The current program includes: Criminal youth dictating how the program is run Now, we look at how it's actually run - and our recommendations on how to change it. Many criminals, particularly criminal youths, have been victimized in the same way they victimize others. RCP at its core is a program that provides healing and restoration for youth. The reality of the situation is that the criminal justice system often does more harm than good, he said, especially when it comes to kids. 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. 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. There must be a case number to track these offenses and the serious felony crimes should be removed from eligibility. When you get involved helping people, or doing community advocacy, we provide coaching. Photo courtesy of King County. More savings will come from continuing to limit the countys jail population, Constantine said. The FIRS team works with families to assess risk, identify needs, complete safety planning and refer for appropriateservices. King County Executive Dow Constantine provided details and updates on the early successes of Restorative Community Pathways, a community-based juvenile diversion program. King County Executive County audits have found that fare enforcement disproportionately targets the homeless and people of color. Restorative Community Pathways Community Navigator. Volunteering with Community Passageways is a way to invest your skills, heart, and mind into our young people. An important thing to note is that the crime rate in the last two years has increased among adults, not children. 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. Initially, he supported the supposed tough on crime approach toward dealing with the crime by locking people up. Controversial King County program diverts young offenders from incarceration for certain crimes. Since 2021, Collective Justice has been receiving cases pre-charge . 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! Christina Umali. 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. The ripple effect is a tsunami of deep economic, generational, civic and historical traumas. Juveniles who threaten physical and deadly harm to innocent people, especially in schools, needs more than a time out devoid of legal oversight. 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. Gun violence related to gang activity has actually remained relatively stable over the course of the pandemic, Hung said. It costs taxpayers anywhere from $30,000 to $250,000a year to keep someone in jail. The same could be said for vehicle theft and other types of non-violent crime that undermine public safety and quality of life. , Youth are referred to diversion by the Prosecuting Attorneys Office. 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. Restorative Community Pathways has funds to offer the victims of crimes immediate restitution without going through a lengthy court process, Hung said. We support our youth and young adults at every stage of the criminal legal processfrom prevention to detention. "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 . Thats why our Coalition did a deep dive into the school-to-prison pipeline. Collective Justice, Creative Justice, Community Passageways, and CHOOSE 180 have worked together with the Department of Public Defense to co-create an alternative to the juvenile court system that has been written into the King County Executive's biannual budget and is set to begin . Reintegrate: Ensure a smooth, successful integration into the community. After citing existing law, the prosecutors office comes to this conclusion in this hypothetical scenario. Over time, the RCP Youth Steering Committee will develop to be directed by youth and young adults who have completed the RCP program. King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn recently proposed a motion to recommend pausing the program just months into its implementation. 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. 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. Dow Constantine. Henok Gebreyohannes. Who is held accountable? Community Passageways (CP) is a Seattle based nonprofit founded in 2017 with a vision for zero youth incarceration. Restorative Community Pathways has funds to offer the victims of crimes immediate restitution without going through a lengthy court process, Hung said. Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus said she supports restorative justice and rehabilitation in her community, but expressed concerns that the RCP program would allow certain crimes such as specific assault charges and illegal possession of a firearm. Chase Gallagher, a Constantine spokesperson, said the Sheriffs Office was consulted. 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. And Im like really? Though some amount of recidivism is unavoidable, the outcomes of the countys diversionary programs have shown some promising improvements. 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. Follow us and connect below: 1429 AVENUE D #262, SNOHOMISH, WA, 98290-1742. . It would work with already established local organizations, like Choose 180, Creative Justice and Community Pathways. Jay Inslee for his expected signing. Restorative Community Pathways for youth offenders contrasts with traditional prosecution. Mediation allows people an opportunity to speak . We want to break institutional racist systems. A bill partially unwinding a 2021 policing reform clears the Legislature. Restorative Community Pathways is an evidence and community-based program to help change a youths behavior, reducing crime and creating a better future for themselves, their families, and our community. Paul Faruq Kiefer is a journalist, historian, and born-and-bred Seattleite. FAMILY INTERVENTION AND RESTORATIVE SERVICES (FIRS). Hung said RCP is important because it not only diverts kids from a system that is harmful, but it also provides kids with a level of support the courts simply cant come close to. TTY: Relay: 711 This is a new "restorative justice" program that provides alternatives to jail time. 