>> WILL THE COMMITTEE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
COUNCILMEMBER ROB SAKA? THERE
ARE FOUR MEMBERS PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTION,
THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. I WOULD
LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR
COMING THIS MORNING, FOR THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT AND THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE , THANK
YOU FOR COMING. THE LAW AND
OVERSIGHT OF THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL COURT AND THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS A
FOUNDATIONAL MISSION OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AND IT
IS ALL-IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO REACH TO PRESENT
AN ORGANIZATION AND TO
HIGHLIGHT VARIOUS ELEMENTS OF
WHICH TO INCLUDE BUDGET. IT IS
ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE BOTH
ARE PART OF NINE DEPARTMENTS
AND OFFICES AND COMMISSIONS
OVERSEEN BY THIS COMMITTEE.
ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS THAT
BOTH HERE TODAY ARE PART OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY ECOSYSTEM. ONE
ECOSYSTEM, ONE BAND. CLERK,
NOTE THAT, THANK YOU. NOW, TIME
FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENT. CLERK?
>> CURRENTLY, WE HAVE ONE
IN-PERSON SPEAKER SIGNED UP AND
THERE ARE ZERO REMOTE SPEAKERS.
>> OKAY. YOU WILL GET TWO
MINUTES FOR THE SPEAKER.
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER. IT IS UP TO
20 MINUTES. SPEAKERS WILL BE
CALLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY WERE REGISTERED. SPEAKERS
WILL HEAR A CHIME ONE TECH IN
SECONDS ARE LEFT. SPEAKERS
MICROPHONES WILL BE MUTED IF
THEY DO NOT END WITHIN THE
ALLOTTED TIME TO ALLOW US TO
CALL ON THE NEXT SPEAKER. THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
OPEN AND WILL BEGIN WITH THE
FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST THE
FIRST ONE IS CHRIS WOODWARD.
>> GOOD MORNING,
COUNCILMEMBERS. I AM THE
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
WITH THE ALLIANCE FOR PIONEER
SQUARE. WE ARE A NONPROFIT AND
WE DO COMMUNITY DEPARTMENT
WORK. OUR OFFICE IS IN D1.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK
YOU'RE DOING TO SUPPORT PUBLIC
SAFETY ACROSS SEATTLE. I AM
HERE TO PROVIDE A GENERAL
AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF
SMALL BUSINESSES OF THE REAL
AND PERCEIVED PUBLIC SAFETY
IMPACTS WITHIN PIONEER SQUARE.
I AM REALLY HERE TO HAVE A
SHORT STATEMENT THAT WE
RECEIVED FROM ACCESS PIONEER
SQUARE, AN EVENT SPACE THAT HAS
AD HOC EVENTS LIKE WEDDINGS AND
DIFFERENT STUFF. SO, I AM GOING
TO READ A QUOTE. THIS MORNING,
I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM YET
ANOTHER EVENT PLANNER, LETTING
ME KNOW THEIR CLIENTS HAVE
CHOSEN ANOTHER VENUE OUT OF
SAFETY CONCERNS. THE EVENT
PLANNER IS ASKING FOR ADVICE ON
HOW TO ALLEVIATE HER CLIENTS'
FEARS. A GOOD QUESTION. I HAVE
HEARD GOOD THINGS ABOUT PIONEER
SQUARE AND I TRY TO EASE
WORRIES WITH IT IS NOT AS BAD
AS THE MEDIA SAYS, BUT THAT IS
NOT ENOUGH. UNLESS SOMETHING
CAN BE DONE TO SWITCH THE
NARRATIVE OF SHORT-TERM AND
LONG-TERM ACCESS TO PIONEER
SQUARE , OUR BUSINESSES WILL
CONTINUE TO SEE A DECLINE.
DECLINING SALES CAUSE CLOSURES,
WHICH IS THE LAST THING WE NEED
IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. I DO NOT
HAVE THE ANSWERS TO THIS PUBLIC
SAFETY PROBLEM, BUT I DO KNOW
THAT PIONEER SQUARE IS A
SEATTLE NEIGHBOR THAT DESERVES
TO BE CHERISHED. THE ALLIANCE
OFFERS SEVERAL PUBLIC SAFETY
RESOURCES TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
BUSINESSES, SUCH AS
DE-ESCALATION TRAINING AND
ONE-ON-ONE TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE. WE WORK WITH THE
WEST PRECINCT AND SPD PROGRAMS.
THERE IS A LACK OF IMPACTFUL
SOLUTIONS FOR TRUE PUBLIC
SAFETY IN PIONEER SQUARE, SO WE
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
THIS COMMITTEE AND OTHER
COMMITTEES AND THE FULL COUNCIL
AND OTHER CITY LEADERS TO
ENSURE A SENSE OF SAFETY FOR
THE PIONEER SQUARE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> THANK YOU AND, CLERK, PLEASE
WRITE A NOTE SO THAT WE CAN
TAKE A TRIP TO PIONEER SQUARE.
I AM ROBERT.KETTLE@SEATTLE.GOV
. I INVITE EVERYONE TO JOIN ME
IF YOU ARE ABLE. THANK YOU.
>> MR. CHAIR, I HAVE -- I HAD
THE PLEASURE OF JOINING THE
ALLIANCE FOR PIONEER SQUARE IN
A DEDICATED SMALL BUSINESS TOUR
ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND I LEARNED
ABOUT THESE ISSUES FIRSTHAND.
IF YOU GO, I WOULD LOVE TO JOIN
YOU AGAIN AND CHECK IN.
>> OKAY, WE WILL HAVE THE CHAIR
AND VICE CHAIR.
>> ALREADY WENT.
>> MAYBE I CAN GET THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT TO COME BACK. I WILL
CROSS DISTRICT BORDERS AND GO
INTO D1 AND VISIT PIONEER
SQUARE WITH THE VICE CHAIR.
THANK YOU. OKAY, WE WILL NOW
MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST ITEM OF
BUSINESS. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ ITEM NUMBER ONE INTO THE
RECORD?
>> SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT
BRIEFING A DISCUSSION WITH
PRESIDING JUDGE FAYE CHESS AND
COURT ADMINISTRATOR JOSH
SATTLER .
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU AND WELCOME,
PRESIDING JUDGE FAYE CHESS.
THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THIS
BRIEFING.
>> THANK YOU, COMMITTEE CHAIR
FOR INVITING IS HERE TO PROVIDE
AN OVERVIEW OF SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL COURT. WITH COURT
ADMINISTRATOR JOSH SATTLER, WE
WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH AN
OVERVIEW OF THE COURT'S
BUDGET, STAFFING, PROGRAMS,
DATA, AND PERFORMANCE COMMAND
HIGHLIGHT HOUR 2023
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND 2024
PRIORITIES. AS A JUDICIAL
BRANCH OF SEATTLE'S CITY
GOVERNMENT, WE PROVIDE THE
COMMUNITY WITH A FORM TO
RESOLVE ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF
LAW IN A RESPECTFUL AND
INDEPENDENT AND IMPARTIAL
MANNER. WE ARE THE PEOPLE'S
COURT AND OUR LEADER -- TO
ENSURE EQUITABLE DELIVERY OF
JUSTICE. WE MUST ENSURE ACCESS
TO THE COURT AND ITS PROCESSES
AND EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT OF THE
BUSINESS OF THE COURT IN FAIR
AND TIMELY DISPOSITIONS OF
CASES. AS -- MAY HAVE ADAPTED
TO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES DURING
AN POST-PANDEMIC IN ORDER TO
CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY
MEET SYSTEMIC CHANGES AND ADAPT
TO THE CITIES POLICIES AND
STRATEGIES. WE USE THIS TO
SPEAK ABOUT THE CHANGE
HAPPENING AT THE COURT. THROUGH
THE CHANGE, WE WILL BUILD
CAPACITY, EVOLVE OUR SERVICES
TO CENTER THOSE WE SERVE, MODEL
A CULTURE ROOTED IN EQUITY,
STREAMLINE DECISION-MAKING, AND
ENGAGE STAFF TO DEVELOP FUTURE
LEADERS TODAY. OUR COURT
ADJUDICATES A MISDEMEANOR AND
GROSS MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES LIKE
ASSAULT, THEFT, AND DRIVING
UNDER THE INFLUENCE UNDER
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT CODE
AND THE REVISED CODE OF
WASHINGTON. WE ALSO PROCESS ALL
INFRACTIONS ISSUED IN SEATTLE
LIKE ARCING, TRAFFIC, AND OTHER
VIOLATIONS. WE HAVE SEVEN
ELECTED JUDGES, FIVE APPOINTED
MAGISTRATES, AND FOUR SERVICE
AREAS . OPERATIONS, TECHNOLOGY,
AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND
STRATEGY. AS THE PRESIDING
JUDGE , THEY CALL ME PJ. I AM
RESPONSIBLE FOR LEADING THE
MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
OF THE COURT AND SERVE AS A
SPOKESPERSON FOR THE COURT AND
HAVE AUTHORITY FOR JUDICIAL
ASSIGNMENTS, CALENDARS, AND
SOME PERSONNEL DECISIONS. I
HAVE DELEGATED ALL
ADMINISTRATIVE DECISIONS,
POLICY, AND SIGNATORY AUTHORITY
TO THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR,
JOSH SATTLER, INCLUDING DAILY
OPERATION OF THE COURT AND
INITIATIVE POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES AND PERSONNEL
DECISIONS FOR THE STAFF,
INCLUDING WORKING CONDITIONS,
HIRING, DISCIPLINE, AND
TERMINATION. AT THIS TIME, I
WILL HAND IT OVER TO JOSH, WHO
WILL SPEAK MORE ABOUT THE
OPERATIONS OF THE COURT.
>> THANK YOU, JUDGE. IN 2022,
THE COURT EMBRACED THE
OPPORTUNITY OF A NEW CASE
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM REPLACEMENT
AND SEVERAL LEADERSHIP CHANGES
IN AN EFFORT TO REORGANIZE
OURSELVES. WHAT YOU SEE HERE,
WE USED TO BE A COURT COMPRISED
OF 11 DIFFERENT SERVICE AREAS
WITH 11 EXECUTIVE LEADERS. WE
TOOK A SIGNIFICANT BUDGET HIT
IN 2022, WHICH ALSO FUELED THIS
REORGANIZATION EFFORT AND WE
USED THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
REBUILD OURSELVES FROM THE
GROUND UP AND REIMAGINE THE WAY
WE DELIVER SERVICES TO THE
PUBLIC. WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS
IMPLEMENTED, ALTHOUGH STILL IN
PROGRESS. WE CENTERED OURSELVES
AROUND FOUR DIFFERENT SERVICE
AREAS, OPERATIONS, WHICH IS
PUBLIC FACING COURTROOM
OPERATIONS AND SERVICE OF THE
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES,
WHICH IS OUR SECURITY, OUR
COMMERCIALS, OUR HUMAN
RESOURCES TEAM, AND FACILITIES
AND OTHERS. OUR STRATEGY
DEPARTMENT IS COMPRISED OF
COMMUNICATIONS, PUBLIC
DISCLOSURE, THE RESEARCH
PLANNING AND EVALUATION TEAM,
WHO PROVIDES ALL OF OUR
STATISTICS AND RESEARCH INTO
OUR CORE PROGRAMS, AND THEN OUR
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, EQUITY
AND ENGAGEMENT TEAM, WITH DEI
AND RSJ. WE ARE AN IN-HOUSE
TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT AND WE DO
PARTNERING WITH SEATTLE I.T. ON
MAJOR INITIATIVES, BUT WE HAVE
OUR OWN IN-HOUSE TECHNOLOGY
TEAM. WE ALL REPORT UP TO
RESIDING JUDGE CHESS. AS I
ALLUDED TO IN OUR BUDGET, OUR
2024 BUDGET IS ROUGHLY $43
MILLION. WE HAVE 201.85
FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES . OUR
RECENT BUDGET HISTORY, AS I
DETAILED, FOR 2023, WE TOOK A
3.2% CUT IN 2021 AND A 5% CUT
IN 2020 AND A 3% CUT. OVER
THESE YEARS, THESE MOUNTING
CUTS HAVE LEFT US AT A POINT
WHERE THE COURT, IF WE WERE TO
FACE FUTURE BUDGET CUTS, AND WE
KNOW THAT THERE IS A MASSIVE
PROJECTED DEFICIT, WE ARE
STARTING TO NOW EAT AT CORE
SERVICES. IT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY
IMPAIR OUR ABILITY TO DELIVER
MANY KEY SERVICES THAT ARE NOT
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE
COURT. OUR PROBATION
DEPARTMENT, OUR PRETRIAL
SERVICES DEPARTMENT, OUR IF
THERAPEUTIC -- OUR THERAPEUTIC
PROGRAMS . THESE WILL ALL BE
THINGS THAT WOULD BE TARGETED
WITH FUTURE BUDGET CUTS. AS I
MENTIONED BEFORE, THE 2021 -- A
SIGNIFICANT CUT WAS TARGETED AT
OUR PROBATION DEPARTMENT . WE
LOST ROUGHLY 25% OF OUR
PROBATION DEPARTMENT THAT ALSO
FUELED A LOT OF THIS
REORGANIZATION EFFORT. WE HAD
TO LOOK AT OUR PROBATION
DEPARTMENT AND THE SERVICES
BEING OFFERED AND I WILL TOUCH
ON THAT A LITTLE BIT IN THE
NEXT SLIDE. SO, OUR COURT
PROGRAMS, I MENTIONED
THERAPEUTIC COURTS EARLIER. WE
HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH COURT AND
A VETERANS TREATMENT COURT AND
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, ALONG WITH
THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
INTERVENTION PROGRAM AND OUR
TICKET DEBT REDUCTION PROGRAM
AND YOUTH TRAFFIC COURT.
PRETRIAL SERVICES IS SOMETHING
WE CREATED WE USED TO HAVE JUST
OUR PROBATION DEPARTMENT. WE
REALIZE THESE ARE A COUPLE
DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES. THERE
IS POST ADJUDICATION AND WE
HAVE NOW CREATED, AS PART OF
THIS RETRIAL SERVICES UNIT,
THIS ASSISTS INDIVIDUALS
NAVIGATING THE COURT SYSTEM AND
HELPS THEM FOLLOW THROUGH WITH
THEIR CASE AND COMPLETE COURT
OBLIGATIONS BY REDUCING
BARRIERS AND HOPES FOR FOR THEM
TO COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND
SERVICES THROUGH OUR COMMITTEE
RESOURCE CENTER ON THE SECOND
FLOOR OF THE COURTHOUSE. THE
COURT ALSO HAS PROGRAMS
FOCUSING ON ALTERNATIVES TO
INCARCERATION, INCLUDING
ELECTRONIC HOME MONITORING,
GPS, DRUG AND ALCOHOL
SCREENING, AND THEN OUR
PROBATION COUNSELING
DEPARTMENT. WE ARE PROUD OF OUR
INTERPRETER SERVICES, A MIGHTY
THREE-PERSON SHOP THAT PROVIDES
ACCESS FOR LIMITED ENGLISH
PROFICIENCY AND DEATH
INDIVIDUALS. -- DEAF
INDIVIDUALS. WE USE A LOT OF
INTERPRETERS IN A VARIETY OF
DIFFERENT LANGUAGES. SOMETHING
WE ARE PARTICULARLY PROUD OF
THAT THE COURT EMBRACES AS A
FRIDAY IS BRINGING COURT
SERVICES TO PROGRAMS IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS WE HAVE
BROUGHT DEBT REDUCTION,
WARRANTS IN THE COMMUNITY
EVENTS OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY,
AND WE ARE TRYING TO PARTNER
MORE WITH COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS WHEN WE LOOK AT
COURT PROGRAMMING. DATA AND
PERFORMANCE. LIKE I NOTED
EARLIER, OUR RESEARCH PLANNING
AND EVALUATION GROUP, WE
PUBLISH DATA ON CRIMINAL CASE
FILINGS AND HEARING VOLUME AND
VEHICLE INFRACTIONS AND
CRIMINAL CHARGES AND THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR PROBATION
DEPARTMENT AT THERAPEUTIC
COURTS AND ELECTRONIC HOME
MONITORING. IT IS ALL ON OUR
WEBSITE AND WE UPDATE THEM
QUARTERLY. WE THINK IT IS VERY
IMPORTANT TO CONSISTENTLY
EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF
OUR PROGRAMS AND ALSO SHARE
THOSE WITH THE PUBLIC IN AN
ACCESSIBLE MANNER. OUR 2023
ACCOMPLISHMENTS, PROBATION
EVOLUTION WAS A MASSIVE
UNDERTAKING BY THE COURT ON THE
HEELS OF THAT BUDGET REDUCTION.
THE ONE I DISCUSSED EARLIER.
RETURNS THE MICROSCOPE ON
OURSELVES. WE BROUGHT IN
OUTSIDE AGENCIES TO GIVE US
BEST PRACTICES. WE MADE THE
DECISION TO MOVE AWAY FROM
TRADITIONAL REACTIVE APPROACHES
TO SUPERVISION , TO AN APPROACH
THAT IS MORE HOPEFUL AND
EQUITABLE AND SUPPORTIVE OF
CLIENT SUCCESS AND GROWTH. THIS
WAS ALSO BECAUSE WE WERE FACING
A REDUCTION. WE HAD TO
REPRIORITIZE THE CASES IN WHICH
WE WOULD DEVOTE OUR LIMITED
RESOURCES TO AND THOSE ARE NOW,
YOU KNOW, ON DIY CASES AND
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES. NOW
THE McIS 2.0 REPLACEMENT. WE
WENT LIVE ON MARCH 6th. THIS
WAS A SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION
AND WE ARE STILL DEEP IN THE
CONSTRUCTION PHASE AND WILL BE
FOR THE NEXT SIX TO 12 MONTHS.
