GREETINGS AND WELCOME TO THE DECEMBER 6TH SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS UTILITIES
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ARTS COMMITTEE.
I'M LISA HERBOLD, CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE AND COUNCILWOMAN FOR DISTRICT 1, WEST SEATTLE
AND SOUTHPARK AND I'M JOINED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS O'BRIEN, MEG SHAW AND COUNCILMEMBER HARRELL.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING.
TODAY'S TOPIC FOR THE LUNCH AND LEARN IS A SUBJECT THAT THE COUNCIL HAS BEEN WORKING
TO ADDRESS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS SINCE THE ADOPTION
OF A 2015 COUNCIL RESOLUTION , THE RESOLUTION WAS SPEARHEADED BY NOW COUNCIL PRESIDENT HARRELL
IN 2015 AND THE RESOLUTION ESTABLISHED A WORKGROUP THAT IS LED BY THE OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS
AND IT IS FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING POLICIES AND STRATEGIES TO STRENGTHEN THE CITY'S EFFORTS
TO ASSIST WITH REENTRY AFTER INCARCERATION.
THE RESOLUTION, ITSELF, REQUESTED A REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL WITH RECOMMENDED CHANGES.
CHANGES RECOMMENDED BY THE WORKGROUP, ITSELF.
ALSO, LOOKING AT POSSIBLE ORDINANCES, STRATEGIES OR PROGRAMS THE CITY SHOULD CONSIDER.
THE SCOPE OF WORK FOR THE REENTRY WORKGROUP CONSISTED OF FOUR MAIN TASKS.
THOSE MAIN TASKS WILL GUIDE THE STRUCTURE OF THE REPORT AND WE WILL HEAR FROM THE WORKGROUP
WHAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE AROUND THOSE FOUR MAIN TASKS.
SO, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I WOULD ASK THAT THE PRESENTERS AND MEMBERS OF THE WORKGROUP,
AND JOIN US AT THE TABLE.
HOW MANY CHAIRS DO WE NEED?
NEIL IS ON IT.
>> I THINK WE HAVE ABOUT 14 PEOPLE JOINING US.
WE WILL BE DOING SOME MOVING.
I'M VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
WELL DONE.
WE ARE ALL ASSEMBLED.
THE FOLKS THAT ARE BEFORE US, NOW, ARE MEMBERS OF THE WORKGROUP.
THE WORKGROUP, ITSELF, WAS COMPRISED OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE ENGAGEMENT AND AWARENESS OF THE CRIMINAL
LEGAL SYSTEM.
WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES IN THE WORKGROUP FROM KING COUNTY SOCIAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATIONS AND
DESIGNEES OF RELATIVE DEPARTMENTS.
I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO YOU GUYS TO INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOUR AFFILIATION
IS AND HOW YOU COME TO THE WORKGROUP.
>> HI.
I'M ALEX BERGSTROM AND I WORK AT COLUMBIA LEGAL SERVICES AND DID SOME ORGANIZERS -- ORGANIZING
WITH THE FAIR COALITION.
I'M LILETHA WILLIAMS, A COMMUNITY MEMBER.
I'M GIN20, OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.
ERIKA PABLO, OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS.
I'M MARCOS MARTINEZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
I'M JENNA ROBERT, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN THE PREFILED DIVERSION PROGRAMS.
I'M CAROLANNE SANDERS, BEHAVIORAL DIVISION IN THE DIVERSION REENTRY SERVICE SECTIONED
AND I'M HERE TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AS A COLLABORATIVE PARTNER TO THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
SHE SAID A LOT.
I AM EDDIE HARRELL AND REPRESENT THE URBAN LEAGUE AND THE INITIATIVE FOR BLACK PRISONERS
CAUCUS AS WELL AS PROGRESS PUSHERS.
I MET PAMELA STEARNS AND I REPRESENT THE KING COUNTY NATIVE AMERICAN LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
AND I'M A PERSON LIVING OFF THE STREET.
I WORK AT THE SEATTLE CLUB AND I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.
I'M SIDNEY WILSON, VOCAL WASHINGTON AND OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS AND BLACK BUSINESS CAUCUS
AND A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY, ALSO.
THANK YOU, SIDNEY.
WHO WOULD LIKE TO START?
I WILL KICK US OFF.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HAVING US.
WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO TALK WITH YOU ALL TODAY.
I KNOW WE BRIEFED YOU ALL LAST YEAR ON SOME OF OUR PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS.
WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO FINALLY HAVE A REPORT FOR YOU ALL AND TO TALK ABOUT IT.
THIS IS JUST A ROADMAP FOR OUR DISCUSSION TODAY AND WE WILL DO A BRIEF INTRODUCTION,
WHICH ORIGINALLY YOU'VE MET SOME OF THE FOLKS HERE TODAY AND YOU MET THEM IN THE COMMUNITY,
AS WELL.
WE WILL GIVE SOME BRIEF BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW OF THE WORKGROUP AND THE CHUNK OF TIME WILL
FOCUS ON KEY STRATEGIES.
SOME OF THE WORK, WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT.
MY LIFE STORY, LITTLE CHAIR AT A BIG TABLE.
LASTLY, WE WILL GIVE A BRIEF UPDATE ON THE LEGAL STUDY.
SO, AS FOLKS INTRODUCE THEMSELVES, THERE ARE SOME FOLKS THAT AREN'T HERE TODAY AND SOME
SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE BUT THIS IS AN OVERVIEW AND LIST OF ALL OF OUR WORKGROUP MEMBERS.
A FEW OTHER AFFILIATE -- AFFILIATIONS THAT HAVEN'T INTRODUCED THEMSELVES, WE HAVE GORDON
HILL, WHO MAY STILL BE ARRIVING AND MAY SIT AT THE TABLE IF HE DOES ARRIVE, FROM THE PUBLIC
DEFENDER'S OFFICE AND WE HAVE DISABILITY RIGHTS WASHINGTON.
AS ERICA SAID, WE WERE LAST HERE ABOUT A YEAR AGO TO PROVIDE PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS
AND I KNOW YOU'VE ALL RECEIVED --THE COUNCIL MEMBERS --HAVE RECEIVED THE FINAL REPORT.
WE WILL EMPHASIZE SOME KEY STRATEGIES AND MOVE ALONG FOR SOME OF THOSE WE MAY HAVE BRIEFED
A YEAR AGO.
AS COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD SHARED, IN 2015, THE COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY PASSED THE RESOLUTION
THAT BROUGHT OUR WORKGROUP TOGETHER AND ON BEHALF OF THE WORKGROUP I WANT TO EXPRESS
A LOT OF GRATITUDE TO THE COUNCIL , TO ESTABLISHING THIS KIND OF WORKGROUP THAT ALLOWS CITY REPRESENTATIVES,
COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO WORK TOGETHER TO DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS
AND IT'S BEEN A LONG PROCESS AND WE SO APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENDANCE AND SUPPORT OF THIS BRIEFING
AND THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PROCESS.
THE RESOLUTION REQUIRED THE WORKGROUP TO DO FOUR THINGS AND THESE ARE THE FOUR THINGS
THAT IT ASKED THE WORKGROUP TO DO AND IT WAS A PRETTY BROAD SCOPE THAT WAS GIVEN TO US.
I WILL SAY, I THINK WE DID A GOOD JOB OF DOING ALMOST EVERYTHING.
THE ONE THING WE DIDN'T GET TO IS A REAL COMPLETE, COMPREHENSIVE, FISCAL ANALYSIS TO PROVIDE
YOU EXACT NUMBERS OF HOW TO FUND ALL OF THESE STRATEGIES . PERHAPS IF WE HAD MORE TIME AND
MORE CAPACITY, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT BUT WE WANTED TO GET THIS TO YOU REGARDLESS.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THE WORKGROUP IS COMPRISED OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY
MEMBERS.
THE WORKGROUP WORKED HARD TO CENTER AND ELEVATE THE VOICES OF THOSE IMPACTED BY CAR'S -- INCARCERATION
AND HISTORY AND I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AND ILLUMINATE THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE CITY REPRESENTATIVES
AND COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES SITTING TOGETHER . YET, REALLY PUTTING THEIR OWN AGENDAS ASIDE
AND JUST PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SO THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE LIVED EXPERIENCE
CAN PUSH ALL OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS FORWARD AND INFORM THE CITY AND THE COUNTY AND THE
OTHER COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES ABOUT WHAT ARE BEST PRACTICES IN SUPPORTING FOLKS LIVING
WITH CRIMINAL HISTORY.
SO, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE REPRESENTING THE CITY, REPRESENTING THE
COUNTY OR OTHER AGENCIES AT THE TABLE , REALLY PROVIDED ONLY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN THESE
RECOMMENDATIONS DON'T REALLY REPRESENT ANY CITY DEPARTMENT OR ANY COUNTY DEPARTMENT OR
ANY SINGLE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION, BUT IS REALLY THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WORKGROUP, AS
A WHOLE.
BECAUSE THE SCOPE OF WORK WAS SO BROAD, THE WORKGROUP SPENT ABOUT SIX MONTHS REALLY DEVELOPING
PRINCIPLES THAT WOULD HELP US NARROW DOWN WHAT WE WERE GOING TO FOCUS ON AND THE WORKGROUP
CAME UP ON THESE FOUR PRINCIPLES TO HELP GIVE US BOUNDARIES ABOUT WHAT WE SHOULD FOCUS ON
. THE WORKGROUP AND ITS RECOMMENDATIONS CENTERED RACE, TRIED TO ADDRESS STRUCTURAL BARRIERS
AND TRIED TO D COMPRISE POVERTY AND HEALTH NEEDS AND WORK WITHIN THAT FRAMEWORK AND WORKED
AT WHAT THE CITY HAS CONTROL OVER RATHER THAN LOOKING AT REGIONAL OR STATE LEVEL, AND THE
POWER, WHERE DOES THAT LIE AND WHERE CAN WE LEVERAGE THAT TO REALLY MAKE CHANGES WITHIN
THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.
ONE OF THE TASKS THAT THE RESOLUTION TASKED WITH THE WORKGROUP WAS TO DO A FISCAL ANALYSIS
AND OUR INVESTMENTS FOR FOLKS REENTERING THE COMMUNITY.
DUE TO CAPACITY WE WEREN'T ABLE TO DO THAT WORK SO WE WERE HOPING THAT IT WAS ONE OF
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS MOVING FORWARD, PERHAPS THIS NEW COUNCIL POSITION OR SOME OF THE WORK
OCR IS DOING IS TO LOOK INTO THAT, THAT FISCAL ANALYSIS, MORE DEEPLY.
BUT, INITIALLY, WE LOOKED INTO WHAT OUR CURRENT INVESTMENTS ARE AND THAT WAS THE INITIAL TASK.
WE LOOKED AND SAW THAT THE CITY CURRENTLY INVESTS ABOUT $2.7 MILLION IN REENTRY SUPPORT,
WHICH VARIES BECAUSE WE LOOKED AT ORGANIZATIONS DOING THE WORK AND IT KIND OF GOT TO THAT
TOTAL BUT WE KNOW ABOUT $20 MILLION IS USED TO INCARCERATE DEPENDENTS FROM THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL COURT AND MOVING FORWARD TO GET THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN MIND, WE HOPE THE WORKGROUP
URGES THE CITY --WE WANT THE WORKGROUP TO URGE THE CITY TO MOVE FORWARD FROM SOMETHING
THAT WE KNOW CAUSES SIGNIFICANT HARM, LIKE INCARCERATION, TO MOVE TO RESTORATIVE AND
AFFECTIVE RESPONSES THAT BUILD STABLE AND SAFE COMMUNITIES.
A QUICK QUESTION.
I DON'T VERY MUCH THAT ANY JURISDICTION IS BALANCING THESE INVESTMENTS IN THE WAY THAT
WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN AN IDEAL WORLD.