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. Some might argue that citing potential school shooters is fear-mongering because such instances are rare. 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 unique respite facility within the Patricia Clark Children and Family Justice Center offering analternative to secure detention for youth referred for family violence. If someone had an infectious disease, Goode said, You would isolate that person, keep them away from others for a period of time to keep them from being a harm to themselves or others, and simultaneously treat the disease. Although that model sounds similar to youth detention, Goode said, choosing new caregivers and administrators would be a game changer.. Invest $750,000 to co-create and implement alternatives to policing in urban incorporated King County. Mailing address: Youthhave the opportunity tosign out-of-court agreements in lieu of criminal charging and formal court. Youth who successfully complete a diversion have the addedbenefit of handling a criminal incident without having a criminal conviction. Extensive information about Step-Up,including program curriculum, is availableHERE. Many youth avoid secure detention. 3) Crisis and trauma have individual ripple effects; yet together by giving our ideas and resources we can do turnarounds and make waves of positive change. The opinions expressed in reader comments are those of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of The Seattle Times. Hung said the way Dunn and other community leaders have framed restorative justice as being separate or counter to community safety is misguided. 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. There should be real ramifications, including prosecution, for these dangerous crimes.. Thats not just his opinion either. 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. The traditional court system spends money on prosecutors, judges, defense attorneys, incarceration and supervision, which are all concerned with the offender, Hung said. If caught, they get a slap on the wrist via the RCP and get a cut of the action that is likely more than what theyd earn working an honest job. Restorative Community Pathways is a community response to harm that focuses on healing and . 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. Learn more about Restorative Community Pathways. . And the variety of diversionary services available to young people is slowly growing. Homelessness, criminalization of poverty, the Covid crisis, technology and social justice issues are only part of the problems we face. Dominique believes those closest to the problem can solve the problem! Police, prosecutors, and prisons cant do that and as a result, when we rely on those systems, we continue to see harmful behaviors in our community. Goode also emphasized the importance of the physical space used to house children in need of long-term care and supervision. 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. Youthhave the opportunity tosign out-of-court agreements in lieu of criminal charging and formal court. Whether its becoming a mentor or our helping with vital behind-the-scenes administration, your volunteer time restores and saves lives! (Photo: DJ Martinez). Dominique often says it will take the community to heal the community--we are the ones we have been waiting for. 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. 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. The goals of FIRSinclude:decreasing violence in the home,preventing further police contact, and increasing family safety and well-being. Support: Support people already in the prison system. 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. The goal of Step-Up is for youth to stop violence and abuse toward their family and develop. In 2020, the Metropolitan King County Council established Restorative Community Pathways, a coalition of youth serving organizations and peer navigators, including Collective Justice who focuses on Restorative Community Conferencing for youth. Rep. Harris-Talley has spent over 20 years building powerful movements for change in our region and statewide . She believes diverting these kinds of juvenile offenders from courts could allow them to escape accountability. Khandelwal called it a a long overdue departure from a racist, ineffective and failed legal system.. Reintegrate: Ensure a smooth, successful integration into the community. Restorative Community Pathways Community Navigator. None of these resources are provided to the victims of crimes in the traditional justice system. But, Hung said, reasonably this kind of situation would make more sense to be dealt with between the families in a community-based approach, rather than to drag that student into the juvenile justice system. This is a moment that cant be missed, Constantine said. So who am I to say I have some monopoly on knowing what keeps communities safe, right?. A restorative inquiry process is used to help youth take responsibility for their behavior, cultivate empathy and make amends for hurtful behavior. , Youth who are eligible for diversion, along with their parent or guardian, meet with a team of trained volunteers (learn more about the Partnership for Youth Justice program and theDiversion Community Accountability BoardHERE)oran individual staff member todetermine what goes into the Diversion Agreement. Its a community problem. In 2016,Dominiqueestablished Community Passageways, after multiple gun related deaths and incidents on Rainier Avenue. All Rights Reserved. See more of Covid19 Mutual Aid - Seattle on Facebook The KCPAO will forward. 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. 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. Jeremy Crowe, RestorativePrograms Supervisor, 206-477-6528,jeremy.crowe@kingcounty.gov. University of Washington, Michael G. Foster School of Business. 2023 Change Washington. A big point of contention surrounding the program was gun violence and other violent crime. Resolving a case using the diversion process can helpyouth and their family access helpful services in our community. 