THIS WAS A MASSIVE UNDERTAKING,
AN EIGHT YEAR COLLABORATIVE
PROJECT BETWEEN OUR COURT,
SEATTLE I.T., CITY BUDGET
OFFICE, AND WE ARE VERY PROUD
OF THIS. THIS WAS A
THIRTY-YEAR, HOMEGROWN LEGACY
CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THE
COURT HAS BEEN OPERATING ON.
THE LAST ONE IN USE BY THE CITY
-- THIS WAS A MASSIVE PROJECT
FOR US. IT STILL IS AND IT IS
OCCUPYING A LOT OF RESOURCES.
WE ARE A LITTLE BIT SLOWER. WE
DO HAVE TO TAKE THE SYSTEM DOWN
FROM TIME TO TIME AND WE ARE
STILL MIGRATING OVER 7 MILLION
DOCUMENTS. WE HAVE LAUNCHED. WE
ARE PROUD OF THAT BUT WE ARE IN
A STABILIZATION PHASE. WE ARE
DOING OUR BEST GETTING THROUGH
CALENDARS, SERVING THE PUBLIC.
I MENTIONED EARLIER THE
REORGANIZATION HAS HAD A BIG
IMPACT ON STAFF. REORGANIZING A
COURT OF 200 FOLKS FROM 11
EXECUTIVE LEADERS TO FOUR WAS A
BIG CHANGE FOR THE COURT. WE
SUCCESSFULLY PUT THAT IN PLACE.
EQUITY ENGAGEMENT WAS A BIG
ACCOMPLISHMENT. WE POINTED OUR
FIRST DIRECTOR OF EQUITY
ENGAGEMENT AND ROLLED OUT OUR
NEW COURT LOGO, AS YOU CAN SEE
ON MY LAPEL. WE HAD COMMUNITY
INPUT AND STAFF INPUT ON THIS
LOGO BRANDING AND I'M REALLY
PROUD TO SHOW WHO WE ARE IN THE
COMMUNITY. SEVERAL MEMBERS WON
AWARDS. OUR PROBATION
DEPARTMENT WON THE INNOVATING
JUSTICE AWARD FURTHER WORK ON
PROBATION EVOLUTION. JUDGE
ANDREA CHIN WON -- WAS
RECOGNIZED AS THE ASIAN BAR
ASSOCIATION JUDGE OF THE YEAR
AND THEY ALSO PRESENTED RSJ
AWARD TO MALIAKA WHITE. WE ALSO
ONBOARDED A LOT OF NEW LEADERS
. MYSELF, PRESIDING JUDGE
CHESS, PRESIDING JUDGE ANDREA
CHIN, JUDGE TRAN 43 -- POOJA
VADDADI, AND MAGISTRATE NOAH
WELL. THIS WAS A LOT OF
CHANGES AND WE ARE HAPPY WITH
THE PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE.
LOOKING INTO 2024, OUR
PRIORITIES, AS I MENTIONED, THE
NEXT 6 TO 12 MONTHS OR ABOUT
STABILIZATION FOUR OUR CASE
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM PROJECT . WE
ARE CONTINUING TO LOOK AT THAT.
WE MADE THE DECISION TO
SEPARATE THAT FROM POST
ADJUDICATION BUT WE ARE SEEING
WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE. WE NO
LONGER HAVE A COMMITTEE COURT
AND WE ARE TAKING DRUG CHARGES
AND WE ARE LOOKING AT THE CASES
COMING INTO THE COURT AND WHAT
DO THE DEFENDANTS NEED TO BE
SUCCESSFUL AS THEY NAVIGATE THE
COURT SYSTEM. WE HAVE TEXT
REMINDERS. WE PROVIDE CELL
PHONES. WHAT DO THE DEFENDANTS
NEED TO SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
BECAUSE THEY ARE SITTING IN THE
LINE LONGER. HOW CAN WE HELP
THEM BE SUCCESSFUL, MAKING IT
TO COURT? WE ARE STILL LOOKING
AT DIFFERENT IDEAS, TRYING TO
BRING THAT IN. A BIG PIECE OF
IT IS WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT OUR
STAFFING AND BUDGET IS GOING TO
LOOK LIKE INTO THE FUTURE. THIS
COULD BE AN AREA THAT NO LONGER
EXISTS IF WE ARE FACING
SIGNIFICANT BUDGET REDUCTIONS
IN 2025. THAT PUTS US ON OUR
OTHER PRIORITY, ENSURING
EQUITY, ADEQUATE FUNDING, ET
CETERA. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF
THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE
THAT ARE NOT DEEMED
"ESSENTIAL." ADJUDICATION OF
CASES. IT WOULD NOT BE
SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO LOOK
FORWARD TO, TO HAVE TO CUT
THESE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT
WE FEEL ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE
PUBLIC. WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO
BE A GOOD PARTNER WITH OTHER
CITY AGENCIES IN SHARING TIMELY
AND EFFECTIVE MITIGATION WITH
SYSTEM PARTNERS. WE APPRECIATE
THE INVITE TO BE HERE TODAY. I
BELIEVE WE HAVE MET WITH EVERY
COUNCILMEMBER IN THE LAST 3 TO
4 MONTHS. WE HAVE REALLY
APPRECIATED THOSE PARTNERSHIPS,
AS WELL AS WITH OUR OTHER
PARTNERS, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE, THE DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC DEFENSE. WE ARE REALLY
TRYING TO BE OUT THERE AND IN
THE CONVERSATION MORE . WE ARE
PART OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY
CONVERSATION AND WE ARE A PART
OF THE ECOSYSTEM, AS YOU PUT
IT, CHAIR. WE WANT TO BE PART
OF THE CONVERSATION. THERE ARE
PIECES THAT WE CANNOT BE A PART
OF, BUT WE CAN TELL YOU THE
IMPACT ON THE COURT AND WE
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO
BE INVITED. WE ARE CONTINUING
TO ADVANCE EQUITY ENGAGEMENT IN
THE COMMUNITY AND INSIDE OUR
COURT. THIS WAS SOMETHING WE
PARTNERED WITH THE COMMUNITY ON
AND WE ALSO DID A FOCUS GROUP
INSIDE THE COURT WITH A CULTURE
SURVEY, SO WE ARE CONTINUING TO
WORK THERE. AND THEN OUR OTHER
WORK GROUPS THAT WE HAVE
LAUNCHED IN THE PAST YEAR TO
IMPLEMENT DIFFERENT PROGRAMS
ACROSS THE COURT. THAT IS ABOUT
ALL WE HAVE TODAY. I'M HAPPY
TO FIELD ANY QUESTIONS.
>> WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR THE BOTH OF YOU COMING AND
GIVING THIS PRESENTATION TO US.
I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO
DO SO, GETTING INTO THE PUBLIC
RECORD. I WILL TURN TO MY
COLLEAGUES ON THE COMMITTEE FOR
ANY QUESTIONS. I CAN ALWAYS
TRUST ON THE VICE CHAIR TO HAVE
A QUESTION, SO VICE CHAIR, ANY
QUESTIONS?? THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR. YOU KNOW I HAVE
QUESTIONS. NO, THANK YOU,
PRESIDING JUDGE TESTS FOR THIS
VERY INSIGHTFUL PRESENTATION. I
APPRECIATE THE EARLY
COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP
OUTSIDE OF COUNCIL CHAMBERS AS
WELL. I COULD NOT AGREE MORE ON
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE JOB AND
THE FUNCTION THAT YOU AND YOUR
COLLEAGUES DO IN THE JUDICIAL
BRANCH OF THE SEATTLE LEVEL.
ESPECIALLY ON THE ISSUE OF
PUBLIC SAFETY. IT IS IMPORTANT
TO SHARE INFORMATION, STAY
ENGAGED, AND AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE, STAY ALIGNED. THANK
YOU. I AM JUST CURIOUS TO
BETTER UNDERSTAND A COUPLE
THINGS. ONE, IT IS WELL
DOCUMENTED IN THE PRESS AND
MAYBE WE CAN ASK CITY ATTORNEY
DAVIDSON A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THOSE AS WELL, KINDA FROM HER
PERSPECTIVE. CAN YOU TALK --
SHARE THE DISPOSITION OF JUDGE
POOJA VADDADI AND WHAT IS
GOING ON THERE TODAY? WHAT IS
HER CURRENT CASELOAD? WE WILL
START THERE.
>> OKAY, SO I THINK I HAVE
SPOKEN TO ALL OF YOU ABOUT WHAT
HAS HAPPENED BECAUSE IT WAS IN
THE MEDIA. AT SOME POINT, I WAS
QUOTED. I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE
-- BECAUSE THIS IS BEING
ARCHIVED FOR TIME, KIND OF AN
EXPLANATION ABOUT AFFIDAVIT OF
PREJUDICE. SO, YEARS AND YEARS
AGO, PARTIES WOULD HAVE TO GIVE
LONG AND DETAILED REASONS WHY
THEY WERE DOING THAT. MOST
RECENTLY, IF A PARTY FEELS THAT
A JUDGE WILL NOT BE FAIR TO
THEM, THAT IS THE SIMPLE
LANGUAGE. THEY CAN HAVE A DATE
IT. SHE AND HER STAFF INFORMED
US THEY PLANNED TO AFFIDAVIT
JUDGE POOJA VADDADI. SINCE I'M
NOT HER SUPERVISOR, I DID NOT
ACQUIRE AS TO THE BASIS , LIKE
GIVING ME EVIDENCE AS TO WHY
YOU FEEL THAT WAY. WHENEVER I
RECEIVED AN A JUDGE , OR EVEN
MYSELF, I JUST SIGNED IT AND
ACKNOWLEDGE IT AND WE MOVE ON
AND ANOTHER JUDGE HEARS THE
CASE. THE BLANKET AFFIDAVIT HAS
IMPACTED US BECAUSE THE CITY IS
THE PARTY ON ALL OF OUR CASES.
THEY ARE THE PROSECUTORS IF
THEY ARE DOING THAT, THAT MEANS
SHE CAN ESSENTIALLY HEAR NO
CRIMINAL CASES. UNLIKE KING
COUNTY DISTRICT COURT, WHERE
THEY HAVE COURTS ACROSS THE
SYSTEM AND HAVE DIFFERENT
PROSECUTORIAL AUTHORITY,
DIFFERENT PROSECUTORS, THEY CAN
MOVE A JUDGE. I CANNOT MOVE A
JUDGE TO ANOTHER CRIMINAL
CALENDAR. SO, AT THIS POINT,
JUDGE POOJA VADDADI CANNOT
EFFECTIVELY HEAR ANY CRIMINAL
CASES. THERE MIGHT BE ONE OR
TWO OR THREE OR MAYBE FOUR
CASES ON A CALENDAR THAT SHE
CAN STILL HERE BECAUSE SHE MADE
DISCRETIONARY RULINGS. BUT THAT
IS NOT AN EFFICIENT WAY. WE
CANNOT POP A JUDGE IN AND OUT
WITH OUR NEW SYSTEM. SO, I HAVE
RECENTLY REASSIGNED HER, AS I
HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO ON
THAT GR 29, TWO HEARING TRAFFIC
INFRACTIONS. ALSO MOVING
VIOLATIONS. SHE WILL BE THERE
UNTIL SOMETHING CHANGES ,
HOWEVER, THAT CHANGE WILL NOT
OCCUR BECAUSE OF ME. THAT WILL
BE FROM SOME OUTSIDE ENTITY.
AND ALSO, SHE WILL BE GOING ON
FAMILY LEAVE, SO SHE WILL BE
OUT OF THE COURT FOR, I THINK,
AT LEAST THREE MONTHS AS WE
PROJECT RIGHT NOW. YOU KNOW,
THIS IS THE THING WHEN YOU'RE
PART OF A CHAIN. I HAVE SAID
THIS TO MISS DAVIS AND TO
EVERYBODY. WE ARE LINKED IN A
CHAIN. EACH ONE OF US ARE A
DIFFERENT LINK AND WE ARE IN
THAT CHAIN. SO, WE HAVE TO DO
WHAT WE NEED TO DO, SO THAT THE
SYSTEM CAN STILL RUN
EFFICIENTLY. SO, WHEN THAT
DECISION WAS MADE, WE REACTED
ACCORDINGLY. I TAKE NO POSITION
ON IT. IT IS PART OF DOING
BUSINESS. SO, IT STILL
REVOLVES. I DO WANT TO SPEAK
ABOUT THE COMMENTS THAT I DID
MAKE THAT WERE QUOTED IN THE
PAPER. I THINK EVERYBODY WILL
TELL YOU IT IS NEVER ABOUT ME
BUT ABOUT MY STAFF. WHEN I SAY
THINGS THAT ARE ADVERSELY
AFFECTING OUR STAFF, THEN I
SPEAK UP. BECAUSE OF THE
AFFIDAVIT, SEVERAL DEFENSE
ATTORNEYS DECIDED THAT THEY
WERE GOING TO HAVE POOJA
VADDADI ASSIGN -- THEY WERE
GOING TO CASES THAT WERE NOT
ASSIGNED TO THE JUDGE. I TOLD
THE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS THAT THEY
WERE PLAYING A GAME. THAT WAS
NOT APPROPRIATE. JUSTICE IS NOT
A GAME. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE
THE RECORD CLEAR ON THAT
BECAUSE MY FIRST PRIORITY IS
ALWAYS STAFF. I THINK I HAVE
ANSWERED YOUR QUESTIONS AS WELL
AS MANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT
HAVE HAD, THAT ARE --
>> ON THAT POINT, YES. I
APPRECIATE THE CLARITY. LOOK,
WE ARE ALL SEPARATELY ELECTED.
THE CITY ATTORNEY, THE SEPARATE
MEMBERS OF THE COURT -- DID I
HEAR THIS CORRECTLY? I HEARD
THAT WE ARE PRIORITIZING AT THE
COURT DUIS AND DV CASES AND
EYES UNDERSTAND IT, AT THE
MISDEMEANOR LEVEL, THOSE ARE
THE MOST SEVERE TYPES OF
MISDEMEANOR CASES THAT THE CITY
WOULD HANDLE. FIRST OFF, DID I
HEAR THAT CORRECTLY?
>> WHEN I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE
ASSIGNMENT OF PROBATION
RESOURCES. WE ARE DEDICATING
THE TIME AND FOCUS ON THAT.
>> THEY WOULD NOT RECEIVE
THOSE PROBATIONARY RESOURCES.
>> I WOULD SAY ONCE THEY LEFT.
THAT IS WHERE WE REALLY FOCUSED
ON THE LOWER LEVEL THEFT,
LOW-LEVEL PROPERTY DISRUPTIONS.
THOSE KINDS OF CASES. SO, NOW
THOSE CASES ARE JUST MIXED IN
WITH ALL THE RECORD CASE THIS
AND -- CASES AND THEY WILL
ASSIGN PROBATION SERVICES IF
REQUIRED ARE AVAILABLE AT THIS
POINT. THAT IS WHERE WE REALLY
EMPHASIZE THOSE CASES.
>> JUST SO I AM CLEAR, LAWYER
BUT NOT A CRIMINAL LAWYER AT
ALL, WHAT IS THE DOLLAR
THRESHOLD AMOUNT? I WOULD SAY ,
IT MIGHT BE CONSIDERED
LOW-LEVEL BY MISDEMEANOR
STANDARDS, BUT PROPERTY CRIME
IS A HUGE CHALLENGE. THAT DOES
NOT MEAN WE SHOULD NOT FOCUS --
WHAT IS THE DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT
RENDERS SOMETHING A MISDEMEANOR
VERSUS A FELONY WHEN WE ARE
TALKING PROPERTY CRIME?
>> THE DOLLAR AMOUNT? I CAN
TELL YOU THAT. LET ME TELL YOU
WHAT THE REAL THING IS. SO,
CRIME CAN BE CONSIDERED A
FELONY, BUT IF THE COUNTY
CHOOSES NOT TO PROSECUTE IT, IT
COMES DOWN TO US. TO BE HONEST,
I DO NOT LOOK AT THE AMOUNT. I
LOOK AT THE CHARGE. DOES THE
BEHAVIOR FIT TO CHARGE? IN
OTHER WORDS, CAN THEY PROVE IT
BEYOND A REGIONAL --
REASONABLE DOUBT? WHEN I
STARTED PRACTICING 35 YEARS
AGO, YOU FOCUSED ON THE DOLLAR
AMOUNT. $500. NOW, WITH THE
COUNTY AND THEIR LIMITED
RESOURCES, WE ARE GETTING QUITE
A FEW CASES WHERE YOU'RE
GOING, SHOULD THIS REALLY BE A
FELONY? SO, I DO NOT WANT US
TO GET TANGLED UP IN THE DOLLAR
AMOUNT. IT IS MORE OF, WHAT IS
THE BEHAVIOR. UNFORTUNATELY, A
LOT OF OUR INDIVIDUALS WHO
ENGAGE IN THIS ARE NOT ABLE TO
PAY RESTITUTION. SO, PEOPLE
ARE NOT MADE WHOLE. NO MATTER
WHAT THE DOLLAR AMOUNT IS.
THAT IS SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, AS
A COMMUNITY, WE HAVE TO, YOU
KNOW, WRANGLE WITH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT?
>> IT IS OKAY. GO AHEAD. YOU
ARE GOOD.
