It has great artwork and lounge areas, but that doesnt make it therapeutic., Hung knows that the aesthetic changes to the detention center dont amount to a kind of restorative justice. 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. Restorative Community Pathways (RCP) is the best way to reduce the juvenile crime rate in King County, said Jimmy Hung, Chief Deputy Prosecutor at King Countys Juvenile Division. Jeremy Crowe, RestorativePrograms Supervisor, 206-477-6528,jeremy.crowe@kingcounty.gov. Thediversion process is usually quicker and less stressful than the court process. They feel like they have to act differently. Carr then pivoted to the newly-implemented Restorative Community Pathways (RCP). We create alternatives to incarceration for youth and young adults by rebuilding our communities through committed relationships centered on love, compassion, and consistency. He argued that these juveniles are still children, just trying to discover their own identity in a system that is treating them like an adult criminal and not a child in need of guidance. Step-Up: Program Overview - King County Whether its becoming a mentor or our helping with vital behind-the-scenes administration, your volunteer time restores and saves lives! CONTACT Schulman said she wondered why Dunn would take such a large step backward from progressive and holistic solutions to justice reform that works to break down the school-to-prison pipeline. Restorative Community Pathways (RCP) is the best way to reduce the juvenile crime rate in King County, said Jimmy Hung, Chief Deputy Prosecutor at King County's Juvenile Division. 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. This begs the question as to why the county prosecutors chose this scenario out of all the ones available to put into their presentation to cities, rather than a less serious case of schoolyard fighting. 80% of people imprisoned are nonviolent and could be contributing to their families and local economies. King County has historically proven that diversion works to reduce juvenile crime, and thats exactly what RCP aims to do, said Dan Satterberg, King County Prosecuting Attorney. The proposals, part of the biennial budget that Constantine will present next week, have been spurred by the months of protests against police brutality and systemic racism that have dominated the nation and the region this summer. Beyond this, the community-based. However, just as there are many homeless who have no desire to reenter normal society, there are criminals who plan to continue that lifestyle. RCP is an important step on King Countys journey to zero youth detention, as the County divests from the juvenile legal system responses to youth in crisis and invests in a community-based diversion response, and the early results are promising. Hung said data over many decades suggest how effective restorative justice can be in changing behaviors of juvenile offenders, especially when compared to the effects that incarceration has been shown to have on youth. Jeremy Crowe, Restorative Programs Supervisor, (206) 477-6528,Jeremy.crowe@kingcounty.govor FIRS Team, (206)263-9001. It costs taxpayers anywhere from $30,000 to $250,000a year to keep someone in jail. The new buildings amenities and art collection are more respectful, he said, but ultimately, its a kid jail. Featured Image: A No New Youth Jail advocate protests outside the Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center. Resolving a case using the diversion process can helpyouth and their family access helpful services in our community. Juveniles who threaten physical and deadly harm to innocent people, especially in schools, needs more than a time out devoid of legal oversight. In 2021, we had, by far in the history of this county, the lowest number of juvenile referrals into my office, Hung said. 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.. See more of Covid19 Mutual Aid - Seattle on Facebook PDF Seattle Public Schools A bill partially unwinding a 2021 policing reform clears the Legislature. 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. Who is responsible? Full Bio. 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. 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. 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. The goal of work like ours is to bring safety to our community by helping people heal; both those who have been accused of causing harm and those who have been harmed. Director . In his 20 years of experience as a prosecutor, Hung said his perspective on the prison system has changed. Seattle, Washington, United States513 followers 500+ connections. . One can presume that this same foundational premise will be used for the adult version of this program the county intends to start soon. FIRS and Step Up focus on families experiencing family violence. 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. Though the distinction between serious felonies and other charges usually rests on the existence of a victim, Jordan and other advocates pointed to a hole in that reasoning. 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. Although Dunns motion was shot down five to one during a council meeting on March 1, 2022, Hung wants people to know the facts about the program and how his office is viewing it. Suggesting anything else is inaccurate.. 