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. King County has historically proven that diversion works to reduce juvenile crime, and thats exactly what RCP aims to do. Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. The Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center, which opened quietly in February 2020, replaced the countys aging Youth Services Center. There should be real ramifications, including prosecution, for these dangerous crimes.. Restorative Community Pathways is a diversion program that sends lower-level juvenile cases mostly misdemeanors, up to offenses like burglary, car theft, and gun charges to community. 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. Some might argue that citing potential school shooters is fear-mongering because such instances are rare. Many criminals, particularly criminal youths, have been victimized in the same way they victimize others. Jana Detrick. The FIRS Center is staffed 24/7 by Pioneer Human Services. respectful family relationships so that all family members feel safe at home. Initially, he supported the supposed tough on crime approach toward dealing with the crime by locking people up. interventions at the Patricia Clark Child and Family Justice Center and in the community. A program review from 2014 showed just under 20% of youth diverted to Choose 180s program committed additional crimes within a year only 5% lower than a control group with similar characteristics. , Youth are referred to diversion by the Prosecuting Attorneys Office. Restorative Programs focus on prevention and early intervention using three models: Family Intervention andRestorative Services (FIRS), Step Up, and Diversion. We have a four-pronged approach to community justice: Prevention: Keep youth on a good path. Since 2021, Collective Justice has been receiving cases pre-charge . Working hands-on with those directly impacted, You will learn to innovate and bring forward new solutions that help people adjust. " [Restorative Community Pathways] was launched, again, without any notice to the cities in King County, but it also included being eligible offenses of bringing a gun to school, unlawful. In my opinion, thats a fundamental misunderstanding of what restorative justice is. 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. But his push to cut funding to the Sheriffs Office brought immediate pushback from Sheriff Mitzi Johanknecht, whose office said she was not consulted. "This restorative community pathway builds up the young person, sees them as a possibility to be developed and not a problem to be solved, while simultaneously making sure that the harmed party . Renton City Councilmembers Kim-Khanh Van and Carmen Rivera echoed this sentiment, expressing belief that the region needs holistic approaches to diverting youth from the court system in favor of a more rehabilitative approach. Get directions. Who is held accountable? 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. Restorative Programs focus on prevention and early intervention using three models: Family Intervention and Restorative Services (FIRS), Step Up, and Diversion. FIRS is a collaborative intervention and approach to address adolescent family violence in a timely, therapeutic, andtrauma-informed alternative to formal court involvement. But there are other treatments that are available. Its just sending the wrong message basically saying that one kid is better than the other, when theyre both redeemable.. The same could be said for vehicle theft and other types of non-violent crime that undermine public safety and quality of life. Cortez Charles. Though some amount of recidivism is unavoidable, the outcomes of the countys diversionary programs have shown some promising improvements. While only 10% of King Countys 2 million residents are black, they now make up almost half of the detention population on any given day, and more than half of felony offenses. Jeremy Crowe, Restorative Programs Supervisor, (206) 477-6528,Jeremy.crowe@kingcounty.govor FIRS Team, (206)263-9001. It has metastasized into a civic systems problem and a taxpayers nightmare. The truth is, criminal rehabilitation and homelessness outreach must adopt the same strategy if theyre to succeed. Dominique believes those closest to the problem can solve the problem! Kristin Elia, Executive Office, 206-477-8209, Main phone: 206-263-9600 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. Hung said that over the last several decades, crime has decreased dramatically. There are a handful of cases where someone might scratch their head and ask, why that kid is being held for a misdemeanor, said Jimmy Hung, who heads the Juvenile Division at the King County Prosecutors Office. A bill partially unwinding a 2021 policing reform clears the Legislature. Restorative Community Pathways has funds to offer the victims of crimes immediate restitution without going through a lengthy court process, Hung said. Its a community problem. Paul Faruq Kiefer is a journalist, historian, and born-and-bred Seattleite. 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. Instead of court, some people who've committed a crime could. Dominique served as Co-Director of the Choose 180 Program from 2011 to 2016, which was named2015Best New Nonprofit by Seattle Foundation and Seattle Met Magazine under his leadership. And the variety of diversionary services available to young people is slowly growing. 