Whatcom County Council approved Resolution 2023-006 on February 21, 2023, accepting the final Justice Project Needs Assessment report and confirming the next steps to develop an Implementation Plan. The County Executive will lead the development of an Implementation Plan that will include:
The Implementation Plan will be developed through workshops with the Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force (IPRTF), county staff, and key stakeholders. Opportunities for feedback will include focus groups with priority audiences and a town hall event for the general public.
Click here to view a short video (12 min.) about the Justice Project Implementation Plan background and overview.
Workshops:
The following workshops will take place as special meetings of the IPRTF with additional attendance by key stakeholders.
For more information, including agendas, public zoom join links, and more, please visit the IPRTF Meeting webpage.
Focus Groups
Focus Groups will be conducted with priority audiences in April to get feedback on draft elements of the Implementation Plan. Priority audiences include people with lived experience in the criminal legal system and their family members, Lummi Nation, Nooksack Tribe, and BIPOC community members.
Town Hall - Wednesday, May 24, 2023, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Elements of the draft Implementation Plan will be shared with the public for feedback at a Town Hall Event on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. Members of the public can attend in person in the County Council Chambers, County Courthouse, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225. Online participation will also be available, and details on how to join remotely will be provided soon.
Additional Opportunities for Information and Feedback