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Thurston County District Court reports rising caseloads, new therapeutic programs and expanded notifications
Summary
Court executive outlined caseload increases, diversion and therapeutic programs (mental-health and veterans court, TCAP homeless court, equine therapy), expanded text notifications and Zoom access aimed at reducing warrants and supporting clients.
Thurston County District Court staff told Tumwater’s Public Health and Safety Committee that overall proceedings have risen sharply in the past 18 months while the court expands diversion and therapeutic services to limit repeat justice involvement.
Frankie, court executive officer, said annual proceeding counts across jurisdictions rose from roughly 40,000–45,000 per year to about 65,000 in the most recent year and that certain case types saw sharp year‑to‑year increases. "There’s 60% increase in certain case types like DUIs just between 23 and 24," Frankie said, while noting a broader comparison that filings remain below 2019 levels in some categories.
The court continues to operate several specialized programs: mental-health and veterans court; mental-health probation (post-disposition therapeutic supervision); a substance-monitoring program that provides SCRAM and urinalysis testing to indigent defendants through 2026; pretrial services; and the Thurston County Court Alternative Program (TCAP), a homeless‑court model that connects eligible defendants to a county resource hub and case management with the prospect of charges being dismissed after successful engagement.
"That Thurston County Court Alternative Program ... can connect them with a case manager that can identify ... housing concerns ... mental health or substance use" and, if participants engage, allow charges to be dismissed, Frankie said.
Frankie described program innovations and outreach that are intended to reduce barriers to court compliance, including wider use of Zoom for court appearances, expanded text-notification reminders and a first-in-state initiative to provide post‑hearing welcome texts with contact information and next‑step instructions. The court has also launched equine-therapy cohorts funded by the Administrative Office of the Courts; the first cohort started last week and another begins next week, Frankie said.
Committee members asked how municipal court contracting or sale of a municipal building would affect services. Frankie said contracts with cities (for example, Tumwater’s existing contract) are being negotiated to avoid negative impacts on service and that the court aims to maintain or increase service levels for contracted jurisdictions.
On diversion and prevention, Frankie said some interventions occur before a case is filed, limiting court caseload growth. "Those are gonna be ... an intercept before a case gets filed with the district court," Frankie said of efforts coordinated with community partners. The court also continues to pilot internal programs and is reviewing docket processes to reduce unnecessary attorney time and ease caseflow pressure.
No formal action was taken; the presentation was informational and committee members requested ongoing updates to ensure budgetary and operational needs are visible to council and public-safety planners.
