Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force

Purpose

The purpose of the Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force is to continually review Whatcom County’s criminal justice and behavioral health programs and make specific recommendations to safely and effectively reduce incarceration of individuals struggling with mental illness and chemical dependency, and minimize jail utilization by pretrial defendants who can safely be released.

Meetings


The IPR Task Force meets every other month.  IPR Task Force subcommittees meet at various times throughout the month.  For up-to-date meeting and agenda information, visit the Task Force Calendar .

Meetings are open to the public. Community members who attend may provide public comment on issues related to incarceration prevention and reduction efforts in Whatcom County. 


<< For meeting agendas and recordings, select a link in the left navigation menu.

Members


The Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force has 29/30 members.  

The 8 members appointed by the County Council include:
  • Stephen Gockley - Task Force Co-Chair, Health and Social Services
  • Greg Winter, Health and Social Services
  • Byron Manering, Health and Social Services
  • Moonwater, Health and Social Services
  • Jack Hovenier - Task Force Co-Chair, Consumer of services or family member of consumer
  • Deborah Hawley, Consumer of services or family member of consumer
  • Heather Flaherty, Concerned citizen
  • Arlene Feld, Concerned citizen
In addition, 22 permanent members include:
  • Tyler Schroeder, County Deputy Executive 
  • Barry Buchanan, County Councilmember
  • Bill Elfo, County Sheriff/Jail Administrator
  • Eric Richey, Prosecuting Attorney
  • Maia Vanyo, Chief Deputy Public Defender 
  • Deborra Garrett, Superior Court Judge
  • Dave Reynolds, Juvenile Court Administrator/Superior Court Clerk
  • Bruce Van Glubt, District Court Administrator
  • Anne Deacon, Health Department, Human Services Division Manager
  • Daniel Hammill, Bellingham City Council Member
  • Kelli Linville, Bellingham Mayor
  • David Doll, Bellingham Police Chief 
  • Darlene Peterson, Bellingham Municipal Court Clerk
  • Scott Korthuis, Lynden City Mayor
  • To be determined, Small City Council Member
  • Kevin Turner, Small City Police Chief
  • Raylene King, Blaine Court Administrator, Small Cities Municipal Court representative
  • Travis Brockie, Lummi Business Council Member
  • Undesignated, Nooksack Tribe
  • Undesignated, Peace Health St. Joseph's Medical Center representative 
  • Mike Hilley, Whatcom County EMS Manager, Emergency medical services (EMS) representative
  • Eric Petersen, Representative of the Secretary of the Washington State Department of Corrections

Vacancies

Term Information

    • 4 year terms, no term limits
Reports and Information
Some of these documents are large files that take time to download and open
  • Phase I Report and Report Addendum, February 2016
  • Phase II Report, October 2016
  • Initial Phase III Report, July 2017
  • Vera Institute of Justice Preliminary Data Report, July 2017
  • Task Force member responses to draft version of Vera Institute report, various, November 2017
  • Vera Institute of Justice Final Report with Draft Task Force Introduction, November 2017
  • Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force Final Phase III Report, December 2017
  • 2018 Annual Report, June 2018
  • 2019 Annual Report, June 2019
Additional Information