HomeMy WebLinkAboutMental Health Court DocuSign Envelope ID: 118F7C35-61 DD-4465-13415-E20ADC5C507C
PORTANGELES321 East Fifth Street
WASH I N G T' O N , U . S . Port Angeles, WA 98362
July 13, 2021
Clallam County Board of County Commissioners
223 East 4th Street, Suite 4
Port Angeles, Washington 98362-3000
Re: Letter in Support of Mental Health Court
Dear Commissioners Ozias, Johnson and Peach:
The City of Port Angeles writes to express its support for the establishment of a Mental Health Court in
Clallam County. Modeled after Drug Courts and developed in response to the overrepresentation of
people with mental illnesses in the criminal justice system, Mental Health Courts divert select defendants
with mental illnesses into judicially supervised, community-based treatment. Importantly, Mental Health
Courts seek to increase effective cooperation between two systems that have traditionally not worked
closely together-the mental health treatment system and the criminal justice system. Mental Health
Courts can engage, support and facilitate the sustained stability of individuals with mental health
disorders within the criminal justice system,while reducing recidivism and increasing community safety.
According to the Washington Courts website, 15 jurisdictions across the state have established Mental
Health Courts since 1998.i Included within the list of jurisdictions that have established these courts are
neighboring Jefferson and Kitsap Counties which established programs in 2013 and 2017 respectively.
Thus, Clallam County is the only county on the North Olympic Peninsula that does not offer the option of
this court to individuals who are afflicted with mental health disorders that contribute to criminal behavior
and detract from community safety.
The precipitous rise in law enforcement calls for service involving a mental health component lead us to
believe that now is the time to establish a Mental Health Court in Clallam County. Clallam County
Prosecuting Attorney Mark Nichols has extensively researched the operation and funding for this court.
Clallam County Public Defender Harry Gasnick supports the establishment of a Mental Health Court.
Presiding Judge David Neupert of Clallam County District Court I has agreed to host this court. Thus,the
legal leadership required to successfully operate a Mental Health Court has already solidified its support
for this program.
As with any new program funding will be required,which is why we are addressing this correspondence
to you as the legislative body and spending authority within Clallam County government. We believe
1 11: av/c ¢ r............: a�r ¢ rIa Ifl ff rs�n. , �
DocuSign Envelope ID: 118F7C35-61 DD-4465-13415-E20ADC5C507C
that funding for Mental Health Court can and should come from the 1/10th of one percent sales and use
tax for substance use, mental health, and therapeutic court programs that was approved by the Clallam
County Board of Commissioners in 2006. As you know, monies from this tax must be used solely for the
purpose of providing for the operation or delivery of substance use or mental health treatment programs
and services and for the operation or delivery of therapeutic court programs and services. Mental Health
Court, as a variety of therapeutic court, falls directly in line with the intended purposes for which the tax
was authorized.
We appreciate your taking the time to consider this most important cause.
Sincerely,
DacuSigned by;
------------
9F6 _..
Kate Dexter
Mayor
Cc: The Honorable David Neupert
Presiding Judge
Clallam County District Court I
223 East 4th Street, Suite 10
Port Angeles, WA 98362-3000
Mr. Mark Nichols
Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney
223 East 4th Street, Suite 11
Port Angeles, WA 98362-3000
Mr. Harry Gasnick
Clallam County Public Defender
516 E Front Street
Port Angeles, WA 98362-3000