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. The Task Force also serves as the Law and Justice Council as required by RCW 72.09.300.

Meetings

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

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.

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
David Freeman, 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
Seth Fleetwood, Bellingham Mayor
Flo Simon, Bellingham Police Chief
Darlene Peterson, Bellingham Municipal Court Clerk
Scott Korthuis, Lynden City Mayor
To be determined, Small City Council Member
Donnell Tanksley, 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

See the List of Current 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
Sequential Intercept Service Inventory and Strategic Plan, Updated February 2020
2020 Annual Report, June 2020
2021 Annual Report, June 2021