>> I WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT
PROBATION EVOLUTION AND WHAT
INSTIGATED IT OR WHOSE
INITIATIVE WAS IT? WHAT WAS THE
RATIONALE BEHIND IT AND WHEN
YOU SAY THAT THE PRETRIAL
SERVICES ARE NOW TAKING THE
PLACE OF THE POST ADJUDICATION
WORK THAT, AS A RESULT OF THIS
CHANGE IN PROBATION, I DO NOT
UNDERSTAND THE RELATIONSHIP AND
I AM ASKING BECAUSE CLEARLY THE
LINE ON THIS GRAPH AND THE
HANDOUT HERE, LOOKING AT THE
VOLUME OF WORK, IF THE NUMBER
OF EARRINGS IS ANY INDICATION
OF THE HOURS THAT PEOPLE SPEND
AT THE EXPENSE OF SOMETHING
ELSE, I WOULD LIKE TO
UNDERSTAND ALL THAT BETTER.
>> YOU KNOW I AM VERY TRUTHFUL
IN MY SPEECH. THE COMMUNITY
DROVE IT. JOSH CAN KIND OF GIVE
YOU THE DETAILS, HOWEVER THE
COMMUNITY, A COUPLE YEARS AGO,
THEY FELT THAT PROBATION
OFFICERS WERE AKIN TO PAROLE
OFFICERS. THEY WERE NOT. BUT
THE COMMUNITY WAS NOT RECEPTIVE
--
>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE
DIFFERENCE FOR OUR LISTENING
PUBLIC?? PAROLE OFFICERS ARE
PEOPLE WHO DEAL WITH THOSE WHO
HAVE BEEN CHARGED AND CONVICTED
OF FELONIES. THEY ARE MUCH MORE
INTRUSIVE, IF YOU USE THAT WORD
INTO THE LIVES, OF THOSE ON
PROBATION. ON PAROLE. THEY MAKE
SURE THEY ARE HOME EVERY NIGHT
AND THEY ARE GETTING TO THEIR
JOBS AND THEY MAY HAVE REGULAR
UAS. IT IS POST SENTENCING. OUR
PROBATION COUNSELORS ARE MORE
OF A THERAPEUTIC ROLE. IT IS
SORT OF LIKE WE DO NOT WANT YOU
BACK HERE, SO WHAT CAN WE DO?
IS IT HOUSING NEEDS YOU HAVE?
IS IT MEDICAL NEEDS THAT YOU
HAVE? IS IT FAMILY? HAS THERE
BEEN A FALLOUT IN THE FAMILY?
WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE
CAUSING YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN
THESE TYPE OF ACTIVITIES? SO,
WE ALWAYS SAW OUR PROBATION
COUNSELORS AS MORE OF SOCIAL
WORKERS, WHO HAD AN EXPERTISE
IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE. WE DO NOT
HAVE TONS OF MONEY AND NEVER
HAD, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO LOOK
AT CELL PHONES AND SOMETIMES
HOUSING VOUCHERS IF THEY WERE
PROVIDED TO US. WE COULD DIRECT
THEM TO DIFFERENT AGENCIES,
WHERE THEY COULD GET SUPPORT.
BUT BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY FELT
STRONGLY THAT PROBATION WAS
JUST ANOTHER NAIL IN THE COFFIN
OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AND WE
KNEW THAT CITY COUNCIL AT THAT
TIME SAW PROBATION AND PAROLE
OFFICERS KIND OF THE SAME WAY
AND WE HAD BEEN TARGETED, OUR
MONEY HAD BEEN TARGETED FOR
LET'S DO AWAY WITH PROBATION.
WE THEN RE-EXAMINED WHO WE
WERE, AND WE THEN CAME UP WITH
THE EVOLUTION. AND I THINK IT
EVEN HAS SERVED US BETTER
BECAUSE IF OUR GOAL IS BEING
EQUITABLE, FAIR, AND
ACCESSIBLE, WE CANNOT JUST SAY,
HEY, YOU COME HERE AND WE WILL
PROSECUTE CASES. WE ARE THE
PEOPLE'S COURT. WHAT THAT
MEANS IS WE STEP UP AND WE
TRIED TO OFFER, RIGHT? I TELL
DEFENDANTS ALL THE TIME, PUT ME
OUT OF BUSINESS. DO NOT COME
BACK HERE. PUT ME OUT OF
BUSINESS. SO, WITH SURVEYS, WE
TALKED A BIT ABOUT THE SURVEYS.
WE DID THE WORK. WE MET WITH
PEOPLE. WE DID THE SURVEY. WE
SURVEYED NOT ONLY OUTSIDE, BUT
WE SURVEYED INSIDE TO OUR OWN
STAFF TO SAY, HOW CAN WE DO
THIS WORK BETTER? THAT IS HOW
WE CAME UP WITH PROBATION
EVOLUTION. THEN WE LOOK AT
OURSELVES AGAIN AND SAID, WHY
ARE WE TRACKING IT ALL IN POST?
PEOPLE WHO COME IN
PRE-CONVICTION VERSUS
POSTCONVICTION, THE NEEDS ARE
NOT NECESSARILY THE SAME AT
ALL. YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY,
WHEN SOMEONE HAS A CONVICTION,
IT AFFECTS THEM IN SO MANY
WAYS, WHETHER IT IS A HOUSING
APPLICATION, AN EMPLOYMENT
APPLICATION. DOES IT LIMIT
WHERE THEY CAN GO BECAUSE THERE
IS A NO CONTACT ORDER? THEIR
NEEDS MIGHT BE DIFFERENT ONCE
THEY ARE POST ADJUDICATION. I
THINK WE ARE NOT PERFECT YET.
WE ARE HOPING TO KEEP THE
RESOURCES WE NEED, TO KEEP THIS
WORK GOING. WE ARE GETTING
THERE. AGAIN, NEVER PERFECT,
BUT WE WANT TO BE CLOSE TO
BEING PERFECT. I WILL LET JOSH
KIND OF GIVE YOU THE DETAILS OF
WHAT THAT WORK LOOKED LIKE.
>> BEFORE THIS PROJECT AND THE
BUDGET CUTS, OUR PROBATION
DEPARTMENT WAS A LARGE
DEPARTMENT. ONE DAY OF
PROBATION. THESE ARE DIFFERENT
DISCIPLINES. WE RECOGNIZE THAT
THROUGH THE PROJECTS. WE CARVED
AWAY A PORTION THROUGH THE
DEPARTMENT AND HAVE THEM
CENTERED ON PRETRIAL SERVICES.
LOOKING MORE AT PRE-ADJUDICATIO
N, HOW DO WE HELP DEFENDANTS
THROUGH THE PROCESS. THEY ARE
SOLELY FOR THERAPEUTIC CORDS
AND ADJUDICATION AND THAT IS
THE DISTINCTION WE MADE.
>> ISN'T IT ONLY GIVEN WHEN
ONE HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY? HOW
DO YOU MAKE THAT DISTINCTION?
>> WE ARE TRYING TO SUPPLEMENT
THESE OTHER AREAS OF THE
COURTS, THAT WE DO NOT HAVE
THAT TO DEDICATE. COMMUNITY
COURT, WHEN IT WAS DISSOLVED,
HOW MUCH WOULD IT SAVE THE
CITY? ZERO DOLLARS. THAT WAS US
COVERING THE PROGRAM WHEN THAT
WENT AWAY, THE RESOURCES WENT
TO A DIFFERENT AREA. PROBATION
REVOLUTION WAS UNDER ATTACK FOR
SEVERAL YEARS IN THIS SPACE.
THERE WERE A LOT OF CALLS FROM
THE COMMUNITY AND FROM THE CITY
COUNCIL TO DEFUND PROBATION. AT
THAT SAME TIME, WE ALSO TURNED
THE LENS ON OURSELVES AND
LOOKED AT IS IT HAVING ANY
OUTCOMES WE WANT AND WE PIVOTED
TOWARDS A MORE GOALS' BASED,
RATHER THAN HAVING
DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACTS FOR
DIFFERENT PEOPLE ENTERING
PROBATION WITH DIFFERENT CASES
AND DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, WE
HAVE NOW STANDARDIZED IT.
EVERYONE ENTERS PROBATION AT
THE SAME LEVEL AND THEN IT IS
OUTCOME-BASED. YOU START BY
REPORTING IN PERSON. IF YOU
KEEP THAT UP, YOU CAN MOVE THE
REMOTE. IF YOU CAN KEEP THAT
UP, YOU CAN MOVE TO LESS
FREQUENT CHECK INS. OUR GOAL IS
TO HELP YOU GRADUATE PROBATION
EARLY. THAT IS NOT HOW WE
ATTACK PROBATION FIVE YEARS
AGO. IT WAS MUCH DIFFERENT.
>> SO, YOU'RE REALLOCATED --
YOU RELOCATED THE RESOURCES
WITH STAFF TIME AND OTHER
RESOURCES -- I'M NOT REALLY
SURE -- TO PRETRIAL. SO, WHAT
WOULD THEY BE DOING IN THE
PRETRIAL ROLE INSTEAD IF THE
TRIAL HAS NOT OCCURRED YET?
>> THEY HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT
AREAS. ONE IS OUR PERSONAL RISK
COGNIZANCE PROGRAM, JAIL
SCREENERS, THOSE BOOKED AT
NIGHT RUN THROUGH A RELEASE
CATEGORY. THAT IS ONE COMPONENT
OF IT. SO, SOME PEOPLE, IF THEY
MEET CERTAIN ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS, ARE RELEASED
BEFORE THEY EVEN SECOR THE
FOLLOWING MORNING. IF THEIR
CASE CATEGORY IS A DIFFERENT
LEVEL ESTABLISHED BY THE
JUDGES, THEY CAN BE RELEASED
WITHOUT AN APPEARANCE IN FRONT
OF A JUDGE. THEY ALSO DO PUBLIC
DEFENSE SCREENING. THEY MEET
WITH DEFENDANTS TO LOOK AT
ELIGIBILITY. THEN THEY ALSO
ASSIST DEFENDANTS -- THERE ARE
A LOT OF CONDITIONS THAT ARE
PLACED UPON A DEFENDANT AS THEY
ARE WAITING FOR TRIAL. THEY
HELP DEFENDANTS STAY IN
COMPLIANCE. THERE ARE CERTAIN
POSTCONVICTION REQUIREMENTS
THAT WILL NEED TO BE DONE, THAT
DEFENDANTS WILL TRY TO GET DONE
BEFORE THEY ARE ACTUALLY
SENTENCED. THEY ASSIST THEM
WITH THAT PROCESS AND THEY ALSO
ASSIST THEM WITH REMINDERS TO
COME TO COURT. WE TALKED ABOUT
CELL PHONES, BASIC NEEDS. WE
HAND OUT SOCKS AND CLOTHING AT
OUR CRC. WHATEVER THEY NEED TO
NAVIGATE THROUGH OUR SYSTEM.
>> IF YOU TALK ABOUT OUR DIYS,
YOU SEE A LOT OF THAT. MOST
PEOPLE WITH DUIS ARE BEING
SERVED BY PRETRIAL SERVICES.
ONE IS YOU WAYS. ELECTRONIC
HOME MONITORING, THINGS LIKE
THAT. THEY WILL MONITOR TO MAKE
SURE THAT THEY ARE IN
COMPLIANCE. IF THEY ARE NOT IN
COMPLIANCE, THEN THE JUDGE IS
NOTIFIED. MAYBE THEY HAVE A
RANDOM UA THAT CAME UP
POSITIVE. THEY MIGHT HAVE TO
COME BACK TO THE COURT AND THE
PROBATION PRETRIAL SERVICES
EXPLAINED IT AND THEN THERE IS
A DISCUSSION SHOULD CONDITIONS
CHANGE OR SHOULD THEY REMAIN
THE SAME. YOU ALSO SEE IT A LOT
-- WE HAD THEM TALK ABOUT THIS.
THE DV IP PROGRAM, WHICH IS
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INTERVENTION
PROGRAM. THEY HAVE A LOT OF
PRETRIAL SERVICES, BECAUSE
THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO SAY,
I HAVE AGREED TO GO INTO A
PROGRAM AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF
POST. THE PRE- IS YOU'RE GOING
TO TREATMENT AND WE ARE
MONITORING YOU AND WE ARE
MAKING SURE YOU'RE DOING WHAT
YOU SAY YOU WILL DO IN YOUR
STAYING OFF OF DRUGS IF THAT IS
ONE OF THE CONDITIONS. YOU ARE
GOING TO THIS OR THAT, SO IT
CAN LOOK A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT
WAYS AS TO WHAT PRETRIAL
SERVICES DOES. AGAIN, POST
ADJUDICATION.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLANDSWORTH?
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR AND
THANK YOU JUDGE CHESS AND MR.
SATHER FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I
WANT TO REITERATE WHAT MY
COLLEAGUE SAID, JUST LIKE THE
OUTREACH ON THE CONNECTION YOU
ARE MADE TO THE COUNCIL, TO
HAVE THAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP.
ONE QUESTION I HAD IS WE HAVE
TALKED ABOUT THIS OFTEN
REGARDING -- YOU SAID IT, MR.
SATHER, HOW THE COURT REALLY
WANTS TO BE INVOLVED IN THE
PUBLIC SAFETY CONVERSATION.
EITHER ONE OR TWO THINGS WHERE
YOU ARE LIKE THESE ARE THINGS
WE NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN WHEN
YOU ALL ARE ADDRESSING PUBLIC
SAFETY, WHEN OUR CITIES ARE
ADDRESSING PUBLIC SAFETY AND WE
OFTEN THINK OF OUR FIRST
RESPONDERS AND OUR POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND OUR FIRE
DEPARTMENT. WE MISSED THE MARK
IN NOT TAKING ABOUT OUR CITY
ATTORNEYS OFFICE. CAN YOU TELL
US ONE OR TWO THINGS WHERE
YOU'RE LIKE THESE ARE THINGS
YOU WILL HAVE TO CONSIDER WHEN
TAKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY?
>> I WILL SHARE A COUPLE
EXAMPLES. I AM SURE THAT JUDGE
CHESS WOULD LOVE TO SPEAK ON
THE TOPIC. WE WERE INVOLVED IN
THE THERE AS FENTANYL TEST
COURSE. WHAT WOULD A DRUG COURT
LOOK LIKE? YOU KNOW, HOW WOULD
COMMUNITY COURT POTENTIALLY
SERVE THIS CLIENT BASE? WE DID
A LOT OF EXPLAINING AND A LOT
OF INFORMING OF THIS IS HOW THE
SYSTEM WORKS AND WHAT WE COULD
OFFER AND HOW WE COULD BE PART
OF THE CONVERSATION. WE DO NOT
HAVE A POSITION ON THE PASSING
OF DRUG LEGISLATION, BUT WE CAN
TELL YOU WHAT THE IMPACT IS ON
THE COURT. ONE PIECE OF BEING
INVOLVED IN THE CONVERSATION
THAT I THINK CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE WILL HIGHLIGHT IS
EMBEDDING A SUBSTANCE ABUSE
DISORDER NAVIGATOR, ASSESSOR,
INSIDE PRETRIAL SERVICES. THIS
IS, AND CAN BECOME A BARRIER
FOR FOLKS. THESE COST MONEY.
THEY ARE HARD TO GET
APPOINTMENTS. WHEN WE LET
SOMEONE -- WE ASSIGN SOMEONE
SOMETHING FROM COURT AND THEY
LEAVE AND THEIR LIKELIHOOD OF
NOT COMPLYING WITH THAT
ESCALATES, SO IF INSTEAD OF
HAVING THEM LEAVE THE
COURTHOUSE TO GO GET A
SUBSTANCE ABUSE DIAGNOSIS, THEY
WENT DOWN TO THE SECOND FLOOR
TO OUR COMMITTEE RESORT CENTER
AND GOT IT DONE RIGHT AWAY, WE
CAN HELP THEM NAVIGATE THE
SYSTEM BETTER. THAT IS JUST ONE
PIECE. THIS IS A LARGE
CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW TO
ADDRESS THIS INSIDE THE CITY.
AS BEING A PART OF THAT
CONVERSATION, WE CAN SAY WE CAN
MOVE THAT IN HOUSE. WE HAVE
ROOM ON THE SECOND FLOOR WE
WOULD BE HAPPY TO HELP
COLLABORATE ON THAT. IT MIGHT
BE ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE
THREE PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO
SOLVE IT AT THE SAME TIME. WE
CAN PARTNER ON THESE THINGS. I
THINK THAT IS A RECENT IMPACT
OF US BEING HAPPY TO EVEN BE IN
THE CONVERSATIONS, SO WE CAN
HELP SAY WHAT WE CAN PROVIDE
AND ALSO TO HELP CLARIFY, DRUG
COURTS ARE NOT REALLY
IMPLEMENTED AT THE MISDEMEANOR
LEVEL AND THIS IS WHY. THIS IS
WHY THEY HAVE NOT BEEN
IMPLEMENTED. JUDGE CHESS?
>> SINCE YOU ALL HAVE COME ON
BOARD, IT HAS BEEN A VERY
REFRESHING THING TO BE ABLE TO
SAY WE SIT AT THE TABLE AND
HAVE CONVERSATIONS. SO, I WAS
LIKE, YOU ARE DOING IT. WE ARE
TALKING AND YOU ALL -- I FEEL
LIKE THERE IS A GREAT
UNDERSTANDING OF WHO WE ARE.
LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME, I WOULD
SAY WE CAME INTO A ROOM AND
WALKED AWAY SAYING, WE
ABSOLUTELY HAVE NO IDEA HOW THE
COURTS FUNCTION AND WHAT WE CAN
OR CANNOT DO , BUT I WILL SAY,
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE NOW, IS WE
HAVE TO HAVE ALL OUR COMMUNITY
PARTNERS IN CONVERSATION. I CAN
ENGAGE IN CONVERSATION, FOR
EXAMPLE, WITH THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN CREATING
ANOTHER COMMUNITY PROGRAM. I
WILL NOT SAY COMMUNITY COURT.
