP make a root-cause analysis into crime and help to make progress to prevent crime and strengthen community through the process. 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. 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. The only thing Hung as a prosecutor can promise the victim is that he will listen to them, and even in cases in which restitution to the victim is ordered, it is rarely ever paid out. Instead of court, some people who've committed a crime could. It would work with already established local organizations, like Choose 180, Creative Justice and Community Pathways. respectful family relationships so that all family members feel safe at home. A $6.2 million program called Restorative Community Pathways would refer up to 800 young people, by 2023, to community-based services, rather than filing criminal charges against them. Show them new paths. of sentencing relative to initial charges. It could become a facility that serves an older population of young adults, said Nance. Jimmy Hung heads the juvenile division at the King County Prosecutor's Office.. Now, we look at how it's actually run - and our recommendations on how to change it. Dominique was a gifted football player, who had to make the decision between his dream to play professionally or survive, he chose the latter. Diversion: Keep people out of the prison system and in community. Every dollar you donated helps to prevent youth from going to the prison system while realizing their full potential. 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.. King County Prosecutor's race Q&A: Diversion programs, sexual offenses We cover Seattle and King County on a budget that is funded entirely by reader contributionsno ads, no paywalls, ever. Reintegrate: Ensure a smooth, successful integration into the community. OPINION: The World We Need Must be Built by Community Not Courtrooms FIRS is a collaborative intervention and approach to address adolescent family violence in a timely, therapeutic, andtrauma-informed alternative to formal court involvement. The number of jailed adults in the county dropped from about 1,900 before the coronavirus pandemic to about 1,300 now, according to the county. Rivera said that the South King County mayors who objected to RCP do not understand the methodology of restorative justice or its effectiveness. King County hasnt resolved how it will tackle the next four years of juvenile justice reform. That is precisely the opposite of what they put in their unprofessional PowerPoint presentation. It will also depend on how the entities guiding the process both in county government and in the nonprofit sector define the end of youth detention.. Khandelwal called it a a long overdue departure from a racist, ineffective and failed legal system.. 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. Director . Juvenile division prosecutor defends Restorative Community Pathways She said 50 percent of incarcerated youth end up returning to the criminal justice system. None of these resources are provided to the victims of crimes in the traditional justice system. Data collected between November 1 of last year and August 18, 2022, shows that of the 145 youth participating in RCP in lieu of prosecution, only 12, or just over eight percent, have had new case referrals. Our highly-trained and experienced staff and volunteers at Empowered Pathways offer a variety of mediation services to address issues related to youth, as well as restorative services using the highly successful Circles environment approach to opening and continuing effective communication paths. Thediversion process is usually quicker and less stressful than the court process. When you make that distinction, the kid feels it. But, after seeing the actual effects that incarceration has on people, his view shifted, Hung said. Maintaining those numbers, Constantine said, will allow the county to close one floor (out of 12) of the jail in downtown Seattle, resulting in a $1.9 million annual savings. Invest $6.2 million in "Restorative Community Pathways" In lieu of filing charges, the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office will refer up to 800 young people by 2022-2023 to receive comprehensive, community-based services. Earlier this week we introduced you to the King Countys Restorative Community Pathways (RCP) program and how it evades the judiciary section of the criminal justice system. Washingtons COVID-19 exposure notification app is scheduled to conclude May 11 in tandem with the end of the Public Health. Its a community problem. The requirements of the agreement are defined by law and guided by principlesof Restorative Justice using a Positive Youth Development Model. Era-defining King County prosecutor race spurs debate on crime, reform But the windowless cells and steel doors are a reminder that the purpose of the new building is unchanged. 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. It's a diversion program for some first-time criminal offenders. Jay Inslee for his expected signing. Obviously there are some that are unlikely to reoffend or are better suited getting therapy than facing jailtime, but that is impossible to determine when the entire basis of the program is that the criminal is the real victim and the system itself is the criminal. We employ men and women from the community who share similar racial, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds with our young people who have lived experience navigating the full spectrum of the school-to-prison pipeline to act as credible messengers and Ambassadors. ChangeWA is a non-partisan 501(c)(4) organization focused on advancing common sense policies around smart growth, public safety, government accountability and good governance throughout Washington state. By Henry Stewart-Wood September 15, 2022 4:55 pm A look inside the King County Juvenile Detention Center. Thats not just his opinion either. The next county prosecutor can either heed those lessons when it comes to public safety, or force residents to suffer the consequences yet more failed public policies. FAMILY INTERVENTION AND RESTORATIVE SERVICES (FIRS). Paul reports on police accountability for PubliCola. Julie Schulman testified as someone who had been involved in the justice system as a young person and someone who works with youth in support of RCP as well. Get directions. FIRS serves families at the Patricia Clark Child and Family Justice Center and in the community after an arrest orreferral from law enforcement following an incident of family violence. Instead of jails, we will have homes, schools, jobs, and a community that stands with our youth. Critically, RCP also provides equal resources and support to victims. And Im like really? Diversion: Keep people out of the prison system and in community. hen King County launched Restorative Community Pathways two years ago, youth incarceration in King County had already reached record lows 43 