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Spokane-area justice leaders debate creating broader coordinating council to sustain Safe and Healthy Task Force work
Summary
Judges, county staff and city officials at the SRLJC meeting May 13 debated whether to expand or replace the SRLJC with a broader Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) to carry forward Safe and Healthy Task Force recommendations. Participants recommended short-term SRLJC reforms while exploring a CJCC and planned outreach to the Board of County Commissioners.
Members of the SRLJC on May 13 discussed whether the Regional Law and Justice Center should be strengthened or whether a separate, broader Criminal Justice Coordinating Council should be created to continue work begun by the Safe and Healthy Task Force.
Judge Hazel said the central question is “how do we implement a structure that will continue on that work?” and stressed the need to evaluate legal constraints in statute before deciding where the task force’s recommendations should be housed. Justin, speaking for city participants, said the convening revealed an urgent need for a more inclusive body: “we really are desperate in need of a CJCC,” he said, describing a model that would include public-health partners and community voices alongside courts and law enforcement.
The nut graf: the group agreed the work must continue but differed on the vehicle. Several members urged immediate reforms to make the SRLJC more active and inclusive — including reviving subcommittees and community participation — while others said a standalone CJCC with dedicated funding and staffing would better support sustained coordination across courts, cities and county agencies.
Participants cited statutory limits on the SRLJC’s current scope, referring to state law (RCW) that prescribes SRLJC composition and duties. Judge Hazel noted that legislative changes or BOCC action could expand or adapt the SRLJC, but any change would require buy-in from cities and other stakeholders.
Mike, who opened the meeting, proposed near-term steps: review the SRLJC governing document, form ad hoc work groups, and take a joint proposal to the Board of County Commissioners for consideration. Rebecca said the county had already begun outreach; Mike reported he had emailed the BOCC to notify them of the conversations and would seek a follow-up discussion.
Supporters of a CJCC model pointed to the Safe and Healthy convening’s broad participation, including formerly incarcerated people, public-health providers and hospital representatives, and argued that a CJCC’s wider remit would allow earlier, upstream interventions rather than focusing only on court outcomes.
The meeting closed with agreement to continue planning, to convene smaller working sessions, and to prepare materials for a BOCC briefing that would include options ranging from SRLJC reform to creating a funded CJCC entity.