THERE IS A DUI COURT. BUT WE
NEED THE PARTICIPATION OF
DEFENSE COUNCIL. SO, MANY
TIMES THINGS DO NOT GO FORWARD
BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE A BUY IN
FROM EVERYBODY. IT WOULD BE
REALLY NICE TO START SEEING
MORE INVOLVEMENT FOR ALL THE
STAKEHOLDERS AND WHY CERTAIN
THINGS WOULD BE BENEFICIAL AT
THE COURT FOR THE GOOD OF THE
WHOLE. I AM HOPING THAT MANY OF
OUR STAKEHOLDERS DO NOT SEE US
AS THE ADVERSARIES OR THE MAN,
BUT RATHER AS ANOTHER PLACE'S
THAT WE CAN HELP SOMEONE. THAT
IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT WAY OF
THINKING ABOUT A COURT SYSTEM,
RIGHT? TO ALWAYS BE SEEN AS
PUNITIVE HISTORICALLY, BUT IF
WE UNDERSTAND PUNITIVE DOES NOT
WORK -- IT DOES NOT ADDRESS THE
ILLS OF SOCIETY. SO, WE REALLY
WANT TO BE A PARTNER IN THIS.
YES, THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN OR
CANNOT SAY, BUT THERE IS A
WHOLE LOT OF STUFF WE CAN DO.
WE CAN ONLY DO IT WITH THESE
STAKEHOLDERS, THE DEFENSE, AND
THE CITY. I WILL SAY THAT SINCE
MISS DAVIS' TENURE, WE HAVE
HAD GOOD CONVERSATIONS, AS WELL
AS HER FORMAL CRIMINAL CHIEF,
AND THEN WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS
WE -- THEY SAY IT IS A NO GO.
IT IS NOT MOVING US FORWARD.
>> WHAT DID YOU SAY ABOUT THE
DEFENSE?
>> THEY WILL SAY IT IS A NO-GO.
>> BUT WE PAY THEM TO REPRESENT
PEOPLE WHO CANNOT AFFORD THEIR
ATTORNEYS?
>> THEY ARE IN A DIFFERENT
POSITION.
>> WE ARE THEIR CLIENT.
>> YEAH. THEY WILL SAY IT IS A
NO-GO , AND I THINK WE ARE ALL
IN THIS TOGETHER AND THIS MIGHT
BE CONTROVERSIAL BECAUSE I AM
SAYING IT, BUT IT IS TRUE. WE
ARE ALL PARTNERS IN THIS AND WE
NEED EVERYBODY. BECAUSE IF THEY
DO NOT RECOMMEND THE PROGRAMS
TO THEIR CLIENTS THAT WE HAVE
AVAILABLE, THEN IT IS NOT
EFFECTIVE. SO, LIKE I SAID, I
AM HOPING IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS
THAT THEY WILL COME TO THE
TABLE AND HAVE SOME REAL HONEST
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT CAN WE
DO TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF
EVERYONE? WHEN I -- WE ARE NOT
HERE TO TAKE AWAY PEOPLE'S
RIGHTS. WE ARE HERE TO MAKE IT
A FAIR AND EQUITABLE TRIBUNAL.
>> WITH ALL DUE RESPECT,
THEY'RE NOT A POLICYMAKING
BODY.
>> THAT IS WHY I SAID IF WE DO
NOT GET OUR PEOPLE TO THE TABLE
--
>> I WAS NOT TALKING ABOUT YOU.
I WAS TALKING ABOUT --
>> YEAH.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. I
BELIEVE THAT IS COMPLETE. I
HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS TO
CONCLUDE. ONE IS REGARDING THE
CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
OBVIOUSLY, I HAVE BEEN READING
AND I HAD A PREBRIEF A MONTH OR
TWO AGO. AND THEN I HAVE BEEN
READING IT, BUT I ALSO HAVE MY
BACKGROUND UP SEEING ROLLOUTS
IN THE MILITARY INTELLIGENCE
COMMUNITY. LOOKING AT THE TOP
SECRET LEVEL. THEY NEVER GO
COMPLETELY SMOOTHLY AND THERE
ARE ALWAYS CHALLENGES. THERE IS
THE PIECE OF THAT IS IN THE
PRESS ABOUT IT. HOW WOULD YOU
DESCRIBE IT TODAY IN TERMS OF
THE CASE MANAGEMENT? THE CASE
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND WHERE WE
ARE TODAY?
>> WE CALL IT A SUCCESSFUL
IMPLEMENTATION. WE DID TAKE THE
SYSTEM DOWN FOR FIVE DAYS. THAT
HAS BEEN IN THE PLAN. WE HAD
MANUAL PAPER PROCESSES OVER THE
WEEKEND. THE CASE MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM IS MUCH MORE -- I
BELIEVE THE TIMES ARTICLE
CENTERED ON THE PUBLIC PORTAL,
WHICH IS A PUBLIC FACING PIECE.
THAT IS NOT THE ENTIRE PIECE.
WE DID HAVE TO TAKE DOWN THE
PUBLIC PORTAL AND WE WILL HAVE
TO TAKE IT DOWN AT TIMES TO DO
WORK ON THE SYSTEM AS WE
CONTINUE TO STABILIZE. THE CASE
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WAS NOT
AFFECTED DURING THAT TIME.
COURT WAS STILL RUNNING AND
CASES WERE STILL BEING
PROCESSED. IT WAS A LITTLE BIT
SLOWER MOVING OUR WAY THROUGH.
THIS LAST WEEK, WE WERE FULLY
STABILIZE ALL FIVE DAYS. WE
WILL HAVE TO TAKE THE CASE
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND PORTAL
DOWN TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON
THINGS. WE PRIORITIZE THE DATE
BECAUSE THIS WAS EXTREMELY
EXPENSIVE. ANY DELAY TO THAT
WOULD HAVE CONTINUED TO
ACCUMULATE MORE MONEY. THAT
MEANT THAT WE WENT LIVE WITH
OUT KEY PIECES OF
FUNCTIONALITY. WE STILL DO NOT
HAVE OUR DATA CONNECTION WITH
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. WE
HAVE OTHER PIECES OF
FUNCTIONALITY THAT ARE NOT
IMPLEMENTED YET. THEY WILL BE
IMPLEMENTED IN THE NEXT SIX
MONTHS. WHEN WE MAKE THOSE
CHANGES, WE NEED TO PULL OUR
SYSTEM DOWN. WE'RE TRYING TO
DO IT AT NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS TO
NOT CAUSE INSTABILITY TO THE
SYSTEM, HOWEVER THIS IS A
MASSIVE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT AS
WE ARE ALL AWARE. SOMETIMES WE
HAVE TO TAKE A LOAN OR -- LANE
OR ROAD DOWN, BUT TRAFFIC IS
STILL HERE. WE ARE STILL
SERVING THE PROJECT. THIS IS A
30-YEAR-OLD SYSTEM AND THIS IS
A ONCE IN A CAREER OPPORTUNITY
AT COURTS. THEY'RE NOT IN THE
PRACTICE OF UPGRADING THEIR
CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS EVERY
COUPLE OF YEARS. THIS IS WHY
THIS TOOK EIGHT YEARS TO GET TO
THIS POINT. SO, WHERE WE ARE
RIGHT NOW, WE ARE CALLING THIS
A SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION AND
WE ARE TRYING TO STABILIZE THE
BEST WE CAN. WE ARE LEARNING
EVERY SINGLE DAY, GETTING
FASTER.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE
NOT ALONE. THEY HAVE THEIR
VERSION OF THIS, WHICH IS WHERE
WE ARE WITH THAT. THAT WILL
COME UP SOON, I GUESS? JUDGE
CHESS, I WAS GOING TO ASK THIS
QUESTION. IF YOU TOUCHED IT, IT
IS THE BIG PICTURE NO JUSTICE
SYSTEM. YOU SIT IN A UNIQUE
ROLE, A BIGGER PICTURE LOOK.
THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS IN
THE PRESS LATELY, WHICH ARE OF
CONCERN TO ME. ONE OF THEM WAS
BEING ADDRESSED IN THE LAST
SECTION TO PUBLIC DEFENDERS AND
THE OVERALL SYSTEM. IS THERE
ANYTHING ALONG THOSE LINES IN
THE BIGGER CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM THAT YOU SEE IN TERMS OF
HAVING IMPACTS ON PUBLIC SAFETY
AND THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE
EATING AND I OUT FROM OUR
PURVIEW AS THE PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE OF THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL?
>> I THINK WE ARE AT A CRISIS
WITH OUR STAFFING ATTORNEYS.
THEY WANT TO DO CRIMINAL
DEFENSE WORK, AS WELL AS
PROSECUTORS. WE NEED PEOPLE ON
BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE. AS YOU
ALL KNOW, I STARTED OUT AS A
PUBLIC DEFENDER AND I VALUE
THAT WORK AS CRITICAL. BUT WE
ARE JUST NOT HAVING INDIVIDUALS
DESIRE US TO ENTER THE FIELD.
IT IS A LOT OF WORK AND NOT A
LOT OF PAY. I REMEMBER WHEN I
SAID, I DO NOT THINK I WILL BE
ABLE TO BUY A NEW CAR IF I STAY
AS A PUBLIC DEFENDER. I WAS
ABLE TO, BUT THE COST OF LIVING
IS SO MUCH DIFFERENT THAN WHEN
I GOT HERE 35 YEARS AGO. SO, IN
ORDER FOR THE SYSTEM TO WORK,
WE NEED SOME GOOD PEOPLE ON
BOTH SIDES AND I DO NOT KNOW
WHAT THAT WILL TAKE. BUT I KNOW
THAT THE SUPREME COURT IS
LOOKING AT THAT. I AM PART OF
THE MINORITY JUSTICE
COMMISSION. WE ARE TAKING A
LOOK AT IT, SO THERE ARE A LOT
OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS
TAKING A LOOK AT IT. BUT I
THINK WE FOUND THE SAME PLACE
AS EDUCATORS -- I WORK AS A
HUMAN RESOURCE EMPLOYMENT LOWER
FOR TWO SCHOOL DISTRICTS. WE
WERE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET EDUCATORS
OF COLOR TO COME AND I THINK
THOSE SAME FACTORS PLAY HERE.
HOW DO YOU GET PEOPLE TO BE
INTERESTED IN THIS WORK WHEN
YOU CANNOT PAY BONUSES AND YOU
DO NOT HAVE THESE BEAUTIFUL,
SPLASHY LUNCHES AND DINNERS AND
FREE SODA IN THE EMPLOYEE'S
LOUNGE? IT IS A BIG QUESTION.
TO ME, THAT IS WHAT IS
PRESSING. WE ARE THE STARTER
CORD FOR A LOT OF ATTORNEYS AND
SOMETIMES I WONDER HOW LONG
WILL THEY STAY IN CRIMINAL
WORK? THAT IS JUST MY FEW
THOUGHTS. OTHER THAN THAT, AS
LONG AS WE CONTINUE TO TALK AS
PARTNERS, I THINK WE MOVE
FORWARD IN A BETTER POSITION.
BUT WHEN WE START GETTING DOG
DOWN AND SAYING I WILL NOT
PLAY, GETTING TO THE SITUATION
OF RESPONSE, THEN I THINK WE
LOSE OUTCOME ALL OF US, WHETHER
IT IS THE PUBLIC DEFENSE OR THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE OR THE
COURTS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHIEF
JUSTICE CHESS. THIS IS LOOKING
AT WHAT THEY ARE WITHIN PUBLIC
SAFETY. IT IS VITAL TO OUR SAFE
SPACE IN THE CITY AND IT IS
VITAL FOR EACH PART OF IT, TO
YOUR POINT, TO BE FUNCTIONAL
BECAUSE AS YOU SAID, WE ARE ALL
LINKS IN THE SAME CHAIN OR, AS
I WOULD SAY, ALL IN THE SAME
BAND. THIS IS IMPORTANT
BECAUSE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM IS NOT FUNCTIONAL OR A
PART OF IT IS NOT FUNCTIONAL.
THIS, IN TURN, CAN CONTRIBUTE
TO THE PERMISSIVE ENVIRONMENT
THAT OUR COMMITTEE IS LOOKING
TO WORK BECAUSE IT UNDERLINES
OUR PICK LIKE SAFETY
CHALLENGES. THE LACK OF PUBLIC
DEFENDERS CAN BE AS TROUBLING
AS THE LACK OF POLICE OFFICERS
OR PROSECUTORS OR JUDGES, AND
SO IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT
THAT WE PUSH FORWARD ON THIS,
SO YOUR PRESENCE TODAY IS VERY
HELPFUL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I
APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR INVITING
US. WE APPRECIATE IT.
>> OKAY, WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO
OUR SECOND ITEM OF BUSINESS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
2 INTO THE RECORD?
>> LOOKING AT THE CITY ATTORNEY
DATA SYSTEM.
>>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I'M NOT SURE, DO YOU WANT
TO -- ARE WE GOING TO WAIT FOR
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON? OR
JUST PEOPLE NEED TO KIND OF GO
AND COME AS THEY ARE?
>> YES. WE CAN START. MAYBE
START A LITTLE SLOW ON YOUR
INTRODUCTION. BUT YES, YOU CAN
START.
>> I'LL USE MY MORNING VOICE,
AND WE CAN GO SLOWLY ON IT.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. THANK
YOU FOR THE INVITATION, CHAIR
KETTLE. HAPPY TO BE HERE TO SEE
COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE CITY. OUR
POLICYMAKERS ON THIS IMPORTANT
TOPIC, PUBLIC SAFETY. WE HAVE A
SHORT SLIDE PRESENTATION FOR
YOU. WE'LL GO THROUGH KIND OF
BIG PICTURE. SIMILAR TO WHAT
YOU WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT
PRESIDING JUDGE CHESS, AND
HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS
THEREAFTER. I HAVE BEEN IN
OFFICE JUST OVER TWO YEARS.
I'M SURE YOU ARE WELL AWARE.
AND THESE ARE SOME OF MY MAIN
PRIORITIES. I JUST WANTED TO
START WITH KIND OF BIG PICTURE
FOR ME, WHAT I FEEL I'VE BEEN
TASKED WITH FROM THE VOTERS
HERE AND WHY I FEEL I WAS PUT
HERE BY OUR PUBLIC. IT STARTS
WITH THAT I CAN PROVIDE THAT
LOOK, AND THAT MIRROR, WHICH IS
DATA TRANSPARENCY. THERE WAS
NOT THAT PRIOR TO MY ARRIVAL.
WE DID NOT HAVE AN ONGOING LOOK
AT DATA FROM THE CRIMINAL
ATTORNEY OFFICE. AND WHAT WE
HAVE, IN REGARD TO THE CITY,
MISDEMEANOR, AND GROSS
MISDEMEANOR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
THAT WAS GOING ON IN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE. THOUGH I BUILT A
FIRST OF ITS KIND DATA TEAM
HERE, SO WE CAN PROVIDE THAT
INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC. AND
SO THAT I CAN MAKE
WELL-INFORMED DECISIONS,
UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE ARE
DOING. PART OF THAT, AFTER WE
DID THE INITIAL LOOK OF OUR
DATA, WHEN I STARTED, WAS TO
CREATE A CLOSE-IN-TIME FILING.
WITH THAT REGARDS IS WHEN WE
GET A REFERRAL FROM SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, I HAVE
SELF-IMPOSED A FIVE BUSINESS
DAY GOAL TO MAKE A CHARGING
DECISION, WHETHER WE ARE
DECLINING THAT, WHETHER WE ARE
SENDING THAT ALTERNATIVE TO
MAIN STREAM PROSECUTION. OR
WHETHER WE ARE CHARGING THAT.
SOMETIMES WE MAKE THAT GOAL.
SOMETIMES WE'RE OFF. BUT THAT
IS OUR SELF-IMPOSED GOAL TO
MAKE THAT CHARGING DECISION
TIME. ONE OF THE MAIN, MAIN
PRIORITIES FOR ME IS VICTIMS
FIRST, WHICH MAYBE I SHOULD
HAVE HAD THAT AT THE TOP OF THE
LIST. IT IS RECENTERRING
VICTIMS' VOICES IN THE PUBLIC
CONVERSATION. WE UNDERSTAND
THAT NO VICTIM EVER ASKED TO BE
PART OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM. AND WE ARE HERE TO TALK
ABOUT THAT. IF WE DECIDE TO
MAKE A CHARGE, IT IS IN REGARDS
TO UNDERSTANDING WHAT OCCURRED
TO THAT VICTIM.
>>> IT IS ALSO ABOUT IMPROVING
ACCOUNTABILITY. WHEN WE BELIEVE
SOMEONE HAS COMMITTED THE
ALLEGED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND
WE MAKE THAT CHARGE. WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE SEEING
IMPROVED ACCOUNTABILITY. I KIND
OF CALL IT, WE'RE TRYING TO
PUT BACK REALTIME
ACCOUNTABILITY INTO THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. SO WE
CAN MORE CLOSELY CONNECT THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACTIVITY IN
THE ALLEGED. THAT INCLUDES,
FROM THAT DATA, A FOCUS, WHICH
MANY OF YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR
WITH WHAT I CALLED THE
INITIATIVE. AND WE'LL GO
THROUGH THAT FURTHER IN THE
NEXT SLIDES. JUST TO GIVE YOU A
LANDSCAPE ABOUT CRIME IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. SADLY, IF
SOMEONE IS LIKELY TO BE A
VICTIM OF CRIME IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, THEY ARE LIKELY TO BE
THE VICTIM OF A MISDEMEANOR,
GROSS MISDEMEANOR CRIME.