BUT, I'M WONDERING IF THERE IS A DESIRED OR ADVISED RATIO THAT YOU MAY BE EITHER HEARD
FROM AN ACADEMIC PERSPECTIVE OR PUBLIC POLICY PERSPECTIVE OR MAYBE THERE ARE ACTUALLY JURISDICTIONS
THAT HAVE IDENTIFIED GOALS FOR THAT RATIO?
I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR FOLKS, BUT FEEL FREE IF OTHER WORKGROUP MEMBERS HAVE IDEAS.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE CHALLENGE OURSELVES WITH AND STRUGGLE WITH.
FROM A LOT OF OUR PERSPECTIVES, ANY INVESTMENT THAT IS GOING INTO THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM
AND INCARCERATION IS HARMFUL.
ANYWAY WE CAN MINIMIZE THAT HARM IS HELPFUL.
AS FAR AS TOTALS, I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT WORK AND HAVE THE PROPER DETAILS
IN THAT WAY.
>> OKAY.
THIS IS ANOTHER OVERVIEW OF THE STRATEGIES WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TODAY IN THE REPORT
FOCUSED ON SEVEN STRATEGIES.
SOME OF THE STRATEGIES WE WILL MOVE THROUGH PRETTY BRIEFLY BECAUSE WE HAD A PRIORITIZATION
OF WHAT WE CARED ABOUT MOST AND GIVEN THE LIMITED TIME WE HAVE WITH YOU ALL, WE WANTED
TO FOCUS ON A FEW.
HERE IS LISTING ALL THE STRATEGIES WE HAVE.
ONE IS SUPPORT FOR INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY HEALING AND TWO A SUPPORT FOR REENTRY HEALING AND
NAVIGATION AND THREE IS INCREASE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND FOUR'S INCREASE HOUSING
ACCESS AND FIVE IS REIMAGINE CITY'S USE OF JAILS AND SIX IS DECRIMINALIZE ANTIVERT AND
THE LAST IS THE REENTRY GROUP SPACE.
AS ERIKA MENTIONED, WE HAVE THE SEVEN STRATEGIES AND WE WOULD LIKE TO PRIORITIZE TWO OF THOSE
STRATEGIES AND YOU WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT IN A MOMENT.
WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT COUNCIL, IN ITS BUDGET, SET ASIDE $250,000 FOR IMPLEMENTATION
AND WE WILL HAVE MORE TO SAY ABOUT THAT, AS WELL.
>> WE WANT TO ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK COUNCIL FOR ENDING THE SNOHOMISH COUNTY JAIL CONTRACT
THAT WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS AND WE FEEL THAT IT'S EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL
AND WE WANT TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AND THANK COUNCIL FOR TAKING THAT STEP.
ALSO, WE ARE RECOMMENDING A COMMITMENT TO SEATTLE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM ALIGNMENT DRIVEN
BY PRINCIPLES THAT ARE DEVELOPED BY THE WORKGROUP AND IF I COULD SAY MORE ABOUT THAT, SEATTLE'S
CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM PROCESSED 9700 MISDEMEANOR CASE FILINGS IN 2017 RESULTING IN APPROXIMATELY
63,000 NIGHTS IN JAIL.
THIS OBVIOUSLY HAS AN ENORMOUS IMPACT ON THE CITY AND IS FELT BY COMMUNITY AND CONSTITUTES
A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE CITY'S BUDGET.
BECAUSE THE CITY'S CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM REQUIRES SMC, THE CITY ATTORNEY OFFICE AND LEGISLATIVE
DEPARTMENTS AND THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT ALL OF FOUR INDEPENDENTLY ELECTED BRANCHES SHOULD
WORK CLOSELY TOGETHER TO BUILD A COHERENT STRATEGY, ONE COORDINATED AND THAT IS IN ALIGNMENT
WITH IDENTIFIABLE VALUES AND OBJECTIVES DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE
BEEN MOST IMPACTED BY THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.
THE COORDINATION IS OFTEN AN INDICATOR OF AN EFFECTIVE LEGAL SYSTEM.
THE SEATTLE REENTRY WORKGROUP SUPPORTS INCREASED COORDINATION ONLY IF THE SYSTEM IS DRIVEN
IN A WAY THAT PROMOTES TRUST AND PARTNERSHIP WITH THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY
REPRESENTED THROUGHOUT THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.
IN ORDER TO REACH THIS GOAL, THE REENTRY WORKGROUP SUPPORTS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BY JUDGES, PROSECUTORS
AND COURT STAFF IN A WAY THAT ENSURES THAT THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM BENEFITS SEATTLE'S
MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS.
SO, HOW BETTER COORDINATION IS DEVELOPED --FIRST OF ALL, BY DEVELOPING GOALS.
THE FIRST STEP TO ACHIEVING BETTER COORDINATION WOULD INCLUDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE MOST
IMPACTED BY RACISM AND INCARCERATION, TO SHARE THEIR OWN DEFINITION OF SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
TO HELP INFORM THE OBJECTIVES OF THAT CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.
BY DEVELOPING PARTNERSHIPS.
THE CITY OF SEATTLE MUST DEVELOP FORMALIZED COMMUNICATION PATHWAYS BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS
AND ACROSS JURISDICTIONS AND THE FIRST PRIORITY MUST BE TO DEVELOP PEASANT PARTNERSHIPS WITH
COMMUNITIES MOST IMPACTED BY RACISM AND INCARCERATION.
ALSO, DEVELOPING PATHWAYS CREATES SUSTAINABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS
TO OBTAIN CITY JOBS WHERE THEY ARE ABLE AND IN POSITION TO SHAPE AND INFORM THE CITY'S
CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.
IT CAN INCLUDE DEDICATED PASS FOR COMMUNITIES MOST IMPACTED BY RACISM AND INCARCERATION
TO INFORM CRIMINAL POLICIES AND REFORMS, DEVELOPMENT OF NON- CRIMINALIZATION APPROACH TO VIOLENCE,
SUBSTANCE ABUSE, TRAUMA AND POVERTY, DEVELOP MORE EFFICIENT COMMUNICATIONS WITH OTHER JURISDICTIONS
THAT WOULD INCREASE PERSON-CENTERED AND RESPONSES SUCH AS WARRANT WATCHING, ALTERNATIVES TO
INCARCERATION AND BETTER TOOLS TO CONNECT INDIVIDUALS WITH SERVICES THEY NEED TO ADDRESS
ROOT CAUSES AND A FRAMING TO REDISTRIBUTE RESOURCES FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT, COURTS AND
LAW ENFORCEMENT TO COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES THAT SUPPORT THOSE MOST IMPACTED BY RACISM
AND INCARCERATION.
IN ADDITION, INCREASE ALIGNMENT WITH OTHER CITY INITIATIVES AND STRATEGIES THAT AIM FOR
HEALTHY AND ACCOUNTABLE RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITIES MOST IMPACTED BY RACISM AND INCARCERATION.
IN ADDITION, IT MEANS TO MEASURE PROGRESS AND OUTCOMES AND HOLD SYSTEMS ACCOUNTABLE
THROUGH BENCHMARKS AND, LASTLY, BY PRIORITIZING CITY REPRESENTATION ON STATE AND REGIONAL
WORK GROUPS AIMED AT CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM AND REENTRY SUPPORT.
THE CITY CAN DEVELOP COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS, SHARE INNOVATIONS AND SOLUTIONS, INTEGRATE
SYSTEMS AND SHARE RESPONSIBILITY AND INCREASE ACCOUNTABILITY.
THANK YOU.
BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I THOUGHT MAYBE THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD CHANCE FOR --NOT TO PUT YOU ON THE
SPOT --COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN, YOU WERE WORKING WITH COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ IN THE EFFORT
AROUND RESOLUTION TO STATE AND SET OUT SOME GOALS FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.
MAYBE YOU COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT?
IT'S A BIT OF A WORK IN PROGRESS.
SO, I THINK I WILL JUST REITERATE WHAT YOU SAID DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, WE HEARD A
LOT FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO CRAFT A PATH FOR THE CITY COUNCIL AND CITY OF SEATTLE AS A WHOLE.
AS AN INSTITUTION, COLLECTIVELY, IS DOING HARM FOR HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AND TRYING TO, FRANKLY, ADDRESS A LOT OF THE THINGS YOU RAISED.
AND I'M CURIOUS TO HEAR FROM FOLKS AT THE TABLE, ACTUALLY, TO HELP INFORM WHAT A COLLABORATIVE
APPROACH MAY LOOK LIKE.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF INSTITUTIONS THAT HAVE THEIR INFLUENCE OVER THIS ENTIRE SYSTEM
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE SOME OF THOSE INSTITUTIONS WERE MEMBERS OF THE WORKGROUP.
I CAN TELL YOU DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS --THERE WERE THINGS THAT CAME UP THERE WERE ON A RELATIVELY
SHORT TIMELINE BUT THE REACTION FROM A LOT OF FOLKS WAS THAT THERE WERE A VARIETY OF
OPINIONS AND IT SEEMED LIKE WE WERE A LONG WAY FROM CONSENSUS ON WHAT THE SOLUTIONS WERE.
YOU KNOW, THIS REPORT SEEMS LIKE YOU'VE DONE A GOOD JOB OF BUILDING MORE CONSENSUS.
I WANT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PIVOT US TO WHERE THERE IS CONSENSUS AND BUILD OFF THAT AS OPPOSED
TO STARTING AT A SPOT WHERE IT'S MORE ADVERSARIAL.
THERE'S BEEN WORK ON THIS.
AS COUNCILMEMBER HARRELL REMINDED ME, THE COUNCIL INCLUDED SOME FUNDING IN THE BUDGET
SO THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A DEDICATED ANALYST ON STAFF WHO WOULD SERVE AS POINT PERSON ON
SOME OF THESE ISSUES FOR THE COUNCIL AND FOR THE COMMUNITY AND WORKING WITH THE EXECUTIVE
AND THIS RECONSTITUTED CRIMINAL JUSTICE --WHAT IS A CALL -- >> THE YET TO BE RECONSTITUTED
CRIMINAL JUSTICE WORKGROUP.
WE'LL HAVE THE INTERNAL COMPONENT AS WELL AS THE EXTERNAL COMPONENT.
I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.
FIRST, LET ME SAY THAT I READ THE FULL REPORT AND THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.
USUALLY I JUST READ THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY BUT I READ THE FULL REPORT AND IT WAS RICH
WITH INFORMATION AND SO APPARENT OVER THE YEARS HOW MUCH WORK HAD GONE INTO THAT . SO,
WHATEVER YOU WERE PAID TO DO THAT WORK, JUST DOUBLE IT.
WRITE THAT DOWN.
IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE PIECE OF WORK AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR
DOING THAT.
RELATIVE TO THE LEGISLATION POSITION WE CREATED, ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS THE CITY HAS HAD
IS THAT REALLY, NO ONE SORT OF OWNED THIS WORK.
NO ONE'S SUCCESS WAS DEPENDENT ON ANY OUTCOMES ON DOING A GOOD JOB IN THIS WORK.
THE CITY AND THE STATE HAS A REENTRY COUNCIL AND THE COUNTY IS DOING WORK AND IT'S SCATTERED.
SUCH A COMPLEX ISSUE AND THIS IS NOT MEANT AS A CRITICISM OF THE REPORT BUT THE REPORT
SOMETIMES DOES EXACTLY WHAT I DO, AND THAT IS WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE CHALLENGES
OF THE PERSON REENTERING --AND I RECALLED THE CRITICISM OF TALKING ABOUT REENTERING
AND THE CONCEPT OF IT ASSUMING IT WENT RIGHT BACK TO A GREAT SITUATION WITHOUT ADDRESSING
WHAT THEY ARE GOING BACK TO BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY.
REENTERING TODAY, THERE'S SO MANY MOVING PIECES . WHEN WE ARE TRYING TO LOOK AT THE BARRIERS
TO THE REENTRY, IT'S ALSO VERY SEDUCTIVE TO GO TO WHAT CAUSED THE INCARCERATION TO BEGIN
WITH.