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. King County Executive Dow Constantine provided details and updates on the early successes of Restorative Community Pathways, a community-based juvenile diversion program. Paul reports on police accountability for PubliCola. Prosecutors responded that a youth who specifically threatens someone with a gun would not be eligible for the program, and that only two or three people have been referred on this charge so far. Our diagrams and tools provides roadmaps and a wealth of information for people interested in big-system shifts for the local to national incarceration and criminal justice systems. He said RCP provides better accountability for the offender and more support for the victims of crimes compared to the traditional court system. 410 W. Bakerview Rd Suite 110, Rm #145 RCP will continue to be evaluated to determine its effectiveness in outcomes for both the youth referred to the Prosecuting Attorneys Office and the harmed party with the goal of improving public safety in King County. We are living with the side effects of inherited, complex and inhumane systems that need renovation. The requirements of the agreement are defined by law and guided by principlesof Restorative Justice using a Positive Youth Development Model. Held alongside them were others held for more minor crimes, including one young person charged with misdemeanor assault and another charged with possession of a stolen vehicle. Thats not just his opinion either. 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. 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. Brockman said she believes restorative justice and public safety can coexist and that restorative justice that works to rehabilitate rather than punish is a public safety strategy. They will be responsible for the direction of RCP, hold a central role in supporting community evaluations of RCP, and support in the distribution of funds. Four of the most prominent existing programs Choose 180, Community Passageways, Creative Justice, and Collective Justice are working with the King County Department of Public Defense to form Restorative Community Pathways, a consortium of service providers for children facing potential misdemeanor or first-time felony charges. FAMILY INTERVENTION AND RESTORATIVE SERVICES (FIRS). A restorative inquiry process is used to help youth take responsibility for their behavior, cultivate empathy and make amends for hurtful behavior. Reintegrate: Ensure a smooth, successful integration into the community. 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. Are you a young person in the Seattle-area who wants to participate in our programs? Many youth avoid secure detention. Dominique often says it will take the community to heal the community--we are the ones we have been waiting for. At the end of public comment, the motion came up for a vote among the committee, during which it was rejected as every committee member other than Dunn voted against it. OPINION: The World We Need Must be Built by Community Not Courtrooms King County's shadow juvenile crime system needs reform 2) Reach out to us related to the iChange Justice Podcast offer suggestions, ask questions, nominate guests. 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. What's Next in King County's Path to Ending Youth Detention? Restorative Community Pathways is a community response to harm that focuses on healing and . Some King County mayors want to pause restorative justice program Program providers report 86 percent of youth participants are meeting their program goals and 94 percent are increasing connection with adults, family, and the community.. King County Executive Dow Constantine shared updates on the early success of Restorative Community Pathways (RCP), an evidence-based program aimed at reducing youth incarceration and racial disproportionality in the juvenile legal system. King County Executive Dow Constantine proposes new - The Seattle Times In comparison, data from the State Department of Children, Youth, and Families showed that from 2011 through 2018 juveniles sent to state prison have a recidivism rate of between 49% and 58% annually. Sentencing in suitcase murders | Podcast, King County Councilmember proposes regional ban on public drug use, King County Crisis Care Levy passing in first election results, Washingtons COVID-19 exposure notification app to end May 11, Firearms scheme leads to federal charges | King County Crime Dive. Diversion: Keep people out of the prison system and in community. Available data for the program provided by the Prosecuting Attorneys Office, while early, is promising. What were not very good at is wrapping ourselves around a young person to help them make better decisions and to turn their lives around, Hung said. , When a youth completes all requirements in the Diversion Agreement, they do not have a criminal record and no charges are filed. 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. FIRS is a collaborative intervention and approach to address adolescent family violence in a timely, therapeutic, andtrauma-informed alternative to formal court involvement. The Restorative Community Coalition KUOW - King County gave millions to 'No New Youth Jail' activists to Extensive information about Step-Up,including program curriculum, is availableHERE. Lily Anderson, Senior Social Worker, or theStep-UpTeam (206)-477-2071,lily.anderson@kingcounty.gov. And Im like really? The result? At the end of a Thursday in early March, 28 teenagers sat in the King County Juvenile Detention Center on Alder Street in Seattles Central District. TTY: Relay: 711 And thats where I think the community comes in and they do a much much better job than we could ever do.. Constantine is proposing cutting $4.6 million in funding that the Sheriffs Office gets from tax on retail marijuana sales. 