INSTEAD OF A FELONY. BECAUSE IT
MAKES UP 80% OF OUR CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY IN THE CITY. AND AS
YOU SPOKE EARLIER, WITH
PRESIDING JUDGE CHESS, THOSE
INCLUDE DUI, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
IT ALSO INCLUDES ASSAULT,
HARASSMENT, TRESPASS, WEAPONS
CHARGES, AND A VARIETY OF OTHER
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. BUT THESE
ARE SOME OF THE ONES THAT ARE
MORE SERIOUS, AND WHY I WANTED
TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE. I DON'T
WANT LIKE TO USE THE TERM "LOW
LEVEL" BECAUSE TO THAT CRIME
VICTIM, IT WAS PROBABLY NEVER
LOW LEVEL. AND IT'S IMPORTANT
TO UNDERSTAND THAT. AGAIN, WHEN
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE DATA
THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
PROVIDE FOR THE PUBLIC AND FOR
ME TO MAKE DECISIONS ON, THIS
IS TO GIVE YOU KIND OF A LOOK
BACK. AND AS NOTED EARLIER,
WITH THE CRIMINAL CASE
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE,
IT IS ALSO WHAT IS TERMED A
"LEGACY "SYSTEM. IT IS OVER 30
YEARS OLD. BUT THANKFULLY, WE
HAVE SMART PEOPLE WHO WERE ABLE
TO DATA MINE AND GIVE US THIS
LOOK BACK TO 2017. I CAN LOOK
BACK PREPANDEMIC. I NEED TO
MAKE DECISIONS PRIOR TO COVID,
AND WHAT I CAN DO FROM A
PROCESS IMPROVEMENT. THIS WAS
AGAIN, INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING
MY DECISION IN CLOSE-IN-TIME
FILING. WANTING TO BE
RESPONSIVE TO CRIME VICTIMS AND
WHERE WE CAN IMPROVE WHAT WE
CAN CONTROL IN THE SYSTEM, SO
THAT WE ARE GIVING BETTER
ACCOUNTABILITY, AND MORE
RESPONSIVENESS TO VICTIMS. SO
WE ARE ON TRACK IN 2022. WE DID
GREAT PROGRESS ON THE GREAT
CLOSE-IN-TIME. YOU CAN SEE OVER
THE END OF THE YEAR, 2023, WHEN
WE HAD SOME STAFFING, PEOPLE GO
ON LEAVE. EVEN ONE PROSECUTOR
BEING OUT, IMPACTS MY ABILITY
TO BE CLOSE-IN-TIME. WE DON'T
HAVE A BENCH, SO TO SPEAK.
CRIME DOESN'T TAKE A BREAK.
BUT WE HAVE GOOD POLICY WHERE
EMPLOYEES CAN TAKE BREAKS AS
THEY SHOULD. BUT WHEN THAT
HAPPENS, I ACTUALLY LOSE ON
SOME OF MY RESPONSIVENESS. SO
THAT'S WHAT THAT BACKLOG IS
THERE. IN THE 22, Q4 AND Q1.
THEN WE GET BAX DOWN, BECAUSE
WE ARE ABLE TO BE RESPONSIVE
AGAIN.
>>> THIS IS FOR IF YOU ARE
UNFAMILIAR WITH WHAT I WALKED
INTO IN THE START OF 2022.
WHICH WAS A 5,000-CASE CRIMINAL
BACKLOG. AND AGAIN, LOOKING
BACK TO PREPANDEMIC, I WANTED
TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTOOD WHAT
WAS, AS A RESULT OF COVID, LOTS
OF SYSTEMS WERE UNABLE TO
FUNCTION BECAUSE OF WHAT WE ALL
HAD TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO
NAVIGATE THROUGH. BUT IT'S
IMPORTANT TO SEE THAT THE
BACKLOG EXISTED PRIOR TO THAT.
IN 2019, THERE WAS A
SIGNIFICANT BACKLOG. AND THAT
WAS TO LOOK AT WHAT CAN WE DO
FROM A PROCESS STANDPOINT, JUST
IN TERMS OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE
DIVISION. AND THAT IS WHERE I
INSTITUTED THE CLOSE-IN-TIME
FILING. CASES WERE LEFT TO MAKE
A CHARGING DECISION. SOMETIMES
PAST THE STATUTE OF
LIMITATIONS. SO THAT CASE IS
NOT PROSCUTABLE. OR IT WAS
CLOSE TO THAT STATUTE OF
LIMITATIONS TIME. THE EVIDENCE
WOULD BE STALE. VICTIMS AND
WITNESSES WOULDN'T WANT TO
PARTICIPATE. IT WAS NOT A GOOD
RESOURCE FOR VICTIMS TO
PARTICIPATE ON THAT. AND THOSE
CASES WERE MILLING AROUND
WITHIN THE DECISION. THAT IS
WHAT THAT WAS. AND THAT'S WHY
I MADE THAT DECISION, EARLY IN
MY TERM, TO CHANGE THAT, NOT
ADDING TO THE BACK OF THAT
5,000-CRIMINAL CASE BACKLOG AT
THE END OF THAT CUE. BUT TO
START TO MAKE THOSE CHARGING
DECISIONS IN MORE REALTIME, SO
WE CAN BE RESPONSIVE TO CRIME
VICTIMS AND TO THE PUBLIC, AS
TO WHAT OUR ROLE IS, AND TO
HELP BEING A POSITIVE IMPACT TO
PUBLIC SAFETY.
>> AGAIN, WITH THE PRIORITY OF
RECENTERRING VICTIMS' VOICES
IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY
CONVERSATION. THIS WAS KNOW AN
IMPORTANT DATA POINT FOR ME TO
UNDERSTAND WHEN WE HAD VICTIM
PARTICIPATION. MANY OF THEM
WERE UNABLE TO BE CONTACTED,
SIMPLY BECAUSE AGAIN, THE
INTERNAL PROCESS WAS NOT TO
MAKE A CHARTING DECISION. IF
YOU'RE NOT CONTACTING A VICTIM
UNTIL 12 MONTHS AFTER THE EVENT
OCCURRED, YOU MAY NOT HAVE THE
CORRECT CONTACT INFORMATION. SO
THIS WAS AN ABILITY YOU CAN SEE
THE GREEN LINE TALKS ABOUT THEY
WERE UNABLE TO CONTACT THE
VICTIM. WE'VE DRAMATICALLY
REDUCED THAT BECAUSE OF THE
CLOSE-IN-TIME FILING POLICY.
AND AGAIN, INCREASING
PARTICIPATION. BECAUSE NOW THEY
HEAR THAT WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM
MATTERED. SOMEBODY IS LISTENING
TO THEM AND BEING RESPONSIVE TO
THAT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY THAT
THEY, SADLY, HAD TO ENDURE.
>>> AND THIS IS JUST TO GIVE
YOU AN OVERVIEW, IN CASE YOU
WEREN'T FAMILIAR WITH THE
INITIATIVE. THIS WAS A PROGRAM
I STARTED IN 2022, WHICH IS
STILL GOING ON. IT IS JUST AS
PRESIDING JUDGE CHESS TALKED
ABOUT. IT IS ABOUT
COLLABORATIVE WORK. I CAN'T
MAKE THE POSITIVE IMPACT ON
PUBLIC SAFETY ALONE. IT IS WITH
THE SYSTEM WORKING AS A WHOLE
AND UNDERSTANDING EACH ROLE
WITHIN THE SYSTEM. AND WHAT WE
DID HERE WAS AGAIN, USING DATA,
BY UNDERSTANDING WHO ARE THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE COMMITTING
FREQUENT, REPEAT CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY IN OUR CITY. IT IS NOT
A LARGE POPULATION. WE NEED TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING
FOR THEM. AND WHAT WE CAN BUILD
OUT,A SHE TALKED ABOUT IN HER
SERVICES THERE. WHAT WE CAN DO
TO HELP INTERVENE IN THAT. BUT
ALSO, WE WERE HAVING REPEAT
CRIMINAL VICTIMS. AND THAT IS
NOT WHAT WE WANT FOR OUR CITY
AND PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK
HERE. SO WE USED A CRITERIA OF
12 REFERRALS FROM SEATTLE
POLICE IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS
AND AT LEAST ONE IN THE PAST
EIGHT MONTHS. AND WITHIN THAT
CRITERIA, EXCLUDING DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND DUI. WE WERE ABLE
TO COME UP WITH THE HIGH
UTILIZER INITIATIVE, BECAUSE OF
FREQUENT REPEAT CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY. SO HERE WE FORECASTED
OUT A REDUCTION OF THOSE
REFERRALS FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT.
BECAUSE WE ARE UNDERSTANDING
THOSE REPEAT PATTERNS FROM
THOSE FEW INDIVIDUALS. WHEN WE
LAUNCHED THE PROGRAM, IT WAS
118 INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBLE FOR
OVER 3500 POLICE REFERRALS.
REFERRAL IS A POLICE REPORT
UPON WHICH THERE MAY BE ONE OR
A NUMBER OF CRIMES ON THAT
REPORT. WE DON'T MEASURE IN
CRIMES. WE MEASURE IN
REFERRALS.
>>> AND HERE, JUST TO HIGHLIGHT
FOR YOU? PROJECTS THAT ARE
COMMUNITY-FOCUSED, WHERE WE
HAVE COLLABORATIVE SYSTEM.
ACROSS THE ELECT LEADERS.
PUBLIC SAFETY HAS BEEN AT THE
FOREFRONT FOR ALMOST ALL OF US.
GRAFFITI IS ONE WHERE WE'RE
PARTNERING WITH THE MAYOR AND
HIS TEAM, IN REGARDS TO HOW
THAT CAN IMPACT ECONOMIC
ACTIVITY. I KNOW THAT
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON IS IN
CHARGE OF MAKING SURE, WITH OUR
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT IS
FOCUSED ON. AND WITH YOU, CHAIR
KETTLE, GRAFFITI, ADDS TO THAT
VISUAL BLIGHT, AND ADDS TO A
LOOK OF A PLACE BEING NEGLECT
THE AND CARED FOR. AND THAT
DOES NOT INVITE, AS WE HEARD,
PEOPLE TO COME FOR EVENTS OR
FOR VISITING OR FOR BUSINESS.
SO IT REALLY IS A KEY,
IMPORTANT ASPECT THERE. SO WE
GOT THAT INJUNCTION REMOVED
FROM THE CIVIL SIDE OF MY
OFFICE. BUT NOW WE ARE ABLE TO
PROSECUTE REFERRALS ON
GRAFFITI. ALSO, ON HUMAN
TRAFFICKING. WHERE WE WERE ABLE
TO BE INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING
SURE SOME PROBLEM HOTELS UP ON
AURORA, HAD TO COMPLY WITH?
REQUIREMENTS, IN ORDER TO STAY
IN OPERATION. BECAUSE REALLY,
IT WAS A LOT OF PROSTITUTION
AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING THAT WAS
GOING ON UP IN THAT
NEIGHBORHOOD. AND I KNOW
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, AS A
RESIDENT, ALONG WITH YOU, I
UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION THERE.
AND THEN ALSO ON VACANT
BUILDINGS. WORKING WITH OUR
FIRE DEPARTMENT AND OUR SDCI TO
ADDRESS VACANT BUILDINGS. THAT
REALLY ARE BECOMING PROBLEMATIC
FROM FIRST RESPONDER
STANDPOINT. AND ALSO CAN ADD TO
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND SIMILAR
TO THE GRAFFITI. AND KIND OF
THE OVERLAY THAT THAT HAS. SO
WE ARE THERE IN THE CENTER OF
THAT, WITH MANY OF YOU, AND
ALSO SOME OF YOUR COLLEAGUES
WHO ARE NOT ON THIS COMMITTEE,
BUT WHO ARE ALSO CONCERNED
ABOUT THAT TOPIC AND HOW THOSE
ARE IMPACTFUL IN THEIR
DISTRICTS.
>>> NOW, I JUST WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT ON THE LAST COUPLE OF
SLIDES FOR YOU. SOME OF THE
IMPEDIMENTS THAT WE HAVE TO
BEING A POSITIVE IMPACT FOR
PUBLIC SAFETY, AND MY ROLE. SO
I'M -- VERY THANKFUL TO BE
HERE TO LISTEN TO PRESIDING
JUDGE CHESS, AND APPRECIATE HER
VIEW GREATLY. FOR US, ONE THING
THAT IS DIFFICULT IS YOU CAN --
AGAIN, THIS IS FROM OUR DATA
SHOP, WHERE WE ARE ABLE TO GIVE
A VERY LONG LOOK BACK FOR THE
CITY. AND I DON'T THINK THIS
IS DATA THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED
IN A VISUAL. BUT THIS IS THE
AVERAGE DAILY POPULATION FOR
KING COUNTY JAIL, WHICH IS
WHERE MOST OF OUR LAW
ENFORCEMENT ARE LOOKING TO BOOK
SOMEBODY, IF THAT IS NECESSARY.
AND YOU CAN SEE THAT DRAMATIC
DECLINE OVER DECADES. AND WHERE
WE ARE CURRENTLY. AND THEN,
OBVIOUSLY, DURING THE COVID
TIME, YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHERE
THAT FELL, BUT IN THE POLICY
VIEW THAT WAS GOING FROM THE
LONGER TERM. AND THAT IS
DIFFICULT WHEN WE DO HAVE A LOT
OF PEOPLE UNABLE TO -- OR
CHOOSING NOT TO BE RESPONSIVE
TO SHOWING UP AND SHOW THAT'S
AN IMPORTANT PIECE TO JUST
UNDERSTAND FOR YOUR POLICY AND
APPROPRIATING.
>>> THE LAST SLIDE IS TO TALK
JUST -- AGAIN, ABOUT STAFFING.
WE DO HAVE TOO FEW PROSECUTORS
TO COVER WHEN SOMEONE IS ON
LEAVE. WE DID HAVE, THANKFULLY,
FROM YOUR PRIOR COUNCIL, 20%
INCREASE OVER THE PROSECUTOR'S
UNION, THAT WAS LONG OVERDUE IN
MY OPINION. SO THAT WAS A
DRAMATIC INCREASE. AND IT WAS
HELPFUL FOR PEOPLE, AS
PRESIDING JUDGE CHESS NOTED. WE
DO NEED LAWYERS TO GO INTO THE
PUBLIC SAFETY REALM, ON ALL
SIDES. PUBLIC DEFENSE. CRIMINAL
DEFENSE, AND PROSECUTORIAL
WORK. BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE THE
OPERATIONS, WHERE IT BECOMES
PUBLIC SAFETY. IT'S AT THE
INDIVIDUAL SAFETY LEVEL, WHICH
IS AN INDIVIDUAL CRIMINAL CASE.
AND IS THE BUILDING OF THOSE
INDIVIDUAL SAFETY CASES THAT
THEN CULMINATES INTO WHAT WE
ALL ARE CALLING, ON THE
REGULAR, OF PUBLIC SAFETY AS A
WHOLE. SO WE DO NEED LAWYERS TO
SERVE IN THAT ROLE. BUT
STAFFING FOR ME IS AT AN AREA,
WHERE WE DO NEED TO BE MINDFUL
OF IT, THAT IT IS NECESSARY.
BECAUSE WE DON'T CREATE THE
CRIME. BUT WE ARE THERE TO BE
RESPONSIVE TO IT IN REALTIME.
ANOTHER ITEM THAT NEEDS TO BE
UNDERSTOOD AND HAPPY TO GO INTO
MORE QUESTIONS ON THAT IS
RESTORATION. AND I'LL JUST --
I HEARD YOU YESTERDAY,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, TO UNPACK
TERMS THAT MAYBE YOU AND CHAIR
KETTLE SOMETIMES USED THAT
MAYBE AREN'T IN THE REGULAR
VERNACULAR FOR PEOPLE.
RESTORATION IS WHERE WE LOOK TO
STABILIZE SOMEONE MENTALLY, SO
THEY CAN PARTICIPATE IN THEIR
DEFENSE. AND THAT IS NOT
AVAILABLE. VERY RARELY AT THE
MISDEMEANOR LEVEL. THAT THE
FOCUS FROM THE LEGISLATURE IS
AT THE FELONY LEVEL. THAT MEANS
THAT I'M NOT ABLE TO STABILIZE
SOMEONE. AND NOT JUST TO HAVE
THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR
DEFENSE. BUT TO ALSO MAYBE
STABILIZE THEM, SO THEY CAN
PARTICIPATE IN THEIR OWN
CHOICES BETTER. AND UNDERSTAND
WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO
PARTICIPATE IN AND HAVE. AND
ALSO, AS MR. SATTLER, AND
PRESIDING JUDGE CHESS NOTED,
THE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER.
THAT IS A TREATMENT OPTION THAT
WE ARE NEEDING THOSE. WE NEED
THEM IN CUSTODY. AND WE DO NEED
THEM AT THE COURT, SO THAT WE
CAN DO THAT DIAGNOSIS EARLIER.
AND ON SITE. AND ALSO, IT'S
JUST THE SYSTEM CAPACITY, CHAIR
KETTLE, AS YOU NOTED IN THE
LAST QUESTION FOR PRESIDING
JUDGE CHESS. YOUR -- MANY OF
YOUR PREDECESSORS -- I GUESS IT
WOULD BE ALL OF YOUR
PREDECESSORS. THE DEFUNDING OF
PROBATION, AND WHAT THAT MEANS.
AND WHEN I TALK ABOUT REENTRY.