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. After citing existing law, the prosecutors office comes to this conclusion in this hypothetical scenario. 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. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), to guide the County toward an end to youth detention, Patricia H Clark Children and Family Justice Center, Filipino Restaurant CheBogz Rallies Support for Beacon Hill Grand Opening, Weekend Reads | COVID Responses Across the U.S.: What Worked, What Didnt, and What Made a Difference, OPINION | Guns Have Become the Tools of Cowards, OPINION | Get in the Game for Girls Sports. Ferrell has described the program as easily fixable, stating that accountable and judicial oversight needs to incorporated. The new justice center has 156 beds, and King County Executive Dow Constantine has said the County doesnt intend to fill them all. 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. The county still jails young people charged with more the most serious felonies including first-degree assault, robbery, and murder as a default. . These models are designed to provide timely, therapeutic, andrestorative support to youth and families. By Henry Stewart-Wood September 15, 2022 4:55 pm A look inside the King County Juvenile Detention Center. Critically, RCP also provides equal resources and support to victims. 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. Every dollar you donated helps to prevent youth from going to the prison system while realizing their full potential. Support: Support people already in the prison system. Time, money and resources become more than a click of a button. 6) As an elected official, political activist, or civic involved person, come and learn or share your concerns for systemic change. 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. The KCPAO will forward. Metro buses have been free to ride since the pandemic began, but fare collection could restart as soon as Oct. 1 and fare enforcement could resume as soon as Jan. 1. Photo courtesy of King County. A bill partially unwinding a 2021 policing reform clears the Legislature. Office Address: 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. The Youth Steering Committee will serve as the community-based decision-making body for RCP design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. 410 W. Bakerview Rd Suite 110, Rm #145 If a young person goes through programming and they end up slipping back into behavior thats challenging or problematic, then people look at the work and say, Oh, well, this program didnt work, he said. Jay Inslee for his expected signing. 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. Almost all the proposals will require the approval of the Metropolitan King County Council, which will review Constantines budget in the coming weeks. Instead, that money would be used to help people vacate old marijuana-related convictions and settle old fines and court fees. King County Executive Dow Constantine on Wednesday proposed several new initiatives to cut funding from the county Sheriffs Office, shift resources away from the traditional criminal justice system toward community-based alternatives and move away from traditional fare enforcement on county buses. Lily Anderson, Senior Social Worker, or theStep-UpTeam (206)-477-2071,lily.anderson@kingcounty.gov. Many of us know that something is wrong with the criminal justice system, but we dont know what to do about it or where to start. Hung said the way Dunn and other community leaders have framed restorative justice as being separate or counter to community safety is misguided. This includes participating in the hiring of community navigators by RCP consortium members. The program diverts kids who have committed a crime away from the prison system and instead focuses on rehabilitation through . To use rising crime as a justification for pausing the program is just not correct, Hung said. DominiqueDavisis the founder and CEO of Community Passageways. For the same period, 233 juveniles were charged through traditional prosecution, with 47, or just over twenty percent, seeing new case referrals. 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. When you get involved helping people, or doing community advocacy, we provide coaching. The county currently has a $4.7 million contract with a private security firm to conduct fare enforcement, but the new goal is to have a new program in place by 2022. 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.. 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. Gun violence related to gang activity has actually remained relatively stable over the course of the pandemic, Hung said. 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. Our community-centered and evidence-based model provides an alternative to the current criminal legal system. We support our youth and young adults at every stage of the criminal legal processfrom prevention to detention. All crimes that hurt the safety of our communities such as shoplifting rings, home burglaries, and car thefts need to be taken seriously so that folks are not re-victimized and the security of our neighborhoods is preserved, Dunn said. 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 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. 