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. About 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. They feel like they have to act differently. 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. What measures are being put in place to ensure they wont harm someone? According to the countys presentation, those include: Unlawful possession of a firearm in the second degree is another charge that Ferrell said shouldnt be eligible for diversion. Bringing a gun to school and unlawful possession of a firearm in the second degree is on that list, he said. Diversion: Keep people out of the prison system and in community. 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. 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. There are many, many steps still to take.. Diversion: Keep people out of the prison system and in community. Jayanna Thompson. 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. 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. 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. Get directions. King County resident Abby Brockman testified in favor of the program, saying that Dunns argument against the RCP seems to pit restorative justice and public safety against each other. If youre a gang leader, who are you going to recruit to carry out your thefts and burglaries? These models are designed to provide timely, therapeutic, andrestorative support to youth and families. Under the RCP, the potential school shooter would be referred to one of the community groups such as 180 Collective, which initially proposed RCPs creation. interventions at the Patricia Clark Child and Family Justice Center and in the community. The county will also begin to look for new alternatives to traditional fare enforcement on Metro buses. Carr then pivoted to the newly-implemented Restorative Community Pathways (RCP). Get to know a few of our team members & why they partner with Community Passageways. 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. 3) Become a mentor, case interceptor or manager, court natigator. And racial disparities persist: nearly half of the children currently in detention are Black, and a quarter are Latinx; only a fifth are white. Restorative Community Pathways (RCP) was implemented in November. Restorative Programs focus on prevention and early intervention using three models: Family Intervention and Restorative Services (FIRS), Step Up, and Diversion. The new justice center has 156 beds, and King County Executive Dow Constantine has said the County doesnt intend to fill them all. 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. the King Countys Restorative Community Pathways (RCP) program, Contact King County Executive Dow Constantine, actual shootings preceded by telltale warning signs, Seattle Mayor plans to focus on root causes of homelessess, Dont be fooled by homeless spending proposals, We need a better approach to end homelessness, Criminal youth dictating how the program is run, Zoom meetings as punishment for organized theft and burglaries, Refusal by prosecutors to file charges even for serious offenses. They were consulted on both fronts prior to todays announcement. Teaching & Advancement Project Manager. Bottomline, the accumulated effect is that we are ending habitual trauma cycles that plague individuals, families and the whole community network. "RCP at its core is a program that provides healing and restoration for youth. 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. 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. Hung believes that the Countys decision to hold those young people in jail instead of referring them to service providers means that all other aspects of our society have failed, and that the failure is presenting itself when the best option is locking the kid up in detention. Bringing an end to that practice, Hung said, will require the County to keep scaling up the services it can provide to young people in crisis. From reducing prison sentences to developing thriving young adults, Community Passageways impact on our young people and the community is wide-reaching. If we want to end this cycle of violence, if we want to see all of our community members thrive, then we must first see all of us as we see ourselves; flawed, human, and in our woundedness capable of causing harm and as we heal, capable of infinite good. 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 rehabilitative program, has ignited a countywide debate on justice reform in our region. 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. The FIRS Center is staffed 24/7 by Pioneer Human Services. We collaborate with families, schools, the court system, correctional center staff, religious institutions, policy makers, and community members to support adolescent youth of color. He said the cuts equate to about 30 patrol deputies or an approximate 22% reduction in 911 service to unincorporated areas of King County.. 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. So last November, King County launched a new diversion process for youth called Restorative Community Pathways. . 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. Working hands-on with those directly impacted, You will learn to innovate and bring forward new solutions that help people adjust. It is at the early education, intervention, 911 call, the hospital and at the jail doors. Their program has the juvenile participate in one-on-one workshops that, according to the organizations website, has shifted toward a virtual model.. 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. Instead of police, prosecutors, and judges, we operate with mentors, counselors, and circle keepers. One can presume that this same foundational premise will be used for the adult version of this program the county intends to start soon. FAMILY INTERVENTION AND RESTORATIVE SERVICES (FIRS), FIRS is a collaborative intervention and approach to address adolescent family violence in a timely, therapeutic, andtrauma-informed alternative to formal court involvement. 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. Jun 2022 - Present11 months. 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.
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