IT DOVETAILED INTO THE CAUSES BUT YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE CAUSES BECAUSE OTHERWISE YOU'RE
JUST LOOKING AT THE RESULTS OF THE POLICIES.
THAT WAS WHY I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD REPORT IN BOTH AREAS AND I HAVE TO ADMIT WHEN WE
FIRST STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE WORK IN 2015, I WAS FOCUSED ON THE BACKEND.
I HAD TOO MANY FRIENDS THAT WE GREW UP WITH THAT WOULD CALL ME AND TELL ME THEIR STORIES
ABOUT THAT THEY COULDN'T EVEN GET AN APPLICATION IN AND THESE KINDS OF THINGS.
THE REPORT WAS VERY WELL DONE.
WE WILL TURN THIS INTO SERIOUS WORK THIS YEAR AND I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT IT WILL
JUST SIT ON SOMEONE'S SHELF.
THIS WILL BE AN ACTION DOCUMENT WE USE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO IT.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT.
HOPEFULLY, THE REST OF THE DISCUSSION WILL HELP GUIDE THAT, AS WELL.
THE CAMERAS WERE OFF WHEN I SAID IT.
[ LAUGHTER ]
SO, YOU SAW OUR SEVEN PRIORITIES BUT WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT TWO, IN PARTICULAR, WHICH YOU
CAN SEE HERE.
THE SUPPORT FOR INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY HEALING AND SUPPORT FOR REENTRY HEALING AND NAVIGATION
AND THERE WAS CERTAINLY SOME OVERLAP.
BUT, THEY ARE SEPARATE IN THE REPORT AND YOU'VE SEEN THAT.
GIVEN THAT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY COMMITTED TO THIS WORK SO FAR IS RELATIVELY MODEST WE THOUGHT
IT WOULD BE MOST EFFECTIVE TO NARROW A LITTLE BIT FURTHER AND WE WANT TO REALLY PICK ONE
OF THESE TO LIFT UP IN PARTICULAR.
OUR RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE MOST EFFECTIVE USE OF THE $250,000 IS TO SPEND IT ON SUPPORT
FOR THE REENTERING INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES, SPECIFICALLY.
THROUGH OUR WORK WE DISCOVERED A SHORTAGE OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR CULTURALLY RELEVANT
RESOURCES IN THIS COMMUNITY AND IN THE INTEREST OF RACE EQUITY, WE FEEL A NEED TO RESPOND
TO THE TARGETING OF OUR INDIGENOUS FAMILIES BY THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM, A SYSTEM THAT
PLAYS AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE SUPPRESSION AND DENIAL OF INDIGENOUS HISTORIES.
WE THEREFORE RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY FUND PILOT PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON HEALING AND NAVIGATION
FOR INDIGENOUS INDIVIDUALS RETURNING FROM INCARCERATION AND LIVING WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS.
THESE PROGRAMS SHOULD BE CREATED BY AND FOR THE PEOPLE MOST DIRECTLY IMPACTED AND FOR
WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE, I WILL PASS IT OFF TO GEORGE AND I THINK EDDIE WILL FOLLOW
THAT WITH MORE INFORMATION ON NAVIGATION.
HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY?
MY NAME IS GEORGE FARRELL.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE STANDING ROCK SIOUX TRIBE.
I'M AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS LIVED EXPERIENCE, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY.
I WENT TO PRISON JUST AFTER MY 16TH BIRTHDAY AND DID 17.5 YEARS.
I CAME TO SEATTLE IN 2016 AND WAS RELEASED OUT OF WORK RELEASE ON FOURTH AVENUE.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE AND THAT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING, IS THERE
IS A MAJOR LACK --I WILL SEE REENTRY, AS A WHOLE --BUT FOR THE NATIVE PEOPLE AND INDIGENOUS
PEOPLES, YOU KNOW, THERE IS NOTHING THERE.
DON'T HAVE ANY PROGRAMS THAT ARE SET UP FOR THAT , TO BE ABLE TO GIVE MENTORSHIP, TO BE
ABLE TO GUIDE THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF THERE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
NOT ONLY THAT, WE DON'T HAVE THE PROPER MENTORSHIP TO BE ABLE TO GET THESE GUYS INTO A POSITION
TO SUCCEED.
I SAY THAT BECAUSE OUR RECIDIVISM RATE , PEOPLE THROW THAT AROUND A LOT, RECIDIVISM RATE --WE
HAVE THE HIGHEST RECIDIVISM RATE OUT OF EVERYBODY.
IT HAS ONLY WENT UP.
I'M GOING TO SAY THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PROGRAMS OUT THERE.
A LOT OF THINGS THAT DO INDIVIDUALS JUSTICE AND DO THEM GOOD BUT THERE IS NOTHING THAT
HAS AFFECTED THE NATIVE COMMUNITY TO THIS DAY.
A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO INSIDE OF THE PRISONS ARE EXACTLY THE SAME THAT WE DO OUT
HERE.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THESE GUYS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF THERE --YOU KNOW --WE HAVE A
FEW THINGS IN THERE THAT PEOPLE OUT HERE --THEY STRIVE TO GET, THEY STRIVE UNLIKE ANY OTHER
GROUP --THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN TO THE JOINT AND THEY SEE IT.
OUR GROUPS ARE TIGHTER THAN ANYBODY ELSE'S GROUP.
IT IS WE ALL COME FROM THE SAME PLACE AND WE ALL DO THE SAME ACTIVITIES, WE DO THE SAME
FUNCTIONS.
WE ALL PRAY THE SAME.
WE GET THAT SUFFERING THE SAME WAY.
THERE HAS YET TO BE ANYBODY OR ANY GROUP THAT HAS STEPPED UP AND SAID WE WILL TAKE THE WEIGHT
ON OF CATCHING THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT COME OUT HERE.
THERE ARE 121300 PEOPLE COMING TO KING COUNTY AND YOU MIGHT HAVE 10 OR 11 THAT ARE INDIGENOUS.
WHY CAN'T WE FOCUS ON GETTING THOSE 10 OR 12 PEOPLE SET UP ON THE RIGHT TRACK TO DO
THE RIGHT THINGS ? I MEAN, IF YOU REALLY LOOK AT IT, FROM LOGISTICS -- WOULD YOU SPEND $3000
ON A PERSON FOR A YEAR, OR WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE THIS PERSON GO BACK TO PRISON AND SPEND
$30,000 TO $40,000 FOR A YEAR TO HOUSE THEM?
WE COULD HAVE MADE A SMALLER INVESTMENT NOW AND MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THE FUTURE.
SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE DO --THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS OUT HERE IN THE COMMUNITY
THAT HAVE THE LIVED EXPERIENCE AND ARE LOOKING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO STEP UP
TO THE PLATE AND DO THAT WORK.
THEY NEED THAT OPPORTUNITY.
A LOT OF THE WORK THAT I DO, AT THE SEATTLE CLUB, I DO OUTREACH DOWN THERE.
I SEE MANY INDIVIDUALS AT THE ENCAMPMENTS THAT ARE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THAT HAD
BEEN TO THE JOINT THAT I'VE SEEN IN CLOSE CUSTODY AND THE WORK RELEASE.
THEY ARE ALL DOING THE SAME THING BECAUSE NOBODY CAUGHT THEM WHEN THEY CAME OUT.
NOBODY WAS THERE TO GIVE THEM THAT MENTORSHIP AND THAT UNDERSTANDING OF, HEY MAN, THIS IS
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO BECAUSE INSIDE THE PRISONS, THAT'S ALL THE WE HAD, THAT'S ALL THAT WE
DO WHEN PEOPLE COME IN THERE AND THEY ARE THE YOUNGER GENERATION, THE OLDER GENERATION
STEPS UP AND TAKES THEM UNDER THEIR WING AND SHOWS THEM HOW TO DO THINGS.
HOW TO FUNCTION PROPERLY AND WE NEED THAT SAME CONCEPT OUT HERE.
OUT HERE, I'M SURE EVERYBODY HAS BEEN TO POWELLS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I'M GOING TO TELL YOU, IT PRACTICALLY TOOK AN ACT OF CONGRESS FOR ME TO GO TO A POWWOW.
IT'S SO CRAZY.
I PROMISE YOU, I THINK I TOLD YOU THIS BEFORE, IT WAS ALL THE STUFF I WAS DOING IN THE POST
CUSTODY SETTING, THAT'S ASIDE FROM BEING IN THE WHOLE , I WAS DOING MORE STUFF IN THERE
THAN I WAS DOING AT THE WORK RELEASE.
SO, EVERYTHING I KNEW TO BE GOOD THAT FED MY SPIRIT, THAT HELPED ME TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
IT IS THAT I NEED TO DO AND THAT WAS CULTURALLY RELEVANT, I COULDN'T DO IT.
I WASN'T ALLOWED TO DO IT.
TO ME, IT MADE NO SENSE.
I DIDN'T HAVE AN ORGANIZATION OR GROUP THAT I COULD LOOK TO WHEN I CAME OUT HERE TO SEATTLE.
I DON'T HAVE FAMILY IN SEATTLE.
EVERYBODY I TALKED TO OUT HERE WAS COMING FROM DIFFERENT RESERVATIONS.
THIS IS MY RESERVATION.
MY RESERVATION IS IN SOUTH DAKOTA AND WE DON'T GET NO SUPPORT OUT HERE.
WHAT THIS IS ASKING FOR IS THAT OPPORTUNITY.
NOT ONLY THAT, BUT IT'S A CALL TO DO SOMETHING BIGGER THE OPPORTUNITY IS TO BUILD AND BUILD
SOME MORE AND BUILD UNTIL WE GET IT RIGHT.
RIGHT NOW, THE SITUATION THAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH IN THE COOKIE-CUTTER IS NOT GOING
TO WORK FOR US.
THAT'S REALLY WHAT I NEED TO SAY.
THANK YOU, GEORGE.
[ APPLAUSE ] TO MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COUNCIL, ASIDE FROM THE BUSINESS CASE THE INVESTMENTS
MAKE SENSE AND WHAT REALLY MATTERS IS THAT IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH US.
I HAVE ONE PERSON THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SAY A FEW WORDS IF THAT'S OKAY.
I'VE GOT MY OWN MICROPHONE.
MY NAME IS PAMELA STEARNS AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL TRIBES OF ALASKA AND I'M ALSO
A PERSON WHO WAS FORMERLY INCARCERATED AND LIVING WITH A CRIMINAL HISTORY TODAY.
I HAD THE FORTUNATE EXPERIENCE TO MEET MR.
FARRELL HERE, WHO HAS SERVED AS A MENTOR TO ME . IN 2016 I REENTERED FROM THE STATE PRISON
SYSTEM WHERE I WAS HANDED DOWN AN 18 MONTH SENTENCE.
I SHOULD PROBABLY SHARE JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY STORY.
BY THE AGE OF FOUR, I WAS ALREADY ABANDONED AND ABUSED.
I COME FROM A VERY VIOLENT HISTORY , WHICH LED ME TO RUN AWAY FROM MY CULTURE AND MAKE
SEATTLE MY HOME.
BY THE TIME I WAS FOUR, I WAS ALREADY IN THE TRAUMA STATE.
EARLIER, COUNCILMAN HAROLD TALKED ABOUT THE CHALLENGES AND THE BARRIERS . AS INDIGENOUS
PEOPLE, WE ARE RETURNING AND RECLAIMING OUR HISTORY.
WE ARE AT VARIOUS JOURNEYS OF RECLAIMING WHO WE ARE AS TRUE INDIAN PEOPLE.
I WENT INTO THE STATE PRISON IN 2015 AND THAT DEVASTATED MY ENTIRE FAMILY.
WE BARELY MADE IT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE MADE IT.
BUT, WE MADE IT.
LIKE GEORGE SAID, I AM YOUR EXAMPLE OF A LITTLE GIRL THAT FELL THROUGH THE CRACKS.
THERE WAS NO SYSTEM.