AND THAT REENTRY NEEDS TO BE
BUILT OUT AT THE MISDEMEANOR
LEVEL. BECAUSE WE ARE, AT THAT
TIME, MOST CLOSELY CONNECTED
AND HAPPENING THE ROOT CAUSES
OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. THAT IS
WHAT WE NEED TO BE FUNDING. WE
WEED NEED TO WE NEED TO HAVE
THAT AVAILABLE. THAT IS
IMPORTANT FOR THE DISRUPTION OF
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. AND STILL,
THE SYSTEM DOES TAKE A LONG
TIME. SO THE CAPACITY WITHIN
THAT. SO WE ARE DOING IT IN A
SHORTER AMOUNT OF TIME IF
POSSIBLE. THAT'S WHAT I HAVE
FOR YOU. BUT HAPPY TO GO INTO
ANY OTHER QUESTIONLESS ANYONE
HAS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CITY
ATTORNEY DAVISON. AS USUAL,
I'LL GO TO MY VICE CHAIR
FIRST.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND
THANK YOU FOR YIELDING TO THE
VICE CHAIR AND THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEAK FIRST. I DO HAVE ONE
QUESTION. BUT I WANT DO GIVE MY
COLLEAGUES HERE AT THE DAIS
CHANCE TO GO AROUND. IN CASE
THEY ASK MY QUESTIONS.
>> THEY ALL WISH THAT YOU GO
FIRST, VICE CHAIR.
>> ALL RIGHT. SO THANK YOU,
CITY ATTORNEY DAVISON. REALLY
APPRECIATE THIS PRESENTATION.
AND SIMILAR TO, YOU KNOW, JUDGE
CHESS, LIKE THE TERRIFIC
INITIAL PARTNERSHIP, IN
COLLABORATION WITH YOU AND YOUR
WHOLE OFFICE. AND I APPRECIATE
THE SAGE LEGAL GUIDANCE AND
LEGAL COUNSEL THAT ME AND MY
OFFICE HAVE BEEN GETTING,
DIRECTLY FROM YOU AND YOUR
TEAM. ALSO, SAME THING, SHOUT
OUT TO LAUREN, OUR OWN
COUNCIL'S CENTRAL STAFF
LAWYER, WHO I KNOW WORKS WITH
YOU ALL ON MANY THINGS. BUT
JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR
THE GREAT EARLY PARTNERSHIP AND
COLLABORATION. IT'S GOING TO
TAKE ALL OF US TO SOLVE THESE
CHALLENGES IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY
SPACE. AND WE CAN ALL SIT UP
HERE AND SAY, I CAN DO IT ALL
ON MY OWN. GREAT EGREGIOUS
MYTH. NOT POSSIBLE. -- THE
GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US AT THIS
PARTICULAR DAI GUESS WORKING
TOGETHER. OUR COLLEAGUES WHO
DON'T SIT ON THIS COMMITTEE.
IN CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE. YOU ALL AT THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, ARE
COLLEAGUES AT THE MUNICIPAL
COURT. AND SOCIAL SERVICES
PROVIDERS AND ALL OF US. OUR
RESPECTIVE -- OUR INDIVIDUAL
SUCCESS IS DEPENDENT ON THE
EFFORTS AND FOCUS OF OTHERS.
AND AGAIN. IT'S IN
PARTNERSHIP. THERE ARE SO MANY
DEPENDENCIES HERE. AND I
APPRECIATE THE GREAT, INITIAL
KHRABGSZ. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING THE COLLABORATION IN
PARTNERING WITH ALL OF US. MY
QUESTION IS, ON THE VACANT
BUILDINGS CHALLENGE THAT YOU
SORT OF RAISED, WOULD LOVE TO
LEARN MORE ABOUT -- AND YOU
KNOW, YOU CALLED OUT SOME
SPECIFIC CHALLENGES, RELATED TO
SQUATTING ACTIVITY AND FIRE
RISKS. COULD YOU DESCRIBE A
LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE SPECIFIC
SCOPE AND BREADTH OF THAT
CHALLENGE, ACROSS THE CITY?
WHAT KIND OF DANGER OR IMPACTS
-- HOW BIG IS THAT CHALLENGE?
EXACTLY?
>> I MAY DEFER TO MY DEPUTY FOR
SOME OF THE DETAIL. BUT I KNOW
FROM THE BIG PICTURE VIEW, AS
I'M SURE ALL OF YOU HAVE,
BECAUSE I APPRECIATE THAT YOU
DO GO AND SPEAK WITH PARTNERS
AND UNDERSTAND WHAT IS
HAPPENING. BUT WE DO HEAR FROM
FIRE CHIEF SCOGGINS, THAT IT IS
DIRE. THERE ARE LOTS OF
SITUATIONS THAT THEY ARE ASKED
TO GO AND RESPOND TO. AND THAT
IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THEM.
BECAUSE THE BUILDINGS ARE
UNKNOWN, IF THEY HAVE BEEN
ALTERED ON THE INSIDE, ET
CETERA. AND WE ALSO KNOW THEY
ARE OFTEN THE PLACE WHERE
POLICE ARE CALLED BECAUSE
THERE'S CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
INSIDE. SO THERE'S -- WHETHER
IT COULD BE A SAD SITUATION,
WHERE EVERYBODY IS NEEDING
MEDICAL HELP. BECAUSE THEY HAVE
CHOSEN TO BE INSIDE THERE,
WHERE THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO
BE. SO IT IS A LARGE ITEM. I
HEAR IT ALL OVER. I KNOW IT'S
FROM THE NORTH END TO THE SOUTH
END. IT'S SIGNIFICANT. SO TO
ME, IT IS ONE OF THOSE --
AGAIN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE
DATA, AND YOU CROSS-CHECK, WHO
IS GETTING CALLED AND HOW MANY
TIMES ARE THEY GETTING CALLED?
YOU CAN SEE FROM A PUBLIC
SAFETY STANDPOINT, IT IS
SOMETHING THAT WE CAN FOCUS ON
AS A CITY, AS A WHOLE. AND THEN
BE INSTRUMENTAL IN DELIVERING
IN DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS OF
OUR CITY. IS THERE ANYTHING
ADDITIONAL FOR THAT?
>> JUST NUMBERSWISE. IT'S
ABSOLUTELY A HUGE PROBLEM WITH
DOZENS OF HIGH-PRIORITY VACANT
BUILDINGS NOW. AND HUNDREDS OF
BUILDINGS THAT ARE BEING
REGULARLY, ILLEGALLY ENTERED.
AND HAVE SQUATTER ACTIVITY,
WITH CONSEQUENCE BOTH FIRE,
HEALTH AND SAFETY HAZARDS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WHERE TO START? SO I HAVE
TWO MAIN QUESTIONS. GOING BACK
TO THE GRAPH WHERE YOU HAVE THE
HATCHED GREEN LINE, WHICH IS --
I BELIEVE YOU SAID THAT THAT'S
THE ESTIMATED -- YEAH. BUT IT
DOESN'T HAVE THE NUMBER ON IT.
>> THE VICTIM? OR HUI?
>> HUI.
>> SO THAT'S THE ESTIMATED
REDUCTION OF CRIMES, I SUPPOSE?
>> YEP.
>> HERE'S MY -- WHAT HAPPENED
TO THE ORIGINAL 118 HIGH
UTILIZERS? AND HAVE THEY
STOPPED COMMITTING CRIMES? AND
THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE THIS --
YOU ARE ESTIMATING THIS
REDUCTION? AND THEN I HAVE A
QUESTION ABOUT THE OPEN USE
LAW.
>> SURE. SO THE FORECAST IS
BASED UPON, AGAIN, THAT
CRITERIA. WE DO A QUARTERLY
REVIEW AS TO WHO MATCHES THAT
CRITERIA. AGAIN, I DON'T WANT
LIKE TO LABEL PEOPLE. I'M NOT
GOING TO SAY IT'S AN OFFENDER
PROGRAM. BECAUSE SOMEONE HAS --
USED TO NOT BE AN OFFENDER. AND
WE WANT TO GET TO THE DAY WHERE
THEY'RE NOT. RIGHT? SO I USE
THIS TERM, HIGH UTILIZER,
BECAUSE THEY'RE CURRENTLY USING
A LOT OF OUR RESOURCES. AND THE
HOPE IS THAT THAT STOPS. OR AT
LEAST IT'S NOT WITHIN THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. SO
WHEN I'M TALKING ABOUT THAT
FORECAST, IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE
USED THAT CRITERIA. WHO IS
MARCHING THAT CURRENTLY. AND WE
ARE ABLE TO FORECAST, IF THEY
STAY AT THE PACE THAT THEY ARE.
AND I HAVE MY DATA PERSON ON
THIS. WE CAN GET BACK FURTHER
ON IT. BUT IF WE LOOK AT WHAT A
PATTERN HAS BEEN AND FORECAST
THAT OUT. THIS IS THE NUMBER OF
REFERRALS WE WOULD HAVE BEEN
GETTING, HAD WE NOT BEEN DOING
THIS TYPE OF DATA ANALYSIS AND
APPLICATION WORK TO GET WITH
THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAD, A
BETTER OUTCOME FOR COMMUNITY.
>> YOU MENTIONED RESOURCES JUST
NOW. WHAT IS THE -- WHAT IS
YOUR CRIMINAL DIVISION BUDGET?
>> IT'S RIGHT AROUND $10
MILLION FOR JUST THE CRIMINAL
DIVISION.
>> I'M LOOKING FOR BUDGET ITEM
2022. WE DID INCREASE THE
DEFENDER'S BUDGET BY I THINK
20% OVER THE I.L.A. I WANTED TO
MAKE SURE THAT BOTH -- THE
LAWYERS ON BOTH SIDES ARE BEING
KEPT IN PARITY. AND YOU
MENTIONED HAVING STAFFING
ISSUES AND I DO KNOW THAT WE
DID BUMP SOME SALARIES. AND
THAT WAS POSITIVE FOR YOUR
DIVISION. BUT HOW MANY CASES
HAVE YOU FILED IN RESPONSE TO
THE -- TO ADOPTING THE OPEN
PUBLIC USE LAW?
>> WE HAVE GOTTEN AROUND 200
REFERRALS. AND I LOOK TO SCOTT,
IF YOU KNOW THE ACTUAL DATA ON
DETAILS FOR THIS ONE?
>> APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 40 CASES
HAVE BEEN FILED. ADDITIONAL
CASES ARE IN REVIEW. AND WHEN
WE SAY REVIEW. MANY OF THOSE,
WE'VE REQUESTED STATE DRUG
TESTING FROM THE STATE DRUG
LAB.
>> IS THAT THAT BEEN A REAL
BURDEN IN YOUR DEPARTMENT, I
IMAGINE?
>> WELL, IT'S NOT BEEN ONLINE,
SO TO SPEAK, FOR VERY LONG. BUT
IT WILL BECOME. RIGHT? BECAUSE
IT IS A NEW AREA, AS THE COURT
HAS PRESENTED. IT WAS NOT AT
THE MISDEMEANOR LEVEL PRIOR. SO
THE BUILDOUT WAS ALL AT THE
FELONY LEVEL, INCLUDING DRUG
COURT. INCLUDING THE FELONY
REENTRY PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE.
AND AS WELL AS I SAID EARLIER,
THE RESTORATION IS MORE
ACCESSIBLE AT THE FELONY LEVEL.
SO WHEN THINGS ARE DECLINED. OR
NOW IT'S BUILT AS A SYSTEM AT
THE MISDEMEANOR LEVEL. WE ARE
HAVING TO PUT THAT TOGETHER.
THAT'S WHY I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT WHAT WE
NEED TO HAVE AVAILABLE FROM A
PROSECUTOR'S STANDPOINT, WHICH
IS NOT JUST PROSECUTION. BUZZ
IT IS UNDERSTANDING, WHAT
CONNECTIONS ARE WE NEEDING TO
KNOW IS NEEDED FOR THAT TYPE OF
ACTIVITY? AND THEN PARTNER WITH
-- AS PRESIDING JUDGE JUST
SAID, WITH SMC IN DEFENSE. SO
AGAIN, IT'S THE SYSTEM AS A
WHOLE. IT'S A THREE-LEGGED
SCHOOL. IT HAS TO BE WELL
FUNDED.
>> WELL, JUST ONE FOLLOW-UP IF
I MAY. AS -- ALONG WITH. YOU
BROUGHT FORWARD THE ORIGINAL
LEGISLATION. I WILL STAY THAT
THAT WAS IMPORTANT FOR NOT JUST
FOR THE PEOPLE DEALING WITH THE
IMPACTS OF PUBLIC DRUG USE. BUT
ALSO, ESPECIALLY FOR THE PEOPLE
THAT WERE ENGAGED IN PUBLIC
DRUG USE. SO I JUST WANTED TO
ASK -- MAKE SURE TO NOTE THAT
MANY OF THOSE CASES ARE NOT
FILED, BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING
DIVERTED. SO CAN YOU PLEASE
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW
YOUR OFFICE WORKS WITH OUR
DIVERSION PARTNERS? AND HOW
MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE YOU HAVE
ON LINE TO HELP WITH THAT WORK,
PLEASE?
>> SO IF IT IS AT THE LAW
ENFORCEMENT DIVERSION, WHICH IS
A LOT -- THAT'S WHY I GIVE YOU
THE COMMENT THAT WE HAVE ABOUT
200 REFERRALS. I'LL KEEP
CHECKING ON -- MY PARTNER HERE.
AND -- SO THOSE WE DON'T SEE.
IF IT GOES DIRECTLY TO LAW
ENFORCEMENT DIVERSION. LIKE
THOSE DON'T COME TO MY OFFICE.
SO WE ARE NOT PART OF THAT
SEQUENCE. SO IF PEOPLE ARE
LOOKING FOR ME TO BE
INSTRUMENTAL ON A WHOLE. I ONLY
TOUCH THE THINGS THAT ARE
REFERRED TO ME FROM SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT. SO UNLESS
AND UNTIL I'M ON THAT
REFERRAL, I'M NOT PART OF IT.
SO WHEN WE GET IT, WE REVIEW
WHAT IS APPROPRIATE. AND I HAVE
A LOT OF PROGRAMS THAT ARE
AVAILABLE AT THE PREFILING
LEVEL. I'VE BROADENED THE
NUMBER OF PROGRAMS AVAILABLE.
IT WAS TWO. NOW I HAVE FIVE
AVAILABLE FOR THAT. IF THAT'S
ONE. WE HAVE MENTAL HEALTH
COURT AGAIN. BUT WE'RE TRYING
TO LOOK AT, CAN WE BROADEN THAT
TO BE -- ALSO, SOMEONE CAN
PARTICIPATE IN THAT. BUT YOU
HAVE TO OPT IN. YOU HAVE TO
CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT
ALTERNATIVE. I CAN'T MAKE
SOMEBODY PARTICIPATE IN THAT
ALTERNATIVE. SO WE WILL SEE
THAT THAT IS SOMETHING WE ARE
NEEDING TO BUILD UP. BECAUSE
SOME PEOPLE WILL NOT
PARTICIPATE THAT WAY. AND WE'LL
HAVE TO LOOK AT MAINSTREAM
PROSECUTION.
>> IS THERE ANY DATA POINTS
THAT YOU WANT TO BRING?
>> JUST FROM A PROCESS
PERSPECTIVE. SO FOR A TYPICAL
SEATTLE POLICE ARREST FOR
PUBLIC DRUG USE. AND AS YOU
KNOW, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THOSE
ARRESTS ARE DIMINISHING,
BECAUSE OFFICERS ARE SAYING
THAT THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT FED
UP WITH THE PROCESS. BUT THE
PROCESS IS, AN ARREST TYPICALLY
A DIRECT REFERRAL TO THE LAW
ENFORCEMENT DIVERSION PROGRAM.
AND THAT THE THAT POINT, THE
PERSON TYPICALLY HAS 30 DAYS TO
GO THROUGH THE INITIAL INTAKE.
IF THEY FAIL TO GO THROUGH THE
INTAKE AT THAT POINT, THE CASE
IS REFERRED TO US.
UNFORTUNATELY, JUST AS A
PROCEDURAL MATTER, THE REALITY
IS THAT THOSE OUT-OF-CUSTODY
CASES. IT'S FAIRLY DIFFICULT
TO GET A MEDIAN IMPACT FOR
FOLKS WHO ARE OUT OF CUSTODY AT
THAT JUNCTURE. SO SOME PEOPLE
ARE ACCEPTING AND GOING THROUGH
THE INTAKE PROCESS. MANY ARE
NOT. AND ARE NOT GOING THROUGH
BUT THEY ARE COMING. BASICALLY
OUR DECISION POINT ON FILING
COMES, YOU KNOW, 30-PLUS DAYS
AFTER THE INITIAL ARREST.
THAT'S THE -- THAT'S THE
PROCESS AND PROCEDURE THAT WAS
ULTIMATELY PASSED BY THE
COUNCIL. AND PROPOSED BY THE
MAYOR.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR KETTLE.
I'LL BE QUICK. I HAD A
QUESTION. I KNOW A LOT OF US,
I'VE SPOKEN TO A LOT OF SMALL
BUSINESSES, A LOT OF RETAIL
STORES. AND I KNOW RETAIL THEFT
CAN BE A HOT SUBJECT BUT I KNOW
THERE'S A TON OF GROCERY
STORES THAT ARE STRUGGLING
RIGHT NOW. AND THEY'RE
SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY TO DO
THEIR OWN, LIKE, SECURITY. BUT
THEN WHEN YOU APPLY THAT TO
SMALL BUSINESS THAT HAS BEEN
BROKEN IN SEVEN, 10 TIMES. AND
THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE THAT IS
DONE TO THAT STORE, LIKE A CAR
THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR. OR, YOU
KNOW, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS IN DAMAGE TO TAKE $500
WORTH OF THINGS. AND THEN THE
SHUTDOWN OF THEIR BUSINESS FOR
SO LONG. AND WE'RE SEEN IT IN
DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS. AND
NOW, I'VE TALKED TO A BUNCH OF
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT, WHO TARGETS
AS WELL. AND THEY CAN'T AFFORD
TO SHUT DOWN FOR ONE OR TWO
DAYS. BUT THEN WHEN THEY'RE
TALKING ABOUT THEY HAVE BEEN
TARGETED SEVEN OR 10 TIMES. ARE
THESE THE SAME PEOPLE? WOULD
YOU CATEGORIZE, A LARGE AMOUNT
OF SOME OF THE RETAIL THEFT
THAT IS GOING ON IN OUR CITIES
FROM A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE
THAT ARE DOING LIKE THE SAME
THINGS? BECAUSE I CAN'T
IMAGINE, SEVEN DIFFERENT FOLKS
TARGETING ONE STORE. YOU KNOW,
IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S SOMETHING
THAT LIKE HAPPENS OFTEN.