juveniles per day, on average, in 2019. Restorative Community Pathways for youth offenders contrasts with traditional prosecution. Restorative Programs focus on prevention and early intervention using three models: Family Intervention and Restorative Services (FIRS), Step Up, and Diversion. Some King County mayors want to pause restorative justice program "RCP at its core is a program that provides healing and restoration for youth. The same person who goes through the justice system as a victim one day goes through as a defendant the next. If the county wants to find alternatives to detention for the young people facing serious felony charges, she said, the solution may involve offering victim support services more widely. The FIRS Center is a safe, positive, andsupportive space. King County Executive The new buildings amenities and art collection are more respectful, he said, but ultimately, its a kid jail. Rantz: Prosecutor says 'get used to' no jail time for teen gun crimes Interested in learning more about our team & programs? Seattle, Washington, United States513 followers 500+ connections. 4) Bring your own professional skills to the group whether you are a service provider, lawyer, mental health professional, emergency responder, parent, partner, teacher the list is endless. Decades of research have shown that putting kids through the criminal justice system pushes them toward criminal behavior rather than away from it. Mental Health Therapist. The program, according to Dunn, has a major perception problem as the South King County mayors scramble to mitigate the growing crime in their communities. Diversion is a way of addressing an offense at the lowest level possible, allowing a youth to enter into a Diversion Agreement, whichis a legal contract, that requires youth to take steps to be accountable for their actions. We should be allowed the same grace that the criminal legal system has been shown.. Phone: 360-354-3653 It could be a medical clinic. One had arrived in the facility earlier that day; another had spent nearly 640 days in detention for a first-degree rape charge. And so someone who is drafting a motion like that just doesnt understand it.. 6) As an elected official, political activist, or civic involved person, come and learn or share your concerns for systemic change. Restorative justice seeks to address the root cause of an offenders problematic behavior and offer real justice and restitution for the victim, according to the prosecuting attorneys office. Many criminals, particularly criminal youths, have been victimized in the same way they victimize others. Paul Faruq Kiefer is a journalist, historian, and born-and-bred Seattleite. Ferrell has described the program as easily fixable, stating that accountable and judicial oversight needs to incorporated. We look at the complexity, notice the tough spots, the complications and identify your optimal frugal need, so you and your family can get a leg up in the process. He said the cuts equate to about 30 patrol deputies or an approximate 22% reduction in 911 service to unincorporated areas of King County.. 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. Bellingham, WA 98226, RCC is a 501c3 non-profit organization | Copyright 2023 The Restorative Community Coalition, Whatcom County Jail Trauma Chart the RADD-RAT Symptoms, Stop Punishing Taxpayers Start Rebuilding Community, Whatcom County Jail Trauma Chart the RADD-RAT Symptoms. 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! 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. Advocacy Program Coordinator. The FIRS Center is staffed 24/7 by Pioneer Human Services. The repurposing is the easier part of the conversation.. The Youth Steering Committee will serve as the community-based decision-making body for RCP design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. Step-Up: Program Overview - King County They feel like they have to act differently. 1) It helps real people in real time to deal with real issues up close and personal. We are looking at every option to scrape together the money we need to deal with the economic climate were in, as well as the urgent need to press ahead right now, while we have the chance on racial justice.. 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. 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. They will also develop accountable relationships with community organizations to ensure that the work of RCP continues to be rooted in youth liberation and healing, not punishment. My proposals for anti-racism and criminal legal system transformation Step-Up is an internationally recognized adolescent family violence intervention program designed to address youthviolence (including threats, intimidation, property destruction, degrading language and physical violence) towardfamily members. The same could be said for vehicle theft and other types of non-violent crime that undermine public safety and quality of life. Restorative Community Pathways has funds to offer the victims of crimes immediate restitution without going through a lengthy court process, Hung said. . But lets not pretend theyre only targeting petty, seemingly harmless crimes. The county still jails young people charged with more the most serious felonies including first-degree assault, robbery, and murder as a default. Seattle, Washington, United States. Director of Programs. Whether youre are in crisis now, or its after the fact, we have tools and people with experience to help you diagram the situation and build a roadmap. , Youth are referred to diversion by the Prosecuting Attorneys Office. Jun 2022 - Present11 months. 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. Suggesting anything else is inaccurate.. Theres nothing about that new building that feels like a therapeutic space, he said. For the same period, 233 juveniles were charged through traditional prosecution, with 47, or just over twenty percent, seeing new case referrals. Join to view profile. One can presume that this same foundational premise will be used for the adult version of this program the county intends to start soon. We are living with the side effects of inherited, complex and inhumane systems that need renovation. 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. The priorities presented today will begin to address some of the injustices the Black community and other communities of color have experienced for decades in King County, Brown said. It is headed to Gov. A World That Relies on Community and Not Courtrooms. The consortium will also include programming for young people charged in adult court; under current Washington law, kids aged 16 to 17 charged with serious violent felonies are automatically placed in adult court. By 2020, Choose 180s annual report noted that 96% of the young people it served did not reoffend within a year. 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.
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