THE SYSTEM IS NOT THERE TO SUPPORT INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.
IT IS TIME THAT WE MAKE THE SYSTEM FIT US.
THE ONLY REASON I AM SITTING HERE TODAY AND ENJOYING MY LIFE IS BECAUSE I HAVE THIS MENTORSHIP
. I HAVE A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT I CAN GO TO.
I WAS TAUGHT THE LAKOTA WAY INSIDE THAT STATE PRISON.
I ATTENDED A SWEAT LODGE AND THEN WHEN I GOT OUT, THERE WAS NO SYSTEM IN PLACE FOR ME.
I DID FIND GEORGE AND JOINED THE STRUM CIRCLE.
IT WAS THERE THAT I DID THE HEALING.
THE HEALING I NEEDED MY ENTIRE LIFE.
I HAD BEEN WALKING THE RED ROAD AND TRYING TO FIT INTO THESE SYSTEMS THAT DON'T REALLY
WORK FOR ME.
I'M JUST HERE TO EXPRESS MY PERSPECTIVE AS AN INDIGENOUS WOMAN.
THE WOMAN INSIDE --THE WOMEN INSIDE THOSE WALLS NEED HELP.
I'VE SEEN IT WITH MY OWN EYES.
IT'S AN EYE-OPENING EXPERIENCE I WILL NEVER FORGET.
THE WOMEN NEED HELP INSIDE THOSE PRISONS.
I'VE SEEN MOTHERS, GRANDMOTHERS, AUNTIES, TEENAGERS BEHIND THOSE WALLS THAT DON'T GET
ACCESS . WE DIDN'T GET THE ACCESS TO THE CRAFTS . I HAD TO FIGHT TO BE ABLE TO JOIN THAT SWEAT
LODGE.
I'M JUST HERE TO SUPPORT AND ASK YOU TO SUPPORT THE INDIGENOUS HEALING.
I WANT TO SAY ONE THING BEFORE WE TURN IT OVER TO EDDIE.
ALL OF OUR ELDERS IN ALL THE COMMUNITIES, WHETHER BLACK, NATIVE , WHETHER FROM THE SOUTH
--ALL OF THE ELDERS, THEY HAVE ALWAYS TOLD ME AND MY MAMA TOLD ME THIS --THE ONLY THING
THAT IS GOING TO HEAL THE TRAUMA IS THE CULTURE.
THAT IS THE ONLY THING THAT HAS SUSTAINED US.
THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO FOCUS ON.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
HELLO.
GOOD TO BE HERE AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US AGAIN.
BRUCE HARRELL, WE WILL KEEP YOU TO YOUR WORD ON WHAT YOU SAID EARLIER.
MY NAME IS EDDIE HOWARD.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY IT IS AN HONOR AND A PLEASURE FOR ME TO BE HERE BECAUSE I
THINK BACK TO THE TIMES WHEN I WAS INCARCERATED, HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS IN THE YARD AND
WISHING I COULD BE A PART OF THE CONVERSATION WHEN IT COMES TO US.
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS THING WE CALL INCARCERATION.
NOW THAT I AM I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.
FRANKLIN SMITH SAID, REENTRY BEGINS THE DAY THAT YOU GET INCARCERATED.
IT REMINDS ME OF THE 5 P'S OF PROPER PREPARATION PREVENTS POOR PERFORMANCE AND WE KNOW THIS.
PROPER PREPARATION PREVENTS POOR PERFORMANCE BUT UNFORTUNATELY, MANY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
INCARCERATED ON NOT BEING PROPERLY PREPARED BEFORE THEIR RELEASE.
I WENT TO LAKEWOOD WITH SOME OF MY GROUP, MY YOUTH LEADERS . RAISE YOUR HANDS AND BE
SEEN.
SO, THEY ARE A PART OF OUR MESSENGER GROUP AND WE TOOK THEM TO LAKEWOOD TO SPEAK ON THESE
POLICIES WHEN IT COMES TO THE IMPACT THAT IT'S HAVING ON YOUTH, THE JRA AND THINGS OF
THAT NATURE AND THERE WERE THREE BOYS AT THE GROUP HOME THAT JUST GOT OUT FROM GREEN HILL.
ONE HAD SERVED FOUR YEARS AND HAVE THREE MONTHS LEFT.
THE OTHER HAD SERVED TWO YEARS AND HAD TWO DAYS LEFT IN THE OTHER HAD ABOUT A YEAR AND
THREE MONTHS LEFT.
I ASKED ALL OF THEM, WHO HAS A RELEASE PLAN?
I HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT I WANT TO DO.
WHO HAS A WRITTEN RELEASE PLAN?
WE TALK ABOUT PROPER PREPARATION PREVENTS POOR PERFORMANCE, THERE'S NOTHING THAT'S ESTABLISHED
IN THESE FACILITIES FOR THESE KIDS TO GET OUT TO, FOR THESE ADULTS TO GET OUT TOO.
I TEACH LIFE SKILLS AND JOB SKILLS AT THE REGIONAL JUSTICE JALEN I JUST CAME FROM THE
GROUP, THE FINAL DAY AND WE GAVE THEM MOCK JOB INTERVIEWS AND THEY DID GREAT.
THREE OF THE MEN SAID I'VE NEVER HAD A JOB INTERVIEW A DAY IN MY LIFE.
THIS JOB INTERVIEW IN JAIL WAS THE FIRST ONE IN MY LIFE.
WE TALK ABOUT PROPER PREPARATION PREVENTS POOR PERFORMANCE AND WE HAVE TO HAVE A PROGRAM
. FORGET THE CLASS.
WE NEED TRANSFORMATIONAL PROCESSES AND TRANSFORMATIONAL PEOPLE TO BE A PART OF THE PROCESS AND LEAD
THE PROCESS, NOT INDIVIDUALS WHO DON'T HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE AND DOESN'T HAVE THAT LIVED
EXPERIENCE.
ANOTHER THING I WANTED TO SPEAK ON, AS FAR AS WHAT EXACTLY REENTRY LOOKS LIKE -- MY PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE , 18-31, I'M 33 NOW. AND I REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS LIKE FOR ME.
I REMEMBER THINKING, WHAT AM I GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS?
THERE IS NO TRANSFORMATIONAL PROCESS.
THEN, I GOT TO MONROE CAMP AND THE FACILITY ITSELF, THEY DON'T HAVE NO PROGRAMS.
THEY ARE NOT LED BY TRANSFORMATIONAL PEOPLE WHO LIVED THAT EXPERIENCE.
A GOD BY THE NAME OF AUGUSTINE CEDAR PREVENTED -- --A GUY BY THE NAME OF AUGUSTINE CEDAR
PRESENTED THIS CLASS, THE SAME WHEN I'M TALKING AT THE JAIL.
I TOOK IT AND IT SHOCKED ME AND CHANGE MY WHOLE PERSPECTIVE.
I WAS TELLING THE GIRLS ON THE WAY HERE, LES BROWN SAID IT BEST.
YOU CAN'T SEE THE PICTURE IF YOU ARE IN THE FRAME.
SOMEBODY ELSE MAY HAVE TO COME AND PUT THAT MIRROR UP AND SHOW YOU WHAT IS GOING ON.
THIS MIGHT BE WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.
WE BECOME HAMSTERS ON A HAMSTER WHEEL.
WE THINK WE ARE MOVING BUT WE AREN'T GOING NOWHERE.
AN INDIVIDUAL CAME UP AND PUT THAT MIRROR IN MY FACE.
AUGUSTINE CEDAR, I TOOK THE CLASS AND LOVED IT.
HE SAID, YOU ARE READY TO GET OUT AND I WANT YOU TO CONTINUE WITH THIS AND I SAID, I DON'T
KNOW ABOUT TEACHING NO CLASSES.
HE SAID SOMETIMES IT TAKES SOMEBODY ELSE TO SEE SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T SEE IN YOURSELF.
WE DON'T HAVE PEOPLE IN THESE INSTITUTIONS THAT HAVE OUR MENTALITY.
THEY LOOK AT US AS CRIMINALS AND WE ARE TREATED LIKE CRIMINALS.
WE ARE A NUMBER AND TREATED LIKE ONE AND AS A RESULT, WE SEE THOSE RESULTS.
WE KNOW THE STATISTICS.
IT'S NOT COINCIDENCE.
WE DO NEED TO BE MORE STRATEGIC WHEN IT COMES TO DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY, IN ORDER TO GET
DIFFERENT RESULTS.
WE CAN CONTINUE TO TAKE THE TRADITIONAL ROUTES BECAUSE THE TRADITIONAL ROUTES ARE NOT GETTING
US TO THE PLACE THAT WE NEED TO BE.
I TOOK THE CLASS AND STARTED FACILITATING FOR THREE YEARS.
IT GAVE ME A DIFFERENT TYPE OF UNDERSTANDING WHEN IT COMES TO THIS THING CALLED LIFE.
I NEVER EXPERIENCE LIFE AS A GROWN MAN.
I TRANSITION FROM BOYHOOD TO MANHOOD IN PRISON.
WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY, UNFORTUNATELY, WHERE WE'VE GOT FALSE EXPECTATIONS.
WE EXPECT A BOY OR YOUNG GIRL TO BE IN PRISON, INCARCERATED, NEVER KNOWING WHAT THE RIGHT
TRACK LOOKS LIKE.
NEVER SHOWN, SEEN AND HEARD ABOUT OR NOTHING.
I'M EXPECTED TO GET OUT AND GET ON THE RIGHT TRACK?
WHAT IS THE RIGHT TRACK?
AIN'T NOBODY SHOWING ME NOTHING.
PROPER PREPARATION PREVENTS POOR PERFORMANCE.
WHO IS PREPARING ME?
I GOT OUT AND IMMEDIATELY WAS GREETED IN WORK RELEASE AND I WANTED TO GO TO SCHOOL.
I WANTED TO EDUCATE MYSELF.
I WAS TOLD THIS IS WORK RELEASE NOT SCHOOL RELEASE.
SO, WHEN YOU'VE GOT THAT TYPE OF MENTALITY BY STAFF AND THE WORK RELEASE TELLING YOU
THAT THIS IS WORK RELEASE NOT SCHOOL RELEASE --WAIT A MINUTE -- NOW, YOU WANT TO PREVENT
ME FROM PREPARING MYSELF TO SUCCEED?
BUT, I'M EXPECTED TO SUCCEED, RIGHT?
THESE ARE THE THINGS, THE BARRIERS THAT WE FACE.
A SHOUT OUT TO A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE STILL INCARCERATED RIGHT NOW, STILL FIGHTING
THE FIGHT WHEN IT COMES TO BETTERING THEMSELVES . THE BLACK PRISONER'S CAUCUS AND LIKE YOU
SAID, THE NATIVE GROUPS.
ALL OF THE GROUPS ARE CREATING A TRANSFORMATIONAL PROCESS IN THERE.
AGAIN, AUGUSTINE CEDAR CREATED THE CURRICULUM IN THE FACILITY DIDN'T COME WITH THIS, RIGHT?
THAT IS ON THE INSIDE.
NOW, WHEN WE GET OUT, ORGANIZATIONS THAT OFTEN PROVIDE ASSISTANCE --THIS TYPE OF NAVIGATION
--ARE NOT EMPLOYING FORMERLY CART -- FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS TO DO THIS WORK.
THAT'S A BIG ISSUE.
WE CAN'T MENTION THAT WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT THE POVERTY GOING ON.
WE CAN MENTION THAT WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT THE MENTALITY THAT IS TAINTED.
WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE OBJECT AND THE RESULTS.
WE'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO PUT INDIVIDUALS IN POSITIONS TO GET RESULTS LED BY INDIVIDUALS
WHO ALREADY HAD BEEN AFFECTED BY THAT SAME CORRUPT SYSTEM.
WISELY DONE.
I BELIEVE IT'S A CORRUPT SYSTEM, ACTUALLY.
I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S BROKEN.
I BELIEVE IT'S WORKING THE WAY IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO SO.