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? Restorative Community - Covid19 Mutual Aid - Seattle | Facebook The Youth Steering Committee will serve as the community-based decision-making body for RCP design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. Ryan Abbott, a Sheriffs Office spokesperson, said Constantine did not speak to Johanknecht about the cuts and said they were trying to determine if they would lead to cuts in service. In my opinion, thats a fundamental misunderstanding of what restorative justice is. Program providers report 86 percent of youth participants are meeting their program goals and 94 percent are increasing connection with adults, family, and the community. We have a four-pronged approach to community justice: Prevention: Keep youth on a good path. Be the first to get new stories sent straight into your inbox. 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. Homelessness, criminalization of poverty, the Covid crisis, technology and social justice issues are only part of the problems we face. 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. But, after seeing the actual effects that incarceration has on people, his view shifted, Hung said. CONTACT I wont mince words about that., As King County continues to scale down its use of detention for children, the future of the new facility on Alder Street remains uncertain. 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! These models are designed to provide timely, therapeutic, andrestorative support to youth and families. of sentencing relative to initial charges. RCP is an important step on King Countys journey to zero youth detention, as the County divests from the juvenile legal system responses to youth in crisis and invests in a community-based diversion response, and the early results are promising. Some money would also be shifted toward youth marijuana-prevention programs. But theyre also overlooked as victims. Below is a snapshot of our effectiveness between 2017 and 2018. off prison time compared to initial charges. I frankly have no idea what people who live in neighborhoods where bullets are flying past their head are going through, Hung said. Play Play Play Play Restorative Community Pathways also includes appropriate services and support for harmed parties, and restitution so that youths who cannot pay fines and other financial obligations do not end up in a cycle of probation violations and incarceration. And racial disparities persist: nearly half of the children currently in detention are Black, and a quarter are Latinx; only a fifth are white. Some might argue that citing potential school shooters is fear-mongering because such instances are rare. Phone: 360-354-3653 Beyond this, the community-based organizations can help victims of crimes in areas that have nothing to do with the crime itself such as housing or food insecurity. 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. Executive Constantine unveils 2021-2022 budget, calls for major Bringing a gun to school and unlawful possession of a firearm in the second degree is on that list, he said. Over time, the RCP Youth Steering Committee will develop to be directed by youth and young adults who have completed the RCP program. Karen Pillar, director of policy for youth legal services office, cited stats from the last time the state studied recidivism rates for incarcerated youth. She said leaders should listen to the first-hand experiences and experts who are involved with these programs. He received his PhD in the streets, from the University of Rainier and Henderson. Early data from Restorative Community Pathways, a pre-filing diversion program for nonviolent youth, shows an 8% recidivism rate compared to a 57% recidivism rate for youth who served time in. 3) Become a mentor, case interceptor or manager, court natigator. , 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. It is headed to Gov. Dominique was a gifted football player, who had to make the decision between his dream to play professionally or survive, he chose the latter. Goode also emphasized the importance of the physical space used to house children in need of long-term care and supervision. These can include receiving services, doingcommunity service, or paying a victim to compensate for their financial loss. 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. The FIRS Center is a safe, positive, andsupportive space. Reintegrate: Ensure a smooth, successful integration into the community. Jeremy Crowe, RestorativePrograms Supervisor, 206-477-6528, Find certified small business contractors and suppliers, For Families Experiencing Violence in the Home. 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. To demonstrate this philosophy, he used an example of a situation in which two school students see each other outside of school and one decides he is going to bully the other and take his backpack. The county will also begin to look for new alternatives to traditional fare enforcement on Metro buses. But there are other treatments that are available. About Community Passageways Kids engage in risk-taking, Hung said. Of the 28 young people incarcerated in King County on March 4, nearly half were charged as adults for first-degree assault, attempted murder, or murder charges; they will move to adult detention centers after their 18th birthdays.

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