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. Diversiontypically is available for youth with limited or no prior offense history who have committed an offense. In a normal, sane criminal justice system, the law-abiding authorities run the show and the criminals are held accountable. He received his PhD in the streets, from the University of Rainier and Henderson. According to Nance, his department plans to convene a work group including judges, counselors, prosecutors, and young people themselves to outline the countys next steps, but the timeline for closing or transforming the jail on Alder Street is still unknown. 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. Extensive information about Step-Up,including program curriculum, is availableHERE. See more of Covid19 Mutual Aid - Seattle on Facebook Khandelwal called it a a long overdue departure from a racist, ineffective and failed legal system.. One can presume that this same foundational premise will be used for the adult version of this program the county intends to start soon. Karen Pillar, director of policy for youth legal services office, cited stats from the last time the state studied recidivism rates for incarcerated youth. 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. 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. 2) You are investing in the future while healing the past. Restorative Community Pathways (RCP) was implemented in November. Christina Umali. 3) Become a mentor, case interceptor or manager, court natigator. . The FIRS Center is staffed 24/7 by Pioneer Human Services. . The opinions expressed in reader comments are those of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of The Seattle Times. One had arrived in the facility earlier that day; another had spent nearly 640 days in detention for a first-degree rape charge. It is headed to Gov. 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. Rep. Kirsten Harris-Talley 37th Legislative District, Co-Sponsor. If passed, the property tax levy will help fund behavioral health infrastructure in the region. Constantine is proposing cutting $4.6 million in funding that the Sheriffs Office gets from tax on retail marijuana sales. Change a young persons life by donating to Community Passageways. Thats why RCP exists. Get to know a few of our team members & why they partner with Community Passageways. Featured Image: A No New Youth Jail advocate protests outside the Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center. Rep. Harris-Talley has spent over 20 years building powerful movements for change in our region and statewide . Who is responsible? The goal of Step-Up is for youth to stop violence and abuse toward their family and develop. These models are designed to provide timely, therapeutic, and restorative support to youth and families. The goal of Step-Up is for youth to stop violence and abuse toward their family and developrespectful family relationships so that all family members feel safe at home. Community Passageways (CP) is a Seattle based nonprofit founded in 2017 with a vision for zero youth incarceration. Theres nothing about that new building that feels like a therapeutic space, he said. Follow us and connect below: 1429 AVENUE D #262, SNOHOMISH, WA, 98290-1742. Now, we look at how it's actually run - and our recommendations on how to change it. Now, we look at how its 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. 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. Similarly, Jordan suggested that young people who are unable to have a positive response to out-patient restorative justice programs might need a long term in-patient care facility staffed by counselors who have experienced mental health crises, substance abuse, systemic racism, and housing insecurity. King County Executive Dow Constantine provided details and updates on the early successes of Restorative Community Pathways, a community-based juvenile diversion program. , Making Diversion Programs More Culturally Responsive. Seattle, Washington, United States513 followers 500+ connections. 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. Dunns proposal was in response to concerns about the program brought up by South King County Mayors Jim Ferrell (Federal Way), Nancy Backus (Auburn), Dana Ralph (Kent) and Armondo Pavone (Renton). The result? Are you a young person in the Seattle-area who wants to participate in our programs? A proposal to pause the recently implemented Restorative Community Pathways program, a program intended to divert juvenile criminal cases from the juvenile justice system into a. Diverting a potential school shooter to a social program, when there have been repeated instances of actual shootings preceded by telltale warning signs, is beyond irresponsible. 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. It provides public safety so theyre not oppositional. RCP at its core is a program that provides healing and restoration for youth. Some restorative justice advocates including people who spent time in youth detention centers challenge the additional scrutiny shown to young people charged with serious crimes, particularly violent ones. Invest $750,000 to co-create and implement alternatives to policing in urban incorporated King County. We believe that criminalization and ostracization are ineffective deterrents to unproductive behaviors and that the carceral systempolicing, jail, and state supervisionfurther harms people who have already been negatively impacted by trauma. Like with the homeless, outreach to juvenile offenders need to be able to identify one from the other so that efforts arent wasted on the wrong people. When you make that distinction, the kid feels it. This is designed to replace the school-to-prison pipeline with a school-to-life success pipeline. 