I WILL SAY THIS -- I DON'T WANT TO TAKE TOO MUCH TIME BUT IN CONCLUSION, WE SAY IN THE
MESSENGERS TRIANGLE THAT IT TAKES A SPOT OR TO REPEAT --A SPIDER TO REPAIR ITS OWN WEB.
THE SPIDER CAN'T GO TO THE BUTTERFLY OR THE MALL FOR THE MOSQUITO TO DO ITS WORK.
THAT MEANS THAT THOSE OF US AFFECTED, WE HAVE TO GO TO THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED IN
ORDER TO SEE WHAT THE RESULT WILL BE OR SHOULD BE, RIGHT?
TODAY, I'M HAPPY TO SAY , YES, I WENT TO PRISON AS A TEENAGER AND GOT OUT WHEN I WAS 31.
NOW, I DO GOT MY OWN BUSINESS.
WE ARE GOING TO GREEN HILL AND ON NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT A TRANSFORMATIONAL PROCESS,
I'M BRINGING THE PROCESS TO THE INSTITUTIONS.
ABSOLUTELY.
THOSE WHO I'M WORKING WITH ARE DOING JUST THAT, TOO.
WE ALL KNOW AND BELIEVE THAT EVERYBODY HAS THE ABILITY TO PROGRESS.
FORGET TO CHANGE.
THAT WILL HAPPEN ANYWAY.
PROGRESS IN LIFE.
THERE CAN BE NO PROGRESSION IF WE DON'T HAVE INDIVIDUALS AROUND US IN CERTAIN POSITIONS
TO HELP US PROGRESS, TO SHOW US WHAT PROGRESSION LOOKS LIKE.
I WILL END WITH THAT.
[ APPLAUSE ] >> CAN YOU JUST --BEFORE WE MOVE ON --A QUICK BRIEF THUMBNAIL SKETCH OF WHAT
THE CURRICULUM LOOKS LIKE?
WHAT ARE THE IMPORTANT COMPONENTS?
GREAT QUESTION.
I'VE BEEN CREATING CURRICULUM, ACTUALLY.
ONE OF THE COMPONENTS, NUMBER ONE --YOU'VE GOT TO TALK ABOUT LIFE SKILLS.
WE NEED TO BE DISCUSSING THE POINTS OF FORGIVENESS , TRAUMA, PTSD AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND
WE NEED TO BE DISCUSSING THE IMPORTANCE OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION, GENERATIONAL CURSES.
NOBODY IN YOUR FAMILY THAT IS A MALE GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL.
SUBCONSCIOUSLY, HOW DOES THAT PLAY OUT IN YOUR LIFE AND MANIFEST IN YOUR LIFE?
WE NEED REAL DEAL DIALOGUE WITHIN THAT FIRST PHASE, I WOULD SAY.
I WOULD SAY THE TRANSITION SHOULD DEFINITELY BE TO JOB READINESS, RIGHT?
NOT JUST HOW TO GET THE JOB.
WE CAN FUNNEL PEOPLE INTO POSITIONS THEY DON'T WANT TO BE IN.
NOT JUST HOW TO GET THE JOB, BUT HOW TO KEEP THE JOB AND CREATE VALUE FOR YOURSELF AND
PUT YOURSELF IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU CAN CREATE VALUE FOR OTHERS, RIGHT?
THAT IS THE JOB READINESS PIECE.
WE DID MOCK JOB INTERVIEWS TODAY.
I NEVER HAD A JOB INTERVIEW A DAY IN MY LIFE AND I COULD RELATE TO THAT.
MY FIRST JOB INTERVIEW I HAD WENT I WAS INCARCERATED, TAKING THAT CLASS.
THAT DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE IMPLEMENTED AND WE NEED TO HAVE WHAT I CALL RESULTS-BASED
PROJECTS.
WE ALL HAD THESE ISSUES.
WE ALL SEE THE ISSUES OF THE WORLD.
IF WE ARE NOT ABLE TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION TO PRESENT A SOLUTION, THEN HOW ARE WE GOING
TO ADDRESS WHAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED?
I WOULD SAY RESULTS-BASED PROJECTS AND LASTLY, LEADERSHIP.
LES BROWN, I LISTENED ON THE WAY HERE.
I BELIEVE WHAT HE WAS SAYING.
EVERYBODY IS A LEADER.
SOMETIMES WE JUST EXPERIENCE THINGS IN LIFE THAT TAINT US SO MUCH TO THE POINT WHERE OUR
LEADERSHIP IS NOW ON SCENE.
WE CAN'T EVEN SEE IT NO MORE.
WE NEED PROCESSES THAT'S REALLY GOING TO DRAW OUT THE LEADERSHIP IN INDIVIDUALS AND BOOST
THEM TO THE POINT OF GREATNESS THAT THEY WAS MEANT TO BE.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY THAT WOULD RATHER PRESS YOU DOWN OPPOSED TO LIFT YOU
UP AND THAT'S UNFORTUNATE.
THANK YOU.
YOU ARE WELCOME.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS CAROLANNE SANDERS AND THEY WORK FOR KING COUNTY IN THE REENTRY
SECTION AND I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME OF MY EXPERIENCE MANAGING THE REENTRY SERVICES
PROGRAM FOR THE COUNTY AND MORE SPECIFICALLY HOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THIS WORKGROUP
HAVE INFORMED THE WAY THAT WE HAVE CHANGED OUR RFP PROCESS AND THE WAY THE PROGRAM LOOKS
OVERALL.
THE DIVISION SECTION HAS ADMINISTERED A REENTRY PROGRAM THAT SERVES ALL OF KING COUNTY JAILS,
THE SEVEN JAILS SINCE 2008 AND THIS PROGRAM HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN FOCUSED ON -- FOCUSED
AROUND THE MODEL OF EVIDENCE-BASED MODEL OF REENTRY SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH
MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE NEEDS DEVELOPED BY THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL
HEALTH ADMINISTRATION SO WE'VE BEEN FOCUSING ON THAT PARTICULAR POPULATION AND THERE'S
BEEN A STRONG EMPHASIS IN CONNECTING PEOPLE TO INPATIENT TREATMENT.
TO THIS END, SOUND MENTAL HEALTH HAS CONTRACTED WITH US FOR THIS PROGRAM AND THROUGH THIS
PROGRAM WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SERVE ROUGHLY 300 PEOPLE PER YEAR WITHIN THE BUDGET OF APPROXIMATELY
$400,000.
HOWEVER, BASED ON THE LEARNINGS FROM THIS GROUP AND THE PARTICIPATION IN THIS WORKGROUP
AS WELL AS THE COUNTY COMMITMENT TO RACIAL EQUITY, WE'VE SIGNIFICANTLY MODIFIED THE PROGRAM
DESIGN AND THE RFP PROCESS BEFORE WE REISSUE THE RFP THIS YEAR.
OUR TEAM'S LARGEST TAKE AWAY WAS THAT IF WE TRULY BELIEVE THAT THE PEOPLE CLOSEST TO THE
PROBLEMS OR CLOSEST TO THE SOLUTIONS ARE NOT ACTUALLY HAVING THAT ROLE TO DICTATE WHAT
THE PROGRAM LOOKS LIKE.
BUT TO PROVIDE THE TOOLS AND RELATIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR COMMUNITIES TO CREATE THE REENTRY SERVICES
THAT THEY WANT AND NEED FOR THEMSELVES.
WE'VE ALSO HAD TO WORK TO IDENTIFY AND REMOVE THE BARRIERS THAT WE HAVE PUT IN PLACE THAT
MAKE IT REALLY DIFFICULT FOR THE COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE BEEN DOING THIS VERY SAME REENTRY
WORK FOR DECADES WITH NO RECOGNITION AND NO COMPENSATION TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN
A GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING PROCESS.
IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE'VE IMPLEMENTED A NUMBER OF CHANGES.
WE SIMPLIFY THE RFP LANGUAGE AND REMOVED A LOT OF THE LEGAL LANGUAGE AND GOVERNMENT JAR
GONE AND CHANGED IT TO MAKE IT MORE READABLE AND ACCESSIBLE TO THE AUDIENCES.
WE'VE INCREASED LENGTH OF SERVICE FOR THE PROGRAM FROM 30 DAYS TO 90 DAYS.
WE PARTNERED WITH COMMUNITY CONSULTANTS TO PROVIDE FREE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO GROUPS
THAT WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE RFP PROCESS BUT WERE LESS FAMILIAR AND WE WIDENED THE
LANGUAGE NOT TO JUST INCLUDE THE EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES BUT CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE PRACTICES
AND WE REMOVE THE CREDENTIAL REQUIREMENT THAT MANDATED THAT THE SUPERVISOR FOR THE PROGRAM
BE A MASTERS LEVEL MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE REFRAME THE RFP TO
BE LESS PRESCRIPTIVE AND TO LET APPLICANTS TELL US HOW THEY INTENDED TO OR ENVISIONED
CONNECTING PEOPLE TO THEIR SELF IDENTIFIED COMMUNITIES.
OUR ONLY STIPULATION IS THAT THE PROGRAMS BELOW BARRIER, TRAUMA- INFORMED AND THAT THEY
BE CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE AND HOLISTIC IN THE CARE THEY PROVIDE FOR PEOPLE.
I WILL WRAP IT UP THERE BUT I DID WANT TO SAY THAT OUR PROCESS IS NOT PERFECT AND WE
STILL HAVE A LOT OF LEARNING TO DO AND CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE.
I THINK I CAN SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY TEAM AND SAYING THAT WE ARE IMMENSELY GRATEFUL TO THIS
WORKGROUP AND PARTICULARLY TO THE PEOPLE IN THE WORKGROUP WHO HAVE BEEN HARMED BY THESE
SYSTEMS THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, FOR SHARING YOUR WISDOM WITH US AND GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY
TO BE RESPONSIVE.
CAROLANNE SANDERS, CAN YOU TELL ME WHETHER THE KING COUNTY REENTRY PROGRAM PROVIDES SERVICES
FOR SEATTLE COUNTY COURT?
YES.
JUST KICKED -- JUST CHECKING.
DIDN'T KNOW IF WE NEEDED TO BUY SOME OF THOSE SERVICES.
IF THEY ARE COVERED, GREAT.
I WILL DO A TIME CHECK FOR FOLKS.
IT'S 1:02 AND THERE MAY BE FOLKS ON THE WORKGROUP THAT NEED TO RETURN TO WORK.
JUST SO YOU KNOW IT, IF THEY'RE SHUFFLING OR THINGS LIKE THAT --BUT I WILL TRY TO MOVE
THIS ALONG.
WE WILL BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY STRATEGY AND THEN WE WILL FOCUS ON THE LAST
TWO , THE CONTRACTS AND DECRIMINALIZATION AND DIVERSION.
REALLY BRIEFLY, THESE ARE THE KEY ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY STRATEGIES THAT WE FORMED IN THAT
WAY AND I WILL BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT THE INCREASING CITY TECH HIGHER OPPORTUNITIES.
I KNOW THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS ALREADY WORKING ON SOME OF THESE STRATEGIES
AND PARTNERING WITH TECH BOOT CAMPS INSIDE THE PRISONS.
SO, ON LOOPED FLOODGATE, BUT SOME OF THE BARRIERS THEY EXPERIENCE IS THEY HAVE FOLKS THAT HAVE
GONE THROUGH THE BOOT CAMP AND ARE READY FOR INTERNSHIPS OR EMPLOYMENT BUT THEY HAVEN'T
BEEN SUCCESSFUL EVEN GETTING INTERNSHIPS OR EMPLOYMENT WITH THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
WE MADE A COMMITMENT TO THE FAIR CHANCE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE YEARS AGO TO HAVE PRIVATE EMPLOYERS
TO INVEST IN FOLKS THAT HAVE CRIMINAL HISTORY BUT WHETHER WE'VE MADE THAT COMMITMENT TO
INVEST IN THOSE PEOPLE --THERE IS --I KNOW ONE STAFF PERSON IS WORKING ON THIS AND HAVING
THOSE PARTNERSHIPS SO I WANT TO LIFT UP THAT WORK AND HOPE TO PROVIDE STRATEGIES.
