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La Center hearing on 'community court' that would divert low-level cases to services
Summary
Prosecutor Jill Parni outlined a voluntary community-court pilot that would offer service connections (substance-abuse assessment, DOL support, nonprofit navigators) and dismiss covered charges if participants comply. Council agreed to draft a support letter and asked staff to track outcomes and costs.
La Center city and court staff presented a proposal on Dec. 11 to create a voluntary "community court" docket aimed at reducing repeat low-level contacts with the criminal-justice system by connecting defendants to services.
Municipal prosecutor Jill Parni described the proposal as a separate Thursday-afternoon docket for low-level offenses (explicitly excluding domestic-violence, DUI and organized retail-theft cases). Parni said the program would not create a new judge or prosecutor position but would use an existing afternoon docket, provide on-site or Zoom access to Department of Licensing assistance, a recovery navigator from the nonprofit Pure 360 and mobile mental-health outreach from Columbia River Mental Health. Parni said defendants who sign a voluntary agreement and complete required services would have the charge dismissed; those who do not comply would return to the regular trial track.
Parni estimated multi-jurisdiction arraignment volume of 20–30 new filings per week across three participating cities and projected La Center’s initial share of program cost at about $32,100 annually. She described the model as a "hand-holding" approach to help defendants make initial contacts with service providers so they can follow through on evaluations, licensing reinstatement or housing support.
Council members pressed staff for outcome data and benchmarks — several asked for Vancouver’s success metrics — and for a plan to track cost versus benefit. The council agreed to bring a letter of support for the program next week so La Center can participate in an initial, limited pilot; staff said if the program grows, council would revisit funding and may request additional resources.
No formal council appropriation was approved at the meeting; staff said the pilot is being pursued on a “shoestring” budget and that program growth would trigger further budget decisions and reporting.