97 likes, 2 comments - KUOW Public Radio (@kuow) on Instagram: "On a Sunday morning last November, an 18-year-old named Seattle Savior Wheeler crouched behind a ." KUOW Public Radio on Instagram: "On a Sunday morning last November, an 18-year-old named Seattle Savior Wheeler crouched behind a bed, clutching a gun. Juveniles who threaten physical and deadly harm to innocent people, especially in schools, needs more than a time out devoid of legal oversight. 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. We create alternatives to incarceration for youth and young adults by rebuilding our communities through committed relationships centered on love, compassion, and consistency. We should be allowed the same grace that the criminal legal system has been shown.. Collective Justice. She is a strong champion for mental health and addiction recovery, strengthening our schools, reforming the criminal justice system, and affordable housing. Actor and comedian Tim Allen is an example of that after being given a reduced sentence for drug charges when he was a young adult. It could be a service center for homeless youth and their families, or a place where young people could have access to detox services. Jeremy Crowe, Restorative Programs Supervisor, (206) 477-6528, Step-Up is an internationally recognized adolescent family violence intervention program designed to address youth, violence (including threats, intimidation, property destruction, degrading language and physical violence) toward, family members. That is just part of growing up.. 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. Below is a snapshot of our effectiveness between 2017 and 2018. off prison time compared to initial charges. That is precisely the opposite of what they put in their unprofessional PowerPoint presentation. 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. 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. Seattle, Washington, United States. Carr then pivoted to the newly-implemented Restorative Community Pathways (RCP). Our programs focus on personal healing, identity development, and leadership building. Restorative Community Pathways. The FIRS team works with families to assess risk, identify needs, complete safety planning and refer for appropriateservices. 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. , 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. Mediation allows people an opportunity to speak . Critically, RCP also provides equal resources and support to victims. I think we as a society, and especially in America, need to have a come to Jesus moment on what our criminal justice system is actually capable of, Hung said. When it opened, the County offered tours to show off the pastel-colored walls, art collection, and brightly lit common areas that set it apart from the old facility. This is a moment that cant be missed, Constantine said. 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. More savings will come from continuing to limit the countys jail population, Constantine said. 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. Decades of research have shown that putting kids through the criminal justice system pushes them toward criminal behavior rather than away from it. 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. 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. Dow Constantine. Suggesting anything else is inaccurate.. team are to define what restorative practices are and are not, identify pathways for gathering relevant qualitative data, assess the readiness and engagement levels of schools and staff, and evolve and strengthen relationships between the team, the department, schools, and other central office staff and community stakeholders. We separate the two to a fault, he said. 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. But if you were to have access to the social file, these kids have multiple prior cases in the system. Many have unstable housing and are dealing with mental health and substance abuse issues the kinds of dysfunction that may prompt the judge to decide that there are no better options, and that detention is the safest place for this young person right now, Hung said. A restorative inquiry process is used to help youth take responsibility for their behavior, cultivate empathy and make amends for hurtful behavior. An important thing to note is that the crime rate in the last two years has increased among adults, not children. Also, some downtown buildings are not open to the public due to a project to close the Administration Building and relocate the agencies affected. Any long-term facilities that might replace the current detention center, Goode said, would need to be staffed by people with experience and training resembling that of the case managers and counselors who currently work with restorative justice programs in King County. Diversion: Keep people out of the prison system and in community. On a more fundamental level, Hung said he believes that when it comes to community safety, the people who actually live in communities affected by crime know whats best for their community. 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..

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