I WANT TO BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT THAT.
AND THEN I WANTED TO MOVE ON . I GUESS WE CAN TALK ABOUT STRATEGY FOR INCREASED HOUSING
ACCESS.
SURE.
OUR STRATEGIES FOR INCREASED HOUSING ACCESS INCLUDE MATCHING THE INVESTMENTS THAT ARE
CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO HOUSING.
WE BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE CITY IS NOT SPENDING MORE ON INCARCERATION THAN PROVIDING
HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND THAT THIS WOULD BE A CRITICAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY.
WE BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT TO DEDICATE A PORTION OF THE INVESTMENT --THE CITY'S INVESTMENT
TO END HOMELESSNESS TO SPECIFICALLY FOCUS ON INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH CRIMINAL HISTORY
. WHENEVER POSSIBLE, WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REDEFINE HOMELESSNESS FOR NON-HUD FUNDED
PROJECTS, SPECIFICALLY TO INCLUDE PEOPLE WHO HAVE AN INSTITUTE --WHO HAVE BEEN AN INSTITUTION
FOR 90 DAYS AND THEY CAN BENEFIT FROM HOMELESS SERVICES.
WE BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT INCREASED COORDINATION ACROSS THE OFFICE OF HOUSING
IN THE KING COUNTY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, TO TARGET AND LEVERAGE HOUSING DOLLARS TO
IDENTIFY MODELS THAT WORK PARTICULARLY WELL FOR THIS POPULATION AND TO FIND INCREASED
OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUNDING AND RESOURCES AND WAYS TO USE THOSE RESOURCES AND WE THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO WORK WITH PUBLIC HOUSING PROVIDERS TO OFFER INCREASED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN
COMPLYING WITH THE FAIR CHANCE HOUSING ORDINANCE.
SOME CHALLENGES AROUND THAT ONE.
WE KNOW THE COUNCIL HAS SPENT TIME THINKING ABOUT THE CITY'S RELATIONSHIP TO ITS JAIL
CONTRACT AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO GO MUCH MORE INTO THAT RIGHT NOW.
BUT I DID WANT LILETHA WILLIAMS TO SHARE SOME OF THE INSIGHT THAT HELPED US GET TO THE UNDERSTANDING
ABOUT HOW EVEN SHORT TERM STAYS IN JAIL THAT YOU MIGHT EXPERIENCE, A MISDEMEANOR DEFENDANT
IN SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT CAN HAVE DEVASTATING IMPACTS ON YOUR LIFE.
FIRST, I WILL SAY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO SEE THEMSELVES IN THE PEOPLE OFFERING THEM
HELP.
IF I LOOK AT YOU AND I DON'T RELATE TO YOU, I CAN'T SEE MYSELF IN YOU BUT WHEN I LOOK
AT EDDIE OR SOMEBODY LOOKS AT ME OR GEORGE, NOT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE VALUE OF FORMALLY
EDUCATED PEOPLE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT THEY HAVE TO SEE HOPE IN SOMEONE AND THINK
IT'S POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO MAKE THE CHANGE AND THAT'S WHAT WE REPRESENT.
WE ARE GRATEFUL TO BE ON THIS BOARD AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THE SHORT TERM STAYS
IN JAIL RUIN LIVES.
WE GET THEM AND WE PUT THEM WITH THE PO AND THEY TELL YOU THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A JOB
AND DO ANGER MANAGEMENT AND PARENTING CLASSES AND ALL THESE THINGS.
YOU HAVE TO MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT.
SO, I GET A HOUSE AND GO TO MY ANGER MANAGEMENT CLASSES AND I DIDN'T GET PAID LIKE I WAS SUPPOSED
TO BECAUSE SOMETIMES WHEN YOU DON'T MAKE A LOT OF MONEY, THEY PLAY WITH YOUR MONEY.
I GET ARRESTED FOR NOT PAYING A FINE OR FOR ANY KIND OF SURVIVAL CRIME, RIGHT?
WHILE I'M IN JAIL FOR THREE DAYS WAITING FOR SOMEBODY TO SEE ME, I LOST MY JOB , MY HOUSING
AND I'M NOW NOT IN COMPLIANCE BECAUSE I HAVE MISSED CLASSES.
SO, I'M OUT, RIGHT?
IT RUINS EVERYTHING SOMEBODY THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO DO OR WHERE ON THE RIGHT TRACK
BECAUSE ONE LITTLE PART DIDN'T WORK.
NOW, EVERYTHING IS LIKE, WHAT THE HECK, WHY KEEP TRYING?
IT'S THAT RAT RACE EDDIE WAS TALKING ABOUT GOING ON THAT CYCLICAL RIDE.
I WILL BRING IN MORE PERSONAL.
THE LAST TIME I WAS IN JAIL WAS 1990 --91.
I WAS IN JAIL BETWEEN 87 AND 91.
I WAS EXPOSED TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING AT 12 YEARS OLD AND I LIVED A LIFE LIKE THAT.
THIS PARTICULAR TIME.
I WAS EXPOSED TO CRACK.
I WAS TIRED, DIDN'T WANT TO SLEEP WITH ANYBODY FOR MONEY AND DECIDED TO STEAL SOMETHING.
I STILL BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO SLEEP WITH A TRICK, RIGHT?
SO, 30 YEARS LATER, I'VE DONE THREE COLLEGE DEGREES.
I TAUGHT IN THE PENITENTIARY AND I TAUGHT IN JUVENILE AND I WORK WITH YOUTH AND I DO
GANG IN MEANT --GANG INTERVENTION, I WORK WITH THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
I WENT TO APPLY FOR A JOB TWO MONTHS AGO AND THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT HIRE ME BECAUSE
OF MY 30-YEAR MISDEMEANOR CHARGES.
RIGHT?
I HAVE DONE COMMUNITY COURT FOR YEARS, BEING THE SPEAKER WITH THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.
WE SPEAK AT THE SAME PANELS.
THEY WOULDN'T GIVE ME A JOB THAT WAS PAYING $4 OR $5 THAN WHAT I'M USED TO BUT I WANTED
TO BE PART OF THAT PROCESS ON THE JUVENILE ASSESSMENT TEAM.
I WAS WILLING TO TAKE THE PAY CUT AND TAKE MORE HOURS ON ANOTHER JOB SO I COULD BE PART
OF THE PROCESS.
THEY COULD SEE IT WAS ACTUALLY POSSIBLE.
THE LADY THAT TRIED TO HIRE ME WAS SO UPSET.
THE ONE THAT RECOMMENDED ME WAS SO UPSET.
THE LADY THAT CALLED ME FROM CALIFORNIA WAS SO UPSET.
I WAS SMART ENOUGH TO SAY, CHECK THIS OUT --YOU SAY YOU ARE DOING THESE SERVICES FOR
PEOPLE THAT ARE DEALING WITH HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
THEY ARE MISDEMEANOR CRIMES.
BUT, YOU TELL THEM, I WILL HELP YOU TO A POINT.
I'M NEVER GOING TO VALUE YOU BECAUSE YOU CAN'T BE PART OF MY TEAM.
THAT'S LIKE, I HELPED BLACK PEOPLE THAT DON'T BRING THEM HOME, RIGHT?
THIS IS 2018.
MY NAME IS GOOD IN THE COMMUNITY AND I WORKED HARD FOR MY NAME TO BE GOOD IN THE COMMUNITY
AND THE WOMAN WAS HEARTBROKEN TO TELL ME.
SHE WAS EMBARRASSED.
I TOLD THEM I GOT A JOB WHILE I WAS WAITING TO HEAR BACK.
I ALREADY KNEW.
I TOLD HER, I WOULDN'T WORK FOR AN AGENCY LIKE YOURS.
IT'S FULL OF HYPOCRISY.
YOU SAY YOU WANT TO HELP BUT YOU DON'T HAVE ANY INTENTION OF UTILIZING THE PEOPLE THAT
YOU ARE HELPING THEN YOU DON'T EVER VALUE ME.
IF YOU DON'T VALUE ME, YOU DON'T COUNT WHAT YOU DON'T VALUE.
I SAY THAT ABOUT INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.
THERE IS NOTHING THERE BECAUSE THEY DON'T VALUE YOU.
MY BABIES NEED TO SEE ME AND MY COMMUNITY KNOWS WHAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH AND THE STRUGGLES
I'VE HAD AND WHEN THEY SEE ME, IT REPRESENTS HOPE.
I HOPE THAT BARRIER --THAT IS RIDICULOUS.
30 YEARS WORTH OF GOOD IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO OVERTAKE THREE YEARS OF DRUG ADDICTED HOMELESSNESS?
ARE YOU SERIOUS?
WHAT IS OUR COMMUNITY SAYING?
WHAT ARE WE REALLY SAYING?
I WORKED HARD TO GET MIKE READ.
I CAN GO TO THE BLACK ROOM BUT THEY WON'T HIRE ME.
THAT WAS AN EMPLOYER WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS, THAT MIGHT BE AN ISSUE?
IT DEFINITELY IS.
DEFINITELY IS.
WE COULD LOOK AT THAT FOR A VIOLATION OF THE JOB ASSISTANCE ORDINANCE.
I WANT TO MAKE A NOTE THAT THE STORY YOU TOLD AT THE BEGINNING, ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THREE
DAYS IN JAIL ON YOUR JOB, YOUR HOUSING --WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE KING COUNTY DEFENDERS
OFFICE IN DEVELOPING AND PROVIDING SOME FUNDING FOR KING COUNTY AND WE'VE ADDED SOME FUNDING
TO DO WHAT WE CALL CIVIL LEGAL AID.
IT'S SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO HELP A MISDEMEANOR DEFENDANT IN THE CASE OF THE CITY'S DEFENDANT
AND IN THOSE CASES, WHERE THERE IS A PUBLIC DEFENDER INVOLVED IN DEFENDING, THEY ALSO
CAN HELP GET LEGAL ASSISTANCE ON CIVIL ISSUES, WHETHER AVOIDING AN EVICTION OR DEALING WITH
AN EMPLOYER OR HELPING GET SERVICES REINSTATED OR MAKING SURE THEY ARE NOT DISCONTINUED.
THAT FUNDING IS INTENDED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS NOT GREATER HARM DONE IN OTHER AREAS
OF PEOPLE'S LIVES WHEN THEY ARE IN A POSITION OF STILL DEFENDING THEMSELVES FOR SOMETHING
THEY HAVEN'T BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF, YET.
THANK YOU.
YOU ARE WELCOME.
THANK YOU FOR TELLING THAT STORY.
I'D LIKE TO TALK TO YOU AFTER THIS.
I LOVE TO TALK TO YOU, TOO.
WRITE THAT DOWN.
THANK YOU, LILETHA WILLIAMS.
SHE QUEUED UP THE NEXT SLIDE REALLY WELL.
BRUCE HARRELL WAS TALKING ABOUT GOING UPSTREAM INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT REENTRY AND THIS WORK
GROUP TOOK IT UPON THEMSELVES TO LOOK AT WHY WE EVEN NEED TO HAVE THAT CRIMINAL RECORD
IN THE FIRST PLACE?
I KNOW COUNCIL HAS REALLY DONE A GREAT JOB IN SUPPORTING SOME OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS
FROM THE BEGINNING, LOOKING AT SUPPORTING PREFILING DIVERSION OPTIONS AND PREARREST
OPTIONS AND REALLY TRYING TO LOOK AT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AS ALL THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS
HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT.
WE ARE APPRECIATIVE OF THE COUNCIL'S EFFORTS, THUS FAR AND OUR OFFICE IS PARTNERING WITH
TWO ORGANIZATIONS, CHOOSE 180 AND THE QUALITY OF PREFILING DIVERSION AND THEY JUST SUPPORTED
EXPANSION OF THE LEAD LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTED DIVERSION PROGRAMS AND THIS WORKGROUP IS REALLY
SUPPORTIVE OF CONTINUING TO EXPAND DIVERSION AND DECRIMINALIZATION EFFORTS.