>> IT IS SAD, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. AND I APPRECIATE
YOUR DESCRIPTION OF IT. I USE
YOUR TERM A LOT, WHEN YOU TALK
ABOUT THE FRONT PORCH OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM. SO ALONG
WITH THE COURTS, WE ARE LIKE
THE REST OF THE HOUSE. I
APPRECIATE YOUR TERM AND I
BORROW IT FREQUENTLY WHEN I
SPEAK. BUT THAT IS, WHAT YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT. THE EVERYDAY
REPEAT CRIME VICTIMS. AND
THAT'S IN THE FORM OF THOSE
TRYING TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO
SERVICE AND GOODS AS WELL AS
MAYBE SOME JOBS. BUT IT'S
PARTICULAR ACCESS. AND WE
DON'T WANT THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS
CLOSING DOWN. BECAUSE WE HAVE
NEIGHBORHOODS WHO ARE IN
DESERTS AND DO NOT HAVE ACCESS
TO GOODS. WHEN WE'RE WANTING
TO ENCOURAGE WALKABILITY IN
NEIGHBORHOODS. AND IF YOU
DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO WALK TO
BECAUSE IT'S CLOSED DOWN IN
CRIME, THEN EVERYBODY IS MOVING
TO A DRIVE IN THEIR CAR OR WHAT
TO GO GET THEIR GOODS. SO I DO
THINK THAT A LOT OF THE HIGH
UTILIZER THAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON
DOES HAVE INTERACTION WITH
THAT. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE
LAUNCHED THE HIGH UTILIZER
PROGRAM. IT WAS BECAUSE A
PERSON WAS DAILY, SEVERAL TIMES
A DAY, GOING INTO THE LARGE
RETAILER IN THE NORTH END.
MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY.
THREATENING EMPLOYEES AND
CUSTOMERS, WITH INCREASING
VIOLENCE, EVERY TIME THEY STOLE
THINGS. AND WE'RE GOING OUT,
JUST COMPLETELY UNCHECKED AND
KNEW THAT THEY COULD. SO
THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO BE
SAYING TO INDIVIDUALS WHO THINK
THAT'S THE THING TO DO. WE DO
HAVE LAWS. AND THEY DO MATTER.
AND WE DO HAVE COORDINATION NOW
ACROSS THE CITY. SO WE CAN BE
RESPONSIVE TO THOSE SMALL
BUSINESS OWNERS. SO THEY DON'T
HAVE THAT. DO WE HAVE ALL OF
IT? NO. BECAUSE YOU'RE STILL
HEARING IT. SO THAT'S WHERE
THE CONNECTION POINT OF, ARE
OFFICERS BEING ABLE TO
INVESTIGATE, SO THEY CAN DO THE
REFERRAL? RIGHT? SO WE CAN
CROSS-CHECK, HOW WE'VE ALREADY
SEEN THESE PEOPLE. AGAIN, I
CAN'T GET INVOLVED UNLESS I
GET THE REFERRAL FROM SEATTLE
POLICE. SO IF THEY ARE NOT ABLE
TO INVESTIGATE, IS IT THE SAME
PERSON THOSE SEVEN TIMES? THEN
I'M NOT ABLE TO USE MY HIGH
UTILIZER INITIATIVE AND SAY
THAT PERSON IS ENGAGED IN
RECRIMINAL ACTIVITY. WE NEED TO
UNDERSTAND AS A SOCIETY, WHY IS
THAT PERSON DOING THAT? THAT IS
ONE CONVERSATION. BUT THE FIRST
CONVERSATION IS THAT BUSINESS
SHOULD NOT BE A PREPEAT VICTIM.
BECAUSE OUR LAWS ARE THERE TO
SAY, IT'S NOT OKAY TO GO AND
TAKE SOMETHING, WITHOUT
EXCHANGE IN AGREEMENT. SO
WHEEZE ARE HERE TO SAY THAT. SO
I THINK YES. AND THAT'S WHY I
APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU ON HERE.
AND THAT'S YOUR BIGGER PICTURE
OF HOW YOU DELEGATE YOUR
BUDGETARY AUTHORITY AND DO
THAT.
>> WELL, I HAVE TO SAY -- I'M
SORRY TO INTERRUPT, CHAIR. BUT
I APPRECIATE YOUR APPROACH TO
MINDING THE NEEDS OF THE VICTIM
THAT YOU STARTED YOUR TALK OUT
WITH. BECAUSE AS ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT CHAIR. AND THANK
YOU, VERY MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH FOR BRINGING THAT
UP. BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT KEPT
MUM AT NIGHT, AND STILL DOES,
HEARING FROM SMALL BUSINESSES,
OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
THEN THERE ARE THE RESIDENTS
THEMSELVES. SO I AM -- MY
COMMITMENT IS TO BE A PARTNER
IN MAKING SURE THAT YOU HAVE
THE RESOURCES TO CONTINUE TO
FOCUS ON DOING THE JOB OF
REDRESSING THE CRIMES THAT ARE
IMPACTING OUR SMALL BUSINESSES.
AND JUST IN GENERAL, THE
VICTIM-CENTERED APPROACH THAT
YOU'RE TAKING, THAT I THINK IS
IMPORTANT. AND I HEAR THE --
THE EMOTION IN YOUR VOICE, WHEN
YOU TALK ABOUT IT. BECAUSE I
THINK THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT
THAT WE KEEP IN MIND. THAT'S
OUR RESPONSIBILITIES. ENSURING
PUBLIC SAFETY.
>> IF I COULD PIGGYBACK
BRIEFLY. I JUST WANT TO ADD, IN
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
PRESENTATION, SHE TALK THE
ABOUT ONE OF THE BARRIERS BEING
THE BOOKING RESTRICTIONS AT THE
KING COUNTY JAIL. SO
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGS WORTH,
IN YOUR DISTRICT, IF SOMEBODY
IS REPEATEDLY STEALING FROM
SAFE WAY, AND THE SEATTLE
POLICE ARE CALLED AND THEY
RESPOND AND MAKE AN ARREST,
TYPICALLY, IN 90% OF THOSE
CASES, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE
ABLE TO BOOK THAT PERSON INTO
THE JAIL, EVEN IF THEY HAVE
BEEN AGAIN, A PREPEAT PROBLEM
PERSON. THIS IS ONE OF THE
REASONS WHY WE CREATED THE HIGH
UTILIZER INITIATIVE. BECAUSE IF
YOU'RE ON THE HIGH UTILIZER
LIST, WHICH IS LIMITED IN
NUMBER. BUT THOSE FOLKS CAN BE
BOOKED INTO THE JAIL. BUT MOST
OF THE, EVEN REPEAT CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY, MISDEMEANOR CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY IN SEATTLE, THOSE
FOLKS DON'T YET QUALIFY FOR
THE HIGH UTILIZER INITIATIVE.
SO SEATTLE POLICE FACE THAT
BARRIER, THAT RESTRICTION, SO
THEY'LL FILE THAT. THEY'LL
SEND US THAT CASE. BUT OUT OF
CUSTODY. AND JUDGE CHESS AND
THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT
WILL FILE THAT. SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL COURT WILL GET THAT
CASE. BUT THOSE FOLKS NEVER
SHOW UP. RIGHT? SO THERE'S
JUST NOT ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE
SYSTEM. THERE'S NOT -- NOBODY
HAS EVER -- SOMEBODY GOING TO
THAT SAFEWAY IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT KNOWS THEY'RE VERY
UNLIKELY TO FACE CONSEQUENCES.
AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE
ALL HERE TO FIX.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. WE WILL SAY
THAT. AND I WILL SAY FIRST,
YES. AND THE PIECE ABOUT SMALL
BUSINESSES IS SO IMPORTANT. AND
IT'S NOT JUST SMALL
BUSINESSES. IT'S THE ENTIRE
SYSTEM ON THE BUSINESS FRONT.
ON THAT POINT, I WOULD LIKE OUR
COMMUNITY TO WORK WITH THE
GOVERNANCE ACCOUNTABILITY AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.
BECAUSE THERE IS A REPORT ON
RETAIL THEFT THAT IS OUT. WE
KNOW THE DIFFERENT PIECES TO
SHOPLIFTING. I'VE BEEN WORKING
WITH CRIME PREVENTION OFFICERS,
WITH BUSINESS WATCHERS AND
CHAMBERS AND THE LIKE. AND WE
REALLY NEED A TIGER TEAM. AND
THIS KIND OF GOES TO WHAT WAS
BROUGHT UP EARLIER IN THE
PREVIOUS THING ABOUT BEING AT
THE TABLE. SO I WOULD LIKE TO
HAVE A, YOU KNOW, COORDINATION
BETWEEN THE COMMITTEES TO HAVE
SOME MEETING ON THAT. AND
ESSENTIALLY KIND OF CREATE A
TIGER TEAM EFFORT TO REALLY
ATTACK US, INCLUDING THE
PRECINCTS AND THE LIKE. AND ALL
ELEMENTS OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY.
BECAUSE WE ARE ALL ON THAT SAME
PUBLIC SAFETY BAND. AND SO I
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. I ALSO
APPRECIATE THE VICTIM'S FIRST
POINT. AND I BRING THIS UP
BECAUSE OFTENTIMES, YOU KNOW,
THERE'S VIOLENT CRIME, AND
THERE'S PROPERTY CRIME. AND I
REMEMBER WORKING PUBLIC SAFETY
REFORM, FROM A COMMUNITY LEVEL
IN 2020. AND SO OFTEN, THOSE
THAT WERE CALLING FOR REFORM,
WOULD ALWAYS NOT TALK ABOUT
PROPERTY CRIME. AND THAT WAS A
MISTAKE AND IT CREATED A LOT OF
PROBLEMS, AND IT IGNORED THE
IMPACTS ABOUT PROPERTY CRIME,
WHICH YOU SPOKE TO. AND WE NEED
TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT. BECAUSE
WHEN IT HITS THAT PERSON, IT IS
NOT MINOR. IT IS A BIG ISSUE.
AND IT OFTEN HAS MENTAL HEALTH
IMPACTS. THAT WE'RE NOT
CONSIDERING. YOU KNOW, THE
MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES
EXPLODE, IF YOU HAVE A HUGE
INCREASE IN PROPERTY CRIME. AND
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS NOT
FACTORED IN. I ALSO LIKE YOUR
GRAPHS, TOO, ABOUT THE FUNCTION
OF THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
AND YOU KNOW, ONE THING I LIKE
TO SAY, IS THAT THE PANDEMIC.
OFTENTIMES, IT'S USED AS AN
EXCUSE.BUT THE PANDEMIC WAS A
PERIOD OF ADVERSITY. AND I
THINK A LOT OF THINGS WERE
REVEALED. SO I APPRECIATE THE
EFFORTS THAT YOU'RE DOING TO
BASICALLY CREATE THE FUNCTION
THAT WE NEED. SO THAT LEADS
INTO MY QUESTION THAT KIND OF,
AS I MENTIONED, AS CHIEF CHESS
-- I'M SORRY, AND THE BIGGER
CRIMINAL JUSTICE. AND WHAT DO
UNITED STATES SEE IN TERMS OF
THE CHALLENGES OUT THERE?
EARLIER, WE MENTIONED DPD, THE
PUBLIC DEFENDERS. AND WHY IS
THAT A COUNTY FUNCTION? WHY
ISN'T IT A CITY FUNCTION?
SHOULD WE INVITE THEM TO THE
COMMITTEE? I'M WORKING WITH
OUR CLERK TO CREATE OUR 2024
WORKPLAN. IT'S ALREADY QUITE
FULL, AS WE GO THROUGH OUR
COMMITTEE MEETINGS. BUT I'M
WONDERING IF IT WOULD BE GREAT
TO HAVE THE KING COUNTY
SUPERIOR COURT. KING COUNTY
PROSECUTOR. THE PUBLIC DEFENDER
SIDE HERE. TO WORK THROUGH THE
ISSUES, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE
COUNTY PLAYS INTO THIS. AND BY
THE WAY, IN PILLAR SIX OF THE
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK, THE
COUNTY. AND THEIR IMPACTS ON
THE PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM. BUT
WHAT DO YOU SEE IN TERMS OF
KINDFUL LIKE A BIGGER PICTURE,
CRIMINAL JUSTICE ISSUES THAT
ARE OUT THERE THAT ARE
IMPACTING OUR PUBLIC SAFETY?
>> WELL, THEY -- THEY ARE
SIGNIFICANT, AS WE ALL KNOW.
AND WILL I DO THINK THERE NEEDS
TO BE A FOCUS ON REINVESTMENT
IN EACH PART OF THE SYSTEM. AND
IF THERE'S AN OVERCOMPENSATION
IN ONE PART OF THE SYSTEM,
THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE WAY
FORWARD. SO BALANCE TO ME IS
THE FIRST AND FOREMOST PILLAR,
I WOULD ADD TO YOUR -- IF
THAT'S NOT ONE. I DON'T HAVE
YOUR SIX MEMORIZED.
>> I'M WORKING ON IT.
>> IT HAS TO BE PART OF IT
BECAUSE IF WE OVERCOMPENSATE
BECAUSE OF PAST YEARS'
UNDERCOMPENSATION, LIKE IN MY
ROLE. THEN WE'RE HEADED IN A
DIFFERENT PROBLEM, RIGHT? SO WE
WANT TO HAVE BALANCE THROUGHOUT
THE SYSTEM. AND WHEN I TALK SO
PASSIONATELY ABOUT WHY THINGS
SHOULD NOT JUST BE CALLED
LOW-LEVEL CRIME, IT'S SIMILAR
TO WHAT PRESIDING JUDGE JESS
SAID. THINGS ARE A STATUTORY
FELONY. BUT THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS
CHARGED THAT WAY. THEY ROLL
DOWNHILL. AND I HAVE
MISDEMEANOR CONSEQUENCES FOR
WHAT LAWMAKERS HAVE DEFINED TO
BE FELONY LEVEL ACTIVITY. SO
YOU START TO FEEL THE
DISCONNECT IN SOCIETY, WHICH IS
THERE'S A SERIOUS ACT BUT OUR
CONSEQUENCES HAVE BEEN AT THE
MISDEMEANOR LEVEL. SO WHEN WE
WANT TO UNDERSTAND ROOT CAUSE
CONNECTIVITY TO CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY. IT IS AT THE
MISDEMEANOR LEVEL. SO FUNDING
AND REINVESTING IN THE
MISDEMEANOR CRIMINAL LEGAL
SYSTEM IS SO IMPORTANT. BECAUSE
WE THEN CAN UNDERSTAND, MORE
LIKELY, WHY DOES SOMEBODY THINK
THAT THIS WAS THE CHOICE TO GO
AND BE INVOLVED IN? AND WE CAN
HOPEFULLY THEN, GET THEM OFF
INTO A DIFFERENT TRAJECTORY FOR
THEIR LIFE. AT THE SAME TIME,
WE ARE REDUCING THE NUMBER OF
CRIME VICTIMS AND THE TRAUMA
THAT YOU SAID, CREATES. HURT
PEOPLE HURT PEOPLE. IF YOU'RE
HURT AS A CRIME VICTIM.
PARTICULARLY, IF YOU'RE
EXPOSED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
YOU ARE EVEN JUST EXPOSED,
YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO EITHER
BE A VICTIM OR AN AGGRESSOR
LATER ON. SO WE DO NEED TO TALK
ABOUT INVESTMENT IN THE SYSTEM.
AND AT THE MISDEMEANOR LEVEL
AND THE REENTRY THAT NEEDS TO
BE BUILT OUT, SO THERE IS
DISRUPTION OF CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY, NEEDS TO OCCUR. AND
NOT JUST TO TALK ABOUT IT LIKE
IT'S LOW LEVEL AND
INCONSEQUENTIAL AND WE DON'T
HAVE TO BE BOTHERED. WHY BOTHER
PUTTING THE RESOURCES IN IT?
IT'S EXACTLY THE PLACES TO PUT
IT IN, SO WE DON'T SAY FELONY
ACTIVITY IS ALLOWED. AND ONLY
THEN DO WE PARTICIPATE AND PAY
ATTENTION.
>> ON THAT POINT, IF WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT A SHORTAGE OF
PUBLIC DEFENDERS, ARE THERE ANY
CITIES THAT CONTRACT WITH
PRIVATE PUBLIC DEFENDERS TO
MAKE THEM FILL THAT GAP?
>> THERE ARE. WE NEED TO HAVE
PUBLIC DEFENSE. YOU AS
APPROPRIATORS AND NOT ME AS THE
CONTRACT HOLDER. WE DO NEED TO
HAVE THEM. AND WE NEED LAWYERS
TO GO INTO THAT WORK. IT IS
VERY, VERY IMPORTANT, CRITICAL
WORK. AND A LOT OF --
PARTICULARLY AROUND OUR STATE,
IT IS NOT EASY. BECAUSE
THERE'S SO FEW OF THEM. HERE,
THOUGH, WE DO HAVE A DIFFERENT
TYPE OF A WORKING RELATIONSHIP.
