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Whatcom County task force advances plan for jail‑co‑located behavioral care center and prosecutorial diversion
Summary
Members of Whatcom County's IPRTF discussed a Nashville‑model behavioral care center co‑located with the jail, prosecutorial diversion protocols, questions on victims and restitution, and next steps for the work group; no formal policy was adopted.
Prosecuting Attorney Eric Ritchie told the Whatcom County Interagency Public Records Task Force on June 16 that the office supports exploring a Nashville‑style in‑custody diversion program that would replace cells with a short‑term, trauma‑informed therapeutic setting for eligible people.
"This is a program that would benefit us greatly," Prosecuting Attorney Eric Ritchie said, adding that Nashville program leaders have reported very low recidivism so far — "they're talking about 7%" compared with a national average he cited as about 68%.
The proposals discussed would colocate a Behavioral Care Center (BCC) with the new jail. The BCC concept presented to the task force is structured as a voluntary diversion: people would agree to treatment and supports, and those who choose to leave or who are too psychiatrically acute to participate would be returned to custody. "It's voluntary," Ritchie said when asked…
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