Chapter 2.46
INCARCERATION PREVENTION AND REDUCTION TASK FORCE – LAW AND JUSTICE COUNCIL
Sections:
2.46.050 Additional appointed members.
2.46.060 Terms of office for appointed members.
2.46.070 Organization – Meetings.
2.46.080 Staff and funding support.
2.46.010 Established.
There is hereby established a Whatcom County incarceration prevention and reduction task force. (Ord. 2019-056 Exh. A; Ord. 2019-009 Exh. A; Ord. 2015-037 Exh. A; Ord. 2015-025 Exh. A).
2.46.020 Purpose.
The purpose of the incarceration prevention and reduction task force is to continually review Whatcom County’s criminal justice and behavioral health programs and make specific recommendations to safely and effectively reduce incarceration of individuals struggling with mental illness and chemical dependency, minimize jail utilization by pretrial defendants who can safely be released, and identify, examine, and recommend implementing programs and policies that focus on intervention and prevention strategies that are pursuant to incarceration.
The purpose of the incarceration prevention and reduction task force is also to function as the Whatcom County law and justice council as required by RCW 72.09.300 and to carry out the function described in RCW 72.09.300(d). (Ord. 2019-056 Exh. A; Ord. 2019-009 Exh. A; Ord. 2015-037 Exh. A; Ord. 2015-025 Exh. A).
2.46.030 Function.
The task force will consider national best practices and report on and make recommendations to the county council, executive, and other appropriate officials regarding:
A. The construction and operation of a new or expanded multi-purpose crisis triage facility to assist with jail and hospital diversion of individuals struggling with mental illness and chemical dependency;
B. Development of new, or enhancement of existing, programs designed along a continuum that effectively reduces incarceration of individuals struggling with mental illness and chemical dependency;
C. Effective pretrial service programs that assure that defendants appear for court proceedings while minimizing jail utilization by defendants who can safely be released;
D. Necessary and effective programs and services that can assist offenders with successful transition from both the jail and triage center back to the community to reduce rates of recidivism and improve public health and safety;
E. The ongoing staff support and funding for the task force;
F. Review of the diversion programs of the county and all cities, and establishment of benchmarks to measure the effectiveness of the programs in reducing incarceration;
G. Practice evidence-based and/or other strategies and interventions that positively impact the social determinants of health that address interventions for criminogenic factors.
The task force, as the law and justice council, will meet the requirements of RCW 72.09.300. (Ord. 2019-056 Exh. A; Ord. 2019-009 Exh. A; Ord. 2015-037 Exh. A; Ord. 2015-025 Exh. A).
2.46.040 Permanent members.
The incarceration prevention and reduction task force shall include the following designated officials or their representative:
A. One member of the Whatcom County council;
B. Whatcom County executive;
C. Whatcom County sheriff/jail administrator;
D. Whatcom County prosecuting attorney;
E. Whatcom County public defender director;
F. Juvenile court administrator/superior court clerk;
G. One representative from the Whatcom County superior court;
H. One representative from the Whatcom County district court;
I. Tribal representation from the Lummi Nation and/or the Nooksack Tribe;
J. One representative from the Whatcom County health department human services;
K. Emergency medical services (EMS) representative;
L. PeaceHealth St. Joseph’s Medical Center;
M. Secretary of the State Department of Corrections or his/her designee;
One each of the following, or their designee, to represent municipal courts, prosecutors, police, and legislative authorities:
N. Bellingham mayor;
O. Small city mayor, designated by the Small City Partnership;
P. Bellingham councilmember;
Q. Small city councilmember, designated by the Small City Partnership;
R. Bellingham police chief;
S. Small city police chief, designated by the Small City Partnership;
T. Bellingham municipal court administrator;
U. Small city municipal court, designated by the Small City Partnership. (Ord. 2019-056 Exh. A; Ord. 2019-009 Exh. A; Ord. 2015-037 Exh. A; Ord. 2015-025 Exh. A).
2.46.050 Additional appointed members.
In addition to the officials designated above, the incarceration prevention and reduction task force shall include the following members appointed by the Whatcom County council:
A. Health and social service providers (four);
B. Consumer of services or family member of consumer (two);
C. Concerned citizens (two). (Ord. 2019-056 Exh. A; Ord. 2019-009 Exh. A; Ord. 2015-037 Exh. A; Ord. 2015-025 Exh. A).
2.46.060 Terms of office for appointed members.
The term of office for appointed members shall be four years. Appointment of members shall comply with Chapter 2.03 WCC. (Ord. 2019-056 Exh. A; Ord. 2019-009 Exh. A; Ord. 2015-037 Exh. A; Ord. 2015-025 Exh. A).
2.46.070 Organization – Meetings.
A. Meetings of the task force shall be open and accessible to the public and shall be subject to the Open Public Meetings Act.
B. At every meeting, the task force will schedule an open session to take public comment.
C. The task force shall keep written records of meetings, resolutions, research, findings and recommendations; and such records shall be submitted to county staff and shall be made public, including posting on the county website.
D. The task force shall adopt its own rules and procedures for the conduct of business.
E. The task force shall elect a chairperson from among its members who shall preside at its meetings.
F. The task force shall determine its meeting schedule and agenda, but shall meet at least quarterly.
G. The task force may form and appoint ad hoc committees to work on specific issues and may designate nonmembers to participate as committee members. (Ord. 2019-056 Exh. A; Ord. 2019-009 Exh. A; Ord. 2015-037 Exh. A; Ord. 2015-025 Exh. A).
2.46.080 Staff and funding support.
The task force will have full support from the council, the county executive’s office, health department staff, and locally delivered paid consultant assistance to conduct and complete its tasks in an efficient and effective manner. (Ord. 2019-056 Exh. A; Ord. 2019-009 Exh. A; Ord. 2015-037 Exh. A; Ord. 2015-025 Exh. A).
2.46.090 Reporting.
The task force will provide at least two updates per year to the county council and executive. One of the two reports will be an annual written report presented no later than June 30th of each year, and will provide recommendations to the county council and executive on outcomes of existing incarceration prevention and reduction programs throughout Whatcom County, new innovative programs being used in other communities, and recommendations for changes or additional programs. (Ord. 2019-056 Exh. A; Ord. 2019-009 Exh. A; Ord. 2015-037 Exh. A; Ord. 2015-025 Exh. A).