AND THERE'S SOME POLICY WORK
THAT IS DONE BY THE DEPARTMENT
OF PUBLIC DEFENSE DOWN IN
OLYMPIA, OF WHICH I HAVE TO BE
RESPONSIVE TO. I'M THE ONLY
ELECTIVE CITY ATTORNEY. SO THE
ONLY ELECT THE CITY PROSECUTOR
IN THE STATE. SO TO BE
RESPONSIVE OF THAT IS PART OF
THE SYSTEM THAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT. WHAT ARE WE BUILDING?
AND WHO ARE WE GIVING A
PLATFORM TO? WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT ON INDIVIDUAL CASES, WHAT
IS HAPPENING FOR THAT
DEFENDANT? SO WE KNOW WHAT WE
NEED TO PROVIDE. YOU KNOW, FOR
THE REENTRY. SO THERE'S NOT
NEGATIVE IMPACTS IN OTHER
SOCIAL SECTORS. AND WHAT DO WE
DO FOR THE VICTIM? AND HOW DO
WE START TO PUT US ALL, AS
CHESS SAID. OUR LAWS ARE THERE,
SO WE CAN LIVE IN CLOSE
PROXIMITY TO ONE ANOTHER. THEY
NEED TO MEAN SOMETHING.
>> THANK YOU. BEFORE I GO TO
VICE CHAIR. I HAVE ONE MORE
QUESTION. ON YOUR SPECTACLE
SPECIAL PROJECT SLIDE, SLIDE 7.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS,
PARTICULARLY GRAFFITI, WHICH IS
PILLAR 4, VACANT BUILDINGS,
WHICH IS PILLAR 3. IT IS
IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT WHAT NEW
ORDINANCES WE NEED OR MODIFY
THOSE IN THE PAST. I LOOK AT
HUMAN TRAFFICKING. IT'S THE
CONCEPT, WHICH MAY BE JUST A
MILITARY CONCEPT. I DON'T KNOW
THE TERM, SECOND AND THIRD
ORDER EFFECTS. WE'VE HAD
CHANGES IN SOME ORDINANCES,
WHICH HAS MADE SOME SITUATIONS
WORSE INADVERTENTLY. NOT WITH
MALICE, BUT HAVE CREATED
PROBLEMS, LIKE WITH HUMAN
TRAFFICKING FOR EXAMPLE. IS
THERE ANYTHING OUT THERE -- AND
YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ANSWER
THIS -- BUT ON THE PILLAR
FRONT, WHICH IS ORDINANCE
NUMBER TWO. ARE THERE ANY NEW
ORDINANCES THAT COULD HELP MAKE
YOUR JOB BETTER AND CREATE
BETTER PUBLIC SAFETY POSTURE?
>> I WILL DISTINGUISH THAT I AM
NOT SPEAKING IN ADVICE ROLE,
BUT ONLY FROM POLICY AS MY ROLE
IN THIS ADVICE SPACE. OBVIOUSLY
CAN'T SPEAK ON ANYTHING OTHER
THAN THAT. BUT AGAIN, WHEN
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT
CONSTRAINTS YOU HAVE FROM A
BUDGETARY STANDPOINT AND YOUR
PRIORITIZATION THAT YOU HEAR
FROM YOUR STIT WENTZ AS TO
WHERE YOU SHOULD BE ALLOCATING
DOLLARS. IT IS ON PUBLIC
SAFETY, IS WHAT YOU'RE
EXPECTING. IT'S CERTAINLY WHAT
I HEAR. SO MY ROLE IS TO -- ON
THE ADVICE SIDE, FOR EVERYBODY
WHO MAKES THOSE DECISIONS. BUT
AGAIN, ON THE POLICY SIDE, JUST
TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT I RECEIVE AS
A PROSECUTOR. AND IF I CAN GIVE
SOME STATISTICAL INFORMATION
THAT STARTS TO SHOW YOU FROM A
GEOGRAPHICAL STANDPOINT, WHERE
THINGS ARE HAPPENING, SO THAT
YOU CAN BE BETTER STEWARDS OF
THE DOLLARS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN
PROVIDED TO ALLOCATE AND
ADDRESS THOSE SITUATIONS.
BECAUSE OUR FIRST RESPONDERS
ARE GOING THERE MULTIPLE TIMES,
MULTIPLE TIMES, MULTIPLE TIMES,
THAT'S WHERE I CAN HELP IN
PROVIDING THAT DATA FROM ME.
BUT FROM AN ORDINANT
STANDPOINT, PROBABLY BEST IF I
JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT.
>> WITH THAT, VICE CHAIR?
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. SO I
ALSO JUST WANTED TO SAY, THAT I
DO APPRECIATE THE
VICTIM-CENTERED APPROACH. AND
HOW IMPACTFUL THAT IS, AND I'LL
COMMENT ON THE THEFT WHETHER
IT'S ORGANIZED CRIME, OR
PROPERTY CRIME, LIKE SAFEWAYS,
SMALL BUSINESSES ACROSS THE
CITY. OBVIOUSLY THE SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER IN THAT IS THE
PRIMARY VICTIM. BUT IT'S NOT
JUST THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNER
THAT IS THE VICTIM. IT IS THEIR
CUSTOMER. IT IS THE NEIGHBORS
IN THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.
IT IMPACTS NOT ONLY THEIR
BOTTOM LINE. BECAUSE WHEN YOU
SUFFER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF
LOSS, LIKE, YOUR INSURANCE
PREMIUMS GO UP. AND YOU'RE
GOING TO HAVE TO RAISE THE COST
SOMEWHERE. AND THAT'S
TYPICALLY IN THE COST OF THE
GOODS OR SERVICES SOLD. AND --
AND SO, YOU KNOW, THE CUSTOMERS
SUFFER. AND THEY'RE
TRAUMATIZED BY THIS AS WELL. SO
ANYWAYS, I APPRECIATE THAT. I
WANT TO QUICKLY, DOUBLE-QUICK,
ON SOMETHING YOU MENTIONED A
MOMENT AGO, DEPUTY, CITY
ATTORNEY LINDSAY, WITH RESPECT
TO THE JAIL BOOKING. AND
THAT'S PROBABLY ITS OWN
BRIEFING OR TOPIC OR FOCUS. BUT
I THINK AT LEAST IT IS WORTH
EXPOUNDING UPON A LITTLE BIT
HERE IN THIS CONTEXT. SO, YOU
KNOW, I WAS A LITTLE TROUBLED
TO LEARN THAT, YOU KNOW, WE --
THERE ARE INCIDENTS WHERE
SOMEONE WOULD ORDINARILY BE
BOOKED AND, YOU KNOW, UNDER OUR
CURRENT SYSTEM OF STATE. AND
LOCAL LAWS, SOMEONE WOULD
ORDINARILY BE BOOKED. BUT FOR
WHATEVER REASON, NOT ABLE TO.
WHAT IS THE UNDERLYING
CHALLENGE? CAN YOU SPEAK A
LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT FROM
YOUR PERSPECTIVE?
>> THAT IS THE DETERMINATION OF
THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AS TO THE
BOOKING. WHAT IS ALLOWED TO BE
BOOKED? AND SO THAT IS A
FUNCTION OF WHETHER AT COVID
TIMES, IT WAS A COVID POLICY,
TO REDUCE POPULATION SIZE. NOW,
IT IS SAID, AND MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THE STAFFING
NUMBERS SITUATION BUT THAT IS
WHERE, AGAIN, WHEN OFFICERS ARE
CALLED TO COMMUNITY, TO THE
STORE THAT COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGS WORTH NOTED, THAT
SEVEN TIMES IT'S HAPPENED.
COMMUNITIES LOOKING FOR A
BREAK. WE JUST NEED A BREAK. OF
THAT REPEAT ACTIVITY. AND
OFFICERS ARE NEEDING TO BE IN
THE MOMENT, RESPONSIVE AND WHAT
CAN THEY DO? AND ONE THING IS
TO GIVE SOMEBODY SOME SPACE TO
BE. OTHER THAN DOING THAT. SO
TO PHAOEFL, IT REALLY IS
SIGNIFICANT. BECAUSE WE DON'T
WANT OUR PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE AN
OCCUPATION IN LAW ENFORCEMENT
TO FEEL HELPLESS, EVEN IF THEY
CAN'T PROVIDE A SHORT RESPITE
TO COMMUNITY. AND THAT IS THE
-- ONE OF THE HUGE OBSTACLES WE
HAVE IN PUTTING THE SYSTEM
TOGETHER.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT CAME
UP OVER AND OVER AGAIN. YOU
PROBABLY HEARD THAT, TOO. AND
THE POLICE AWARDS CEREMONY IS
-- THAT WAS A STATEMENT THAT I
HEARD FROM OFFICERS, AS A
SOURCE OF FRUSTRATION THAT
THEY'RE DOING THEIR JOB. AND
THIS ONE GUY HAD 86 ARRESTS OR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND GOT AN
AWARD. BUT NOWHERE TO GO AFTER
THAT. SO THANK YOU FOR
HIGHLIGHTING THAT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIR.
THANK YOU FOR THE
PRESENTATIONS. IT'S BEEN VERY
INTERESTING AND THOUGHT
PROVOKING. I WAS WONDERING IF
YOU COULD EXPAND A LITTLE BIT
ON WEAPONS CHARGES. SO WHAT ARE
THE WEAPONS CHARGES THAT YOU'RE
BRINGING? WE'VE HAD JUST SUCH
A PROLIFERATION OF GUN VIOLENCE
AND JUST WONDERING WHAT YOU'RE
BRINGING, AND SOME SORT OF
COLLABORATION, IF ANY, WITH
KING COUNTY PROSECUTING OFFICE.
>> I WILL -- THANK YOU FOR THAT
QUESTION, COUNCILMEMBER WALT.
BECAUSE YOU HIGHLIGHTED
SOMETHING I DID NOT STATE,
WHICH WAS ON THE SLIDE. WHICH
IS THROUGH THE HIGH UTILIZER
PROGRAM. IT WAS NOT EXISTENT
PRIOR TO MY ARRIVAL. SO THERE
WAS NOT WORK GOING ON, PRIOR TO
MY ARRIVAL. SO THE FORMER
PROSECUTOR AGREED TO WORK WITH
ME THROUGH THAT HIGHLIGHTER
INITIALIVE. OUR STAFF HAS
AROUND HUI. AGAIN, IF WE
AREN'T TALKING, WHICH COSTS US
NOTHING. BUT COSTS US ALL A
GREAT DEAL IF WE DON'T TALK.
THEY WERE SEEING PEOPLE AT THE
FELONY LEVEL. WE WERE SEEING AT
THE MISDEMEANOR LEVEL. WE ARE
ONE OF 39 MUNICIPALITIES IN
KING COUNTY. THAT MEANS THEY
MIGHT ALSO BE IN OTHER
MUNICIPALITIES. SO THAT WORKING
RELATIONSHIP, IN ADDITION TO
WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AGAIN, IT'S LIKE THE HANDOFF.
WE GET IT FROM THEM. MAKE A
RECOMMENDATION TO THE COURT.
WITH THAT, WE ALSO HAVE
REGIONAL 5 ARMS UNIT, WITH KING
COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE. SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND
THE REMOVAL OF FIREARMS FROM
PEOPLE. SO THERE'S A UNIT THAT
WORKS ON THAT SPECIFICALLY. I
ALSO HIGHLIGHT IT AND LOOK AT
IT THROUGH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS ONE OF
THE MOST INDICATIVE OF FUTURE
VIOLENCE, WHETHER THAT BE
COMMUNITY VIOLENCE OR WITH
FAMILY VIOLENCE, IS EXPOSURE TO
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. AND WHEN A
FIREARM IS INVOLVED IN THAT.
IT'S A SIGNIFICANT ONE. BUT IF
YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SPECIFIC
NUMBERS OR CHARGES, I'M HAPPY
-- I'M NOT SURE IF SCOTT HAS
THOSE READY AT THE GO. BUT
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE ONES WE
ARE WORKING WITH KING COUNTY
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, BECAUSE
OF NUMEROUS PROGRAMS WHERE WE
ARE IN SYNC ON, AND WORKING ON
A REGULAR BASIS WITH THEM.
AGAIN, CRIME DOES NOT STAY IN A
NEAT-AND-TIDY, AS YOU KNOW,
FROM YOUR TIME ON THE BENCH.
AND NEAT AND TIDY JURISDICTION.
AND IT IS JUST ALL OVER THE
PLACE. AND BLENDS TOGETHER. SO
THOSE COMMUNICATE TIVE
PARTNERSHIPS AND UNDERSTANDING
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN REALTIME
IS SO VALUABLE. AND AGAIN,
DOESN'T COST ANYTHING. BUT
JUST COSTS US SOMETIME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WELL OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU,
CITY ATTORNEY DAVISON, DEPUTY
LINDSAY, AND YOUR DATA TEAM
BEHIND YOU. LIKE BEFORE, THIS
BRIEFING DOES HIGHLIGHT ONE
ESSENTIAL ELEMENT, THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN THIS
CASE, IS WITHIN PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND AS I SAID, THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM IS VITAL IN
ORDER TO CREATE OUR SAFE BASE.
OUR PHEUPGZ HERE ON THE DAIS.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR EACH
PART TO BE FUNCTIONAL. MY NEW
THING NOW IS, WE'RE ALL LINKS
IN THE SAME CHAIN. SO WE'LL BE
USING THAT IN TERMS OF TRYING
TO ILLUSTRATE THIS POINT. AND
REHIGHLIGHTING THE FACT THAT
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS
NOT FUNCTIONAL, IF PARTS OF IT
ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL. AND THAT
CONTRIBUTES TO THE PARTS OF THE
ENVIRONMENT THAT ARE PARTS OF
THE PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES.
SO A LACK OF PROSECUTORS IN
THIS CASE. JUST LIKE THE PUBLIC
DEFENDERS. THE JUDGES AND THE
POLICE OFFICERS. YOU KNOW,
REALLY HAVE AN IMPACT. IN TERMS
OF OUR, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SAFETY
POSTURE. AND I WANT TO SAY,
CLEARLY HERE, TOO. THAT WE NEED
CREDIBLE PLANS AT THE STATE
LEVEL, AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, TO
ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES,
PILLAR 6. AND HERE'S THE THING.
WE NEED TO INSPIRE OUR JUNIOR
ATTORNEYS, YOUNG ATTORNEYS, TO
SERVICE, PUBLIC SERVICE. WHERE
AS PUBLIC SERVICE, I KNOW MANY,
PARTICULAR EARLY ON. BUT WE
NEED TO INSPIRE THESE YOUNG
ATTORNEYS, AND JUNIOR ATTORNEYS
TO SERVICE. WHETHER IT IS A
PUBLIC DEFENDER OR ON YOUR TEAM
AS A PROSECUTOR. WE NEED THAT
SO MUCH. AND JUST LIKE I CALLED
ON, YOU KNOW, THOSE POLICE
OFFICERS LOOKING TO RETIRE,
TRANSFER TO ANOTHER
JURISDICTION TO GIVE US A YEAR,
OR TO ALL THE OTHER ELEMENTS OF
THE SBD STAFFING CHALLENGES.
AND CALL THEM TO PARTICULARLY
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, FOR PUBLIC
SERVICE AND POLICING. I ALSO
CALLED FOR THOSE THAT ARE ABOUT
TO GRADUATE LAW SCHOOL OR
RECENTLY HAVE GRADUATED LAW
SCHOOL, TO LOOK TO PUBLIC
SERVICE. AND YOU GET THAT BASE.
I'M SURE CHIEF WOULD SAY THIS,
TOO. YOU GET THAT BY WORKING IN
THE LEGAL SYSTEM, IN THE
TRENCHES LIKE THAT. AND THAT
EXPERIENCE WILL LEAD TO SUCH
GREAT POSITIVE MOVING FORWARD
IN TERMS OF LEGAL CAREER. AND
THIS IS THE KIND OF THING THAT
I THINK WE AS A BODY, TOO. WE
SHOULD BE MAKING THIS CALL. NOT
JUST FOR THE POLICE OFFICERS.
AND FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND
FOR THOSE WORKING WITHIN THE
CARE DEPARTMENT OR OUR
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS. BUT
ALSO THOSE THAT ARE WORKING THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. AND I
THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT
THING THAT WE NEED TO DO. AND
OH, BY THE WAY, WE NEED IT AT
THE COUNTY AND STATE LEVEL,
TOO. BECAUSE WE CANNOT LET
THESE CHALLENGES CONTRIBUTE TO
WHAT ESSENTIALLY BECOMES A DE
FACTO DECRIM ENVIRONMENT. OR
SITUATION. AND A DE FACTO
DECRIM IS JUST AS TROUBLING AS
A DE JURE VERSION THAT MAY
HAPPEN IN OREGON, WHICH THEY'RE
TRYING TO UNWIND FROM. BECAUSE
IT HAS THE SAME EFFECT. IT
CREATES AND PERPETRATES THE
PERMISSIVE ENVIRONMENT THAT
WE'RE FACING RIGHT NOW. AND
THAT OUR PLAN, OUR STRATEGIC
FRAMEWORK PLAN IS LOOKING IN
OUR WAY, HERE ON THE DAIS
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. SO
THANK YOU FOR VERY MUCH MORE
YOUR WORK IN TERMS OF
ADDRESSING THOSE POINTS. AND I
REALLY APPRECIATE IT. AND
SINCE, YOU KNOW, THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL COURT IS STILL HERE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR WORK
HERE AS WELL. AND YOU CAN TAKE
THAT MIDNIGHT TRAIN ACROSS THE
STREET TO THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
COURT. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE
IT. ONE LAST QUESTION. WE'RE
AT THE END OF TODAY'S MEETING
AGENDA. IS THERE ANY FURTHER
BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE, BEFORE WE ADJOURN?
HEARING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO
COME OBSERVE THE COMMITTEE, WE
ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.