In its first two years, Aberdeen Community Court has dramatically reduced re-arrest rates for its graduates and has saved the city thousands of dollars in jail and public defender costs, says Municipal Court Judge Susan Solan.
Community Court, also known as a therapeutic court, deals with defendants facing misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor charges. Community Court addresses the underlying causes of defendants’ repeated brushes with the law, including substance abuse, mental health issues and other factors.
There have been 120 defendants in Community Court, 87 of whom have graduated with individualized programs designed to cycles of offending.
“In the 10 years prior to Community Court graduation, the graduates had a total of 381 convictions and community court charges. Since graduation, there have been only eight new convictions by six graduates,” wrote Solan March 7, the program’s two-year anniversary. “This demonstrates that the Community Court program currently reduces recidivism by 90 percent and significantly reduces victimization costs and jail costs.”
The diversion of these cases to Community Court has saved the city $59,750 in public defender costs, along with savings to the city from jail and public defender costs amounting to more than $100,000, said Solan.
“In addition to the considerable cost savings … and the community benefits that arise from citizens engaged in law-abiding behavior, participants are actively giving back to the city,” said Solan. “All participants are required to perform community service or pay the monetary equivalent. To date, participants have performed a total of more than 800 community service hours, valued at over $10,000.”
Solan said the goal is to continue to grow the program, which is in high demand. A second caseworker was added last year.
“It is the intensive case management provided by these caseworkers, along with regular court reviews, which optimizes success for the participants,” said Solan.
The lead Judicial Coordinator is Joey Bannish of Coastal Community Action Program and is funded by Great Rivers Behavioral Health Organization. In 2018, the position was also supported by a grant from the Grays Harbor Community Foundation.
“Aberdeen Community Court is supported by a variety of local social service agencies, which gather weekly at the services entry event to offer participants, and any community member who attends, a wide array of services to address hunger, homelessness, unemployment, mental illness, substance use, and other needs,” said Solan. The event is held Thursdays from 1:30-3 p.m. at the CCAP building. Community Court is held on Mondays at 2:30 at the Aberdeen courtroom.
