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Skagit County proclaims May as National Treatment Court Month, highlights community court network
Summary
The Board adopted a proclamation recognizing National Treatment Court Month and heard updates from Superior and District Court judges and representatives about family recovery, drug court and community court networks that serve hundreds of participants across the county.
Skagit County commissioners on May 27 unanimously adopted a proclamation recognizing May 2025 as National Treatment Court Month and heard briefings on local therapeutic court programs.
Superior Court Judge Laura Raquelme described two county programs: Family Recovery Court (launched 2007) for parents involved in child‑welfare dependency proceedings and Skagit County Drug Court (operating since 1997) for felony defendants. She said both programs combine judicial oversight, treatment services, case management and incentives/sanctions and aim to reduce recidivism and support family stability.
Why this matters: Treatment and community courts use a coordinated, community‑collaborative model that counties and cities cited as reducing repeat criminal behavior, improving treatment engagement and supporting family reunification. Judge Raquelme and District Court Judge Laura Housen reported active participant rosters and recent graduations of participants who secured housing and employment after program completion.
Highlights from court leaders - Judge Raquelme said Family Recovery Court tries to enroll parents early in dependency cases and uses phases and structured expectations; drug court remains a two‑year program with closer sanctioning because participants have pending criminal charges. - District Court Judge Laura Housen said the community‑court network (city‑based community courts plus county district court) serves more than 450 participants countywide, prioritizing high‑risk, high‑needs people with coordination among embedded social workers, law enforcement, treatment providers and dedicated probation officers.
Action The Board voted 3–0 to adopt the proclamation recognizing May 2025 as Treatment Court Month.
Ending Commissioners praised the work of court staff and community partners and requested continued coordination with service providers and funders; judges asked county staff to help identify assessment‑to‑treatment gaps for misdemeanants currently not served by in‑custody assessment contracts.
