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Spokane County to refresh Sequential Intercept Model to update criminal justice–behavioral health strategies
Summary
County staff said they will update the 2018 Sequential Intercept Model (SIMS) with Justice Management Institute and the Public Research Institute to account for changes since 2018, COVID impacts, new stabilization services, and regional work already done by the City and other partners.
County staff told the Board Feb. 24 they will update the 2018 Sequential Intercept Model (SIMS) analysis to reassess where law enforcement, courts and community providers can intervene to reduce criminal justice involvement among people with behavioral‑health needs.
Mike Sparber, who presented the briefing, said the refresh will revisit 2018 recommendations, account for COVID‑era changes, and incorporate new local resources such as the County’s mental health stabilization center. Sparber said Justice Management Institute (JMI) and the Public Research Institute (PRI) will assist in the update and that the County has coordinated with the City of Spokane, Sheriff’s Office, and local foundations that have produced complementary analyses.
Sparber described the model’s five intercepts — community services and crisis response, first‑response law enforcement contacts, post‑arrest/jail, reentry, and community corrections — and said the update will examine pre‑arrest diversion, Crisis Intervention Team and other law‑enforcement strategies, pretrial screening and specialty court options, in‑jail treatment and transition planning, and graduated community supervision alternatives to reduce re‑booking for technical violations.
Sparber said the County will host a two‑day SIMS symposium with JMI and PRI (March dates announced) to engage stakeholders and gather input. Commissioners supported updating the analysis and urged the County to integrate recent city and foundation studies so the refresh reflects regional resources and gaps.
The Board received staff’s plan to proceed with a refreshed, regional SIMS analysis and to convene stakeholders at the scheduled symposium.
