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IPRTF members plan restorative‑justice and prosecutorial‑diversion pilots ahead of behavioral care center opening
Summary
Members who attended a restorative pathways summit described plans to pilot restorative‑justice diversion for some domestic‑violence cases and to test prosecutorial diversion with a residential treatment facility while legal terms are developed with prosecutors and public defenders.
Members reported early planning for restorative‑justice and prosecutorial‑diversion pilots that could begin before the behavioral care center opens.
Maya said a county contingent attended a restorative‑pathways summit and will meet with the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center, domestic‑violence services and a local restorative provider to explore a restorative‑justice diversion pathway for certain domestic‑violence offenses. "We're gonna be meeting on May 27 to discuss takeaways from that summit and steps towards imagining a justice project," Maya said, adding the pilots would be small and would start as tests.
Another member noted a residential treatment facility could serve as a venue for a prosecutorial‑diversion pilot prior to the behavioral care center (BCC) opening. That pilot would allow prosecutors and courts to test legal pathways and utilization before the BCC is online. "It allows us to try this out and kinda work in the system prior to having a large facility that's opened," a committee member said.
Members agreed these pilots are exploratory and that legal and operational frameworks need further work, including negotiations with the prosecutor’s office, public defenders and courts. Maya asked the IPRTF to track the pilots and report back in a few months.