EVEN FURTHER THAN DIVERSION, LOOKING FIRST AT DECRIMINALIZATION, WE ARE EXCITED THAT
WE ARE COMING TO YOU WAS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN ACT ON.
YOU CAN ACT ON IT QUICKLY IF YOU DESIRE.
THE WORKGROUP REALLY WANTED TO LOOK AT WHAT IS WITHIN COUNCIL'S POWER IN TERMS OF THE
CRIMINAL CODE AND HONED IN ON THE LOITERING LAWS.
THERE ARE TWO LOITERING LAWS, DRUG TRAFFIC LOITERING AND PROSTITUTION LOITERING THAT
ARE SPECIFIC TO SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE.
LOOKING BACK TO THE DRUG TRAFFIC LOITERING LAW, IF YOU LOOK TO THE ORDINANCE, IT'S FROM
1992, AUGUST 1992 WAS THE LAST MAJOR MODIFICATION.
IT'S THE FAILED WAR ON DRUGS.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT WHEN THE WORKGROUP IS ASKING TO REPEAL THAT ORDINANCE TO DECRIMINALIZE
DRUG TRAFFIC LOITERING, THAT DOES NOT AFFECT VIOLATIONS OF THE UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
ACT AND DOES NOT AFFECT ACTUAL DRUG DEALING.
WITH THAT EFFECTS IS THE LOITERING LAW.
THIS WORKGROUP IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT RACIAL DISPROPORTIONALITY OF THAT LAW.
IN 1992 , THE COMMUNITY WAS CONCERNED ABOUT RACIAL DISPROPORTIONALITY IN THAT LAW AND
IT STILL WENT FORWARD AND HAS BEEN ON THE BOOKS SINCE THEN.
IF YOU WOULD BE SO KIND AS TO EXPLAIN WHAT THAT MEANS, THE LOITERING AS OPPOSED TO DRUG
TRAFFIC?
WHAT ACTION WOULD I BE DOING IF I'M LOITERING?
YES.
LOITERING LAWS --THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
LOITERING LAWS HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AS BEING UNCONSTITUTIONAL, FOR
BEING VAGUE.
THE REPORT LAYS OUT A CONNECTION TO BLACK CODES, CONNECTIONS TO RACIST LAWS AROUND LOITERING,
BEING IN A PLACE THAT PEOPLE DON'T WANT YOU.
THERE IS GANG LOITERING LAWS AND THIS LAW, UNFORTUNATELY, PERHAPS, FROM THE WORKGROUP'S
PERSPECTIVE IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE FOUND UNCONSTITUTIONALLY VAGUE.
IT IS VERY SPECIFIC.
A PERSON IS GUILTY OF DRUG TRAFFICKING LOITERING IF HE OR SHE REMAINS IN A PUBLIC PLACE AND
INTENTIONALLY SOLICITS, INDUCES, ENTICES ANOTHER TO ENGAGE IN THE UNLAWFUL CONDUCT CONTRARY
TO THE UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE ACT, THE RCW.
HOW THIS GENERALLY PLAYS OUT -- I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT -- IT'S GENERALLY POLICE OFFICERS
ARE LOOKING FOR DRUG TRANSACTIONS AND WHEN A PERSON IS CAUGHT , ALL THE DRUGS ARE GONE
AND ALL THE MONEY IS GONE.
NOW, IF YOU ASSUME IT WAS A CORRECT APPREHENSION AND THAT THE OFFICER --WHAT THEY SAW WAS,
IN FACT, WHAT WAS INTENDED.
I DON'T MEAN THIS TO BE A HIT ON THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THEY REALLY DO TRAIN
UP ON THIS.
BUT, I THINK INTENT AND IMPACT IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT IN THE WORKGROUP REALLY SHOWED THAT.
SO, LOOKING AT THE IMPACT OF THIS LAW -- I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT A LOT CLOSER.
THERE IS MAJOR RACIAL DISPROPORTIONALITY IN DRUG TRAFFIC LOITERING FROM THE ARREST AND
THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE OF PERSONS OF COLOR SPENDING TIME IN CUSTODY THAT ARE NEVER CHARGE, AS
WELL AS THOSE THAT ARE CHARGED.
THE WORKGROUP IS REALLY ASKING THAT COUNCIL TAKE A LOOK BACK AT THIS ORDINANCE AND REALLY
CONSIDER APPEALING IT.
IN 1992, THE COMMUNITY RAISED UP AND SAID WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AND THE ORDINANCE,
ITSELF --I HAD NEVER SEEN AN ORDINANCE AND IT SAID AFTER THE ORDINANCE, FOR THE FIRST
TWO YEARS, THE MAYOR AND SPD WERE SUPPOSED TO GET TOGETHER AND HOLD MEETINGS AND HEAR
FROM THE COMMUNITY AND THE REPORT TO COUNCIL ABOUT HOW THINGS WERE GOING.
I DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW IF THAT HAPPEN.
I'M NOT TRYING TO SAY IT DIDN'T BUT THAT WAS FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS, ONLY ON THAT WOULD
HAVE ENDED IN 1994.
AT THIS POINT, THE WORKGROUP IS PUSHING COUNCIL TO LOOK AT THIS AND SAY, IS THIS SOMETHING
WE STILL NEED AND WANT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY?
OR, IS THIS A REMAINDER OF THE FAILED WAR ON DRUGS THAT STILL IS HAVING A DISPROPORTIONATE
EFFECT ON PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THIS COMMUNITY.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO PROSTITUTION LOITERING AND HOW THAT PLAYS OUT?
PROSTITUTION LOITERING, AND A SIMILAR FASHION, PROSTITUTION LOITERING WOULD NOT AFFECT PROSTITUTION.
WHEN I SAY PROSTITUTION, EVEN BEING MORE CLEAR, A LOT OF THE PROSTITUTION CASES THAT ARE CHARGED
ARE UNDERCOVER OFFICERS.
THIS OFFER AND ACCEPTANCE THAT OCCURS IS THE ACTUAL CRIME OF PROSTITUTION.
PROSTITUTION LOITERING, SIMILAR TO DRUG TRAFFIC LOITERING, IS THE WHERE YOU ARE LAW.
A PERSON IS GUILTY OF PROSTITUTION LOITERING IF HE OR SHE REMAINS IN A PUBLIC PLACE AND
INTENTIONALLY SOLICITS, INDUCES, ENTICES OR PROCURES ANOTHER TO COMMIT PROSTITUTION.
PROSTITUTION LOITERING CAN BE CHARGED AND IS CHARGED AGAINST BOTH THOSE SOLICITING THE
SEX AS WELL AS THOSE OFFERING THE SEX.
IT CAN BE USED IN THAT WAY.
AGAIN, WITH THE LOITERING, I WANT TO POINT OUT IT DOES NOT AFFECT THE ABILITY TO HAVE,
ON THE BOOKS, PROSTITUTION AND SEXUAL EXPLOITATION.
THIS IS THE KIND OF THING THAT YOU JUST MISS THOSE TWO CRIMES AND THIS IS A LOWER LEVEL
AND WHERE THE WORKGROUP'S CONCERN COMES IN. IS THIS SOMETHING WE NEED, STILL?
OR, ARE WE SEEING RACIAL DISPROPORTIONALITY HERE AND DO WE WANT TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST
A LITTLE --ACTION AGAINST A LOITERING LAW?
COUNCILMEMBER BAGSHAW ?
THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING AND TELLING YOUR STORIES.
I'M VERY GRATEFUL.
I HAVE TO EXCUSE MYSELF.
A COUPLE OF QUICK POINTS.
THE WORK YOU ARE DOING IS EXTREMELY VALUABLE AND LILETHA WILLIAMS, I'D LIKE TO GET YOUR
CONTACT INFORMATION SO I CAN FOLLOW-UP.
A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, LITERALLY YEARS NOW, IS OUR LANDLORD LIAISON
PROGRAM.
WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET PEOPLE INTO HOUSING AND THE WAY IT WORKS, IT COMES BY DIFFERENT
NAMES AND TIES IN WELL TO WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, COORDINATING JOB TRAINING, OPPORTUNITIES
TO BE ABLE THAT WHEN YOU LEAVE YOUR INCARCERATED STATUS, THAT YOU HAVE A PLACE TO GO.
GEORGIA HAS 3000 OF THESE COORDINATING WITH CITY
AND COUNTY.
THE CITY OF SEATTLE WOULD COORDINATE WITH A LANDLORD AND WE MIGHT HAVE, LET'S JUST SAY
THAT WE'VE GOT BRUCE OWNING A 100 UNIT COMPLEX AND WE WOULD COORDINATE WITH THEM WITH FIVE
UNITS AND WE WOULD PAY HIM FOR THOSE FIVE UNITS.
WE WOULD HAVE A 24/7 NUMBER FOR THE LANDLORD AND THE INDIVIDUAL COMING IN WOULD HAVE SOME
TRAINING ALONG THE LINES OF PAY YOUR SHARE OF THE RENT ON TIME, TURN YOUR MUSIC DOWN
AND MAKE SURE YOUR DOG IS NOT BARKING, BASIC STUFF.
BUT, THEY HAVE A HOME AND THEY HAVE A PLACE TO GO.
IT'S SUBSIDIZED SO THEY CAN GET ON THEIR FEET.
ATLANTA HAS 3000 UNITS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND THEY WERE ABLE TO ORCHESTRATE IN FOUR
YEARS.
WE CAN'T BUILD 3000 UNITS AT THE RATE WE ARE GOING BUT I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS
--AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL TAKE LEGISLATION --I HEAR DIFFERENT OPINIONS.
IF WE ARE SAVING MONEY BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TO PUT PEOPLE IN JAIL, SOME OF THAT MONEY
OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO BE RETURNED TO THE CITY TO PUT INTO PROGRAMS LIKE THIS.
MY REAL OBJECTIVE IS TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T ARREST PEOPLE FOR LOITERING ON THE STREETS.
LET'S FIND A PLACE FOR THEM TO BE AND THEY CAN GET THE JOB TRAINING SO THEY CAN LIVE
THEIR LIVES.
ALL THE THINGS YOU TALK ABOUT ARE SO IMPORTANT.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, THANK YOU FOR HAVING THE SPECIAL MEETING.
I KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN A CHAMPION OF THIS.
COUNT ME IN, I'M VERY INTERESTED IN SEEING WHAT WE CAN DO IN 2019.
IT'S MY ACTION YEAR.
I'M COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT THINGS GET DONE AND NOT ARE JUST WORKS IN PROGRESS.
SO, I'M GOING TO CALL YOU, PROBABLY TOMORROW MORNING.
WE WILL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO AND I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.
I CAN GET ON MY HIGH HORSE FOR A LONG TIME ON THIS TOPIC AND THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING.
WE APPRECIATE IT.
I KNOW THAT SOME FOLKS HAVE TO LEAVE AND THAT'S TOTALLY FINE.
I DID CHECK AND WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THE ROOM AND WE WANT TO KEEP GOING THROUGH IT.
WE BRIEFLY TALKED ABOUT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE RECOMMENDATIONS IN TERMS OF EXPANDING
DIVERSION OPPORTUNITIES TO LOOK FOR ALTERNATIVES.
THE RUPP --THE WORKGROUP WANTS THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO EXERCISE PROSECUTORIAL DISCRETION
TO DECLINE CASES DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTING POOR PEOPLE AND DEVELOP AN EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS.
THE WORKGROUP ASKS THAT COUNCIL SUPPORT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO MAKE THAT DECISION
TO MAKE THAT PROSECUTORIAL DISCRETION.
ADDITIONALLY, WE ASK THAT COUNCIL SUPPORT OUR RECOMMENDATION TO THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
THAT HAS TWO PRIMARY BASES.
