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Whatcom County panel reviews racial-disparity data and data gaps; members press for bail and booking details
Summary
A county justice oversight committee heard a VillageReach-aligned data update showing racial disparities in jail bookings (presenters reported Black and Indigenous residents were roughly nine times more likely to be incarcerated in 2024), discussed limits of current data, and urged collection of first-appearance/bail history and jurisdictional booking details to better understand drivers of disparity.
Committee members spent the bulk of the meeting on data issues after staff described the Justice Project Evaluation and Performance Measurement Plan and the development of an interim, public-facing dashboard.
A presenter summarized near-term evaluation priorities and the plan to compile available indicators. The presenter said three priorities for the next 6–12 months are: creating a dedicated operational role to coordinate data and reporting, establishing shared indicator definitions (for example, an agreed definition of "recidivism"), and running a next-generation Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) workshop. Staff said the interim dashboard will collect…
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