Chapter 9.20
LAW AND JUSTICE COUNCIL
Sections:
9.20.070 Law and justice plan.
9.20.010 Establishment.
The Lewis County law and justice council is created pursuant to RCW 72.09.300. This chapter supersedes and repeals all prior measures regarding bodies established pursuant to RCW 72.09.300. [Ord. 1282 §1, 2017; Ord. 1200 § 1, 2008]
9.20.020 Purpose.
The purpose of the law and justice council is to provide a permanent ongoing forum and structure to coordinate and enhance criminal justice agencies, programs and services in Lewis County. The council shall operate as a consensus body. [Ord. 1282 §1, 2017; Ord. 1200 § 1, 2008]
9.20.030 Members.
The law and justice council shall include the following designated officials or their representatives:
(1) Lewis County prosecuting attorney;
(2) Lewis County sheriff;
(3) Two representatives from the Lewis County Police Chiefs’ Association; provided, that one of the representatives shall be from the cities of Centralia or Chehalis;
(4) One representative from the group of public defense attorneys on contract with Lewis County, to be appointed by the President of the Lewis County Bar Association;
(5) One representative of municipal prosecuting attorneys within the county, as selected by the cities;
(6) Two representatives of the municipal legislative authorities within the county, as selected by the mayors; provided, that one of the representatives shall be from the city of Centralia or Chehalis;
(7) Lewis County superior court clerk;
(8) The presiding judge of the Lewis County superior court;
(9) The presiding judge of the Lewis County district court;
(10) Lewis County juvenile court administrator;
(11) One representative of the municipal courts within the county as selected by the cities;
(12) Lewis County jail administrator;
(13) Lewis County risk manager;
(14) Secretary of the Washington State Department of Corrections;
(15) Director of Lewis County dispatch;
(16) One member of the Lewis County board of commissioners;
(17) Two citizen representatives appointed by the board of county commissioners;
(18) Three representatives of local providers of social services treatment, appointed by the board of county commissioners; and
(19) One member of the Lewis County Bar Association other than a public defense attorney on contract with Lewis County, to be appointed by the President of the Lewis County Bar Association. [Ord. 1282 §1, 2017; Ord. 1200 § 1, 2008]
9.20.040 Terms of office.
Notwithstanding other provisions of this code, terms of citizen representatives, social service treatment providers and other officials shall be four years. Members may be reappointed. Members may be removed by the appointing authority. Except in the case of removal, each member shall continue to serve until a successor has been appointed. [Ord. 1282 §1, 2017; Ord. 1200 § 1, 2008]
9.20.050 Meetings.
Meetings of the law and justice council shall be open and accessible to the public, as provided by law. The council may convene a meeting at any time, and shall be obliged to do so upon the request in writing of the board of county commissioners. Written records shall be kept of meetings, resolutions, findings and recommendations, and such records shall be public. The council may establish and define the membership of standing subcommittees and/or ad hoc task forces and committees as necessary. The council shall elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson from among its members who shall preside at meetings. The chairperson will appoint a secretary. The elected positions shall be for a term of one year with no limit on the number of terms a person may serve.
A quorum for doing business shall be established by the presence of nine members or authorized representatives. Representatives shall have voting rights. [Ord. 1335 (Exh. A), 2022; Ord. 1282 §1, 2017; Ord. 1200 § 1, 2008]
9.20.060 Staff support.
The county and the cities therein may provide such staff and funding for the council as is necessary or desirable for the council to perform its duties. [Ord. 1282 §1, 2017; Ord. 1200 § 1, 2008]
9.20.070 Law and justice plan.
The law and justice council may develop a law and justice plan for Lewis County, including performance objectives and priorities, estimated costs, and schedules for completion of activities. Such a plan may address the following topics:
(1) Maximizing local resources including personnel and facilities, reducing duplication of services, and sharing resources between local and state government in order to accomplish local efficiencies without diminishing effectiveness;
(2) Jail management;
(3) Mechanisms for communication of information about offenders, including the feasibility of shared access to databases; and
(4) Partnerships between the department and local community policing and supervision programs to facilitate supervision of offenders under the respective jurisdictions of each and timely response to an offender’s failure to comply with the terms of supervision.
Upon completion of such a plan, the law and justice council shall transmit it to the board of county commissioners and the municipal authorities of all the cities in the county. If approved by the county commissioners and the municipal authorities of all the cities in the county, the plan shall be the law and justice plan for Lewis County. The law and justice council may regularly review and adjust the plan as changing circumstances require, and may recommend such changes as it finds appropriate to the board of county commissioners and the municipal authorities of all the cities in the county for approval. [Ord. 1282 §1, 2017; Ord. 1200 § 1, 2008]
9.20.080 Annual report.
The law and justice council may deliver a formal report of progress toward attainment of performance objectives and completion of planned activities at least annually to the board of county commissioners and to the county community at large. [Ord. 1282 §1, 2017; Ord. 1200 § 1, 2008]
9.20.090 Advisory duties.
The law and justice council may also advise the county commissioners and municipal authorities and make such recommendations as it deems appropriate on matters relating to the law and justice in Lewis County. [Ord. 1282 §1, 2017; Ord. 1200 § 1, 2008]