ONE IS THAT WHEN WE MET WITH SPD IT WAS NOT CLEAR -- IT WAS CLEAR THAT THERE WASN'T REAL
GUIDELINES AROUND WHEN TO ARREST ON MISDEMEANORS.
THERE WAS A VAST DISCRETION GIVEN TO THE OFFICERS FOR MISDEMEANOR ARRESTS.
WE ARE ASKING THAT THERE BE GUIDELINES AROUND ARREST FOR THE REASONS THAT LILETHA WILLIAMS
HIGHLIGHTED AND WE ASK THAT COUNCIL SUPPORT SEATTLE POLICE IN USING THE ETHNICITY SECTION
AND POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTS.
ONE REASON WE HAVE DIFFICULTY COLLECTING DATA IS BECAUSE IT'S NOT BEING USED.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THEY ARE ABLE TO USE.
THAT'S RACE AND ETHNICITY AND THE ABILITY TO ENTER BOTH AND EVERY REPORT IS LIMITED
TO HISPANIC OR NON-HISPANIC AND THAT ALONE WOULD CAPTURE THAT COMMUNITY.
THAT WOULD BE A GREAT THING TO WORK ON.
SPD HAS DEVELOPED SOME GOOD POLICIES WHEN IT COMES TO BIASED CRIMES FOR MAKING THOSE
INDICATIONS BOTH IN THE FORMAT OF THE FORM, DONE IN SUCH A WAY THAT YOU CAN'T ADVANCE
TO THE NEXT CATEGORY UNLESS YOU ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.
AND, THUS CITY AUDITOR IS GIVING SPECIFIC INSTRUCTION ON THE WORDING OF THAT CATEGORY.
WE COULD REPLICATE THAT PRACTICE THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING USED FOR BIASED CRIMES FOR ETHNICITY
AND I WOULD LIKE TO TALK WITH YOU MORE . YOU ARE ASKING FOR THE COUNCIL'S SUPPORT IN SOME
DECISIONS THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY IS EMPOWERED TO MAKE AND ALSO SOME REQUESTS OF THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND WE WOULD LIKE TO TALK WITH YOU MORE ABOUT WHAT FORM THAT SUPPORT WOULD
COME IN.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I WANT TO ADD THAT WE PASSED A BIAS FREE POLICING LAW TO TARGET THE ISSUE OF RACIAL PROFILING
AND PART OF THAT REQUIREMENT IN THAT LEGISLATION AND THAT ORDINANCE IS THAT WE TRACKED THE
DATA, WHAT DEMOGRAPHIC WAS STOPPED AND THE CHALLENGE IS THAT HOW DO THE POLICE KNOW?
IT'S ON YOUR LICENSE, BUT IT'S NOT ON YOUR LICENSE.
I LOOKED AT MY RACE , AND I WON'T SAY THE TROUBLE I'VE GOTTEN INTO BUT IT'S AMAZING
WHAT COMES BACK AND WE DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IMMIGRATION STATUS, AS AN EXAMPLE.
WE REALIZED THE CHALLENGES BUT WE WANT TO CAPTURE THAT DATA SO THE RECOMMENDATION IS
SPOT ON.
WE KNOW RACE IS A HUGE FACTOR.
HOW DO WE CAPTURE THAT?
WE HAD CHALLENGES ON THE BIAS FREE POLICING ORDINANCE AND WE ARE WORKING ON THAT.
ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU.
I REALLY ENJOYED PARTICIPATING.
LAST WEEKEND IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S EFFORTS AROUND DIVERSION STRATEGIES, KING COUNTY HAS
A SIMILAR PROGRAM FOR YOUTH.
THEY HAVE A PROGRAM FOR YOUNG ADULTS AND IT WAS SO INCREDIBLE TO SIT IN THE ROOM WITH
THESE YOUNG PEOPLE AND AT THE END OF THE AFTERNOON, 26 PEOPLE HAD CHARGES DROPPED AND IT WAS REALLY
POWERFUL.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR COMING AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
THE WORKSHOP IS THEIRS AND THEY DO PHENOMENAL WITH IT.
BRIEFLY, THE WORKGROUP FEELS LIKE THERE IS STILL WORK TO BE DONE AND WE'VE SPENT TWO
YEARS TOGETHER AND MUCH OF THAT FIRST YEAR WAS DEVELOPING A SHARED ANALYSIS AND A SHARED
UNDERSTANDING OF SEATTLE'S CRIMINAL SYSTEM TO COMMUNICATE AND WORK TOGETHER.
A LOT OF THE MEAT OF THE WORK THAT WE FEEL LIKE IS IMPORTANT, WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN TO IT
YET.
THE WORKGROUP DID EXPRESS INTEREST . FOLKS THAT HAVE LIVED EXPERIENCE, THE VALUE AND
BEING ABLE TO SIT AT A TABLE LIKE THIS, TO SPEAK TO ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THIS WAY, I
THINK THERE IS ALSO A FEAR THAT THIS WILL SIT ON A SHELF SOMEWHERE.
HOW CAN WE GIVE SPACE FOR FOLKS WHO ARE MOST IMPACTED TO INFORM POLICIES THAT IMPACT THEIR
LIVES, ESPECIALLY AROUND CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM REFORM.
HOW DO WE GIVE ACCESS TO FOLKS WHO NEED TO BE LEADING THAT WORK?
AND, THE WORKGROUP, YOU KNOW, IN THEIR STRATEGY SEVEN, THINKING IT THROUGH THE NEXT PHASE
OF THIS WORK GROUP BY FOLKS WHO ARE LIVING WITH CRIMINAL HISTORY.
ANOTHER PART OF THE WORKGROUP WAS TO INVENTORY THE FINES AND FEES OF MUNICIPAL COURT LEVEES
AGAINST PEOPLE IN THE CITY.
THAT WORK WAS COMPLETED IN AUGUST 2017 AND WE PROVIDED THAT AT THE LAST BRIEFING AND
WE APPRECIATE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT TO DO THAT HEAVY LIFT, LOT OF DATA AND ANALYSIS
THEY DID.
THE NEXT PART OF THAT WORK IS REVIEWING HOW THESE FINES AND FEES IMPACT FOLKS WHO ARE
REENTERING OR LIVING WITH CRIMINAL HISTORY.
WE HAVE CONTRACTED WITH DOCTOR ALEXIS HARRIS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON TO DO THAT
WORK FOR US AND WE APPRECIATE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT TO PROVIDE THAT DATA TO DOCTOR HARRIS
AND HER TEAM BECAUSE WITHOUT SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT'S CONTRIBUTION AND SUPPORT IN THAT DATA
EXCHANGE, THIS PART OF THAT WORKGROUP'S TASKS WOULD NOT GET DONE.
WE HOPE TO GET THAT REPORT IN THE SPRING OF 2019 AND IT WILL HAVE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS
REGARDING FINES AND FEES AND HOW THEY IMPACT FOLKS LIVING WITH CRIMINAL HISTORY.
I AM EAGER TO GET THAT EXCITING INFORMATION AND I'M GLAD DR.
HARRIS IS WORKING ON IT.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL, FOR PROVIDING RESOURCES TO CONTRACT WITH DOCTOR HARRIS TO COMPLETE
THAT REPORT.
PRESIDENT HAROLD?
SOME REACTIONS.
THIS IS CALLED INCREASING A HUMAN EFFECTIVENESS.
I THINK GEORGE TALKED ABOUT HIS CULTURE.
THIS AFFECTS YOUR SELF IMAGE.
THERE COULD BE SOME REALLY GOOD CURRICULA.
PEOPLE LOOK AT SOMEONE LIKE ME IN THE REENTRY WORK.
THESE ARE IMAGES I HAD AS A CHILD.
I THINK AN INVESTMENT WOULD BE LOOKING AT WHETHER THEY ARE ASSISTING ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY
WITH SELF-IDENTITY , IF YOU WILL . JUST THE INVESTMENT , OR OTHER GROUPS.
I WILL GIVE YOU THE THESE NAMES.
I AM ALL FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED INCARCERATION
AND LEAVING IT.
IN MY EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH A LOT OF GROUPS ONE OF THE FIRST QUESTIONS I ASK IS WHO IS
NOT AT THE TABLE, WHO HAS HIRING CAPACITY . WHO KNOWS HOW TO MAKE A SWEET POTATO PIE
? I LIKE TO COOK THEM . WHO CAN HELP US RAISE MONEY . ONE OF THE ELEMENTS THAT MAY BE MISSING
, NOT IN THE WORKGROUP BUT AN AREA OF WORK I LIKE TO SEE IS IN SEATTLE . IT COULD BE
HIGH-TECH OR LOGISTICS.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A BRIDGE BETWEEN THE RE-ENTRANCE AND THOSE GROUPS AT OUT THERE
. IN ALL DUE RESPECT TO THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE 34 TALKING TO 60 , I WANT SEASON FOLKS
TO UNDERSTAND WE CAN BRING IN THE RESOURCES . I DON'T THINK YOU CAN JUST GIVE A REENTRANT
A JOB IN A HOUSE . THERE IS A CURRICULUM WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER . MINITOUR HAVE THE EXPERIENCE
. SOME OF THESE COMPANIES HAVE LOOKED AT RETURNING VETERANS . SOME COMPANIES HAVE LOOKED AT SOCIAL
RESPONSIBILITY GOALS AND SAY THEY WANT TO INVEST AND DOUBLE DOWN ON RETURNING VETERANS
. THIS IS THE SAME TRAUMA AND NEED FOR REENTRY THAT MANY COMPANIES EMBRACE . I BELIEVE THEY
CAN EMBRACE NATIVE AMERICANS IF THEY REALIZE IT'S PART OF THEIR CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY
. THIS WAS NOT THEIR LAND BUT IT WAS THERE LAND . SO I THINK WE HAVE TO GET THOSE PEOPLE
AT THE TABLE AS WELL . FOR ME IT IS ALL ABOUT GATHERING RESOURCES . I DON'T KNOW IF THAT
WAS PART OF YOUR CONVERSATION . I WAS LOOKING AT YOUR CORE STRATEGIES . I WILL PUT A LOT
OF ENERGY INTO THAT THIS WEEK.
WHO ARE THESE EMPLOYERS THAT I CAN TAP INTO.
WHO WILL ALIGN THEIR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES TO WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO ? I WOULD LIKE
TO SEE THAT PART OF THE REENTRY . I DID NOT SEE THE LINKAGE I WANT TO SEE . THE LAST PIECE
IS THE REGIONAL APPROACH THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE BOTH THE COUNTY AND THE STATE --THERE
ARE SOME EXCITING THINGS HAPPENING IN OTHER CITIES.
MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU ARE PIPED INTO NETWORKS I DON'T HAVE . I'M TRYING TO
SEE WHERE WE CAN POOL TOGETHER OTHER RESOURCES AND LOOK AT REGIONAL SOLUTIONS , PARTICULARLY
WHEN A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE CONVICTED DIDN'T EVEN LIVE IN SEATTLE . THEY MAY HAVE GOTTEN
HERE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER . I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO WAIT ON AN APPROVAL FROM A CITY COUNCIL
PRESIDENT IN PASCO TO TELL ME HOW WE WILL DO THESE INVESTMENTS . I DO WANT SOME IDEAS
FROM ACROSS THE REGION AS WELL.
THOSE ARE MY THREE COMMENTS AFTER READING THE REPORT .
I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE THIRD STRATEGY . I THINK WE KIND OF WENT OVER IT QUICKLY . WE
WERE REALIZING THAT WE WERE BEHIND OUR CLOCK.
ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK I HEARD ERICA SAY IS THAT OAD HAS BEEN DOING SOME OF THE WORK
IN THIS AREA . WE NEED TO CLEAN UP OUR OWN HOUSE AND MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY IS OFFERING
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO FOLKS WHO WERE PREVIOUSLY INCARCERATED . AND IN DOING SO,
WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO A BETTER JOB AT HOLDING PRIVATE EMPLOYERS ACCOUNTABLE.
WE DIDN'T EVEN TALK ABOUT THE PRIORITY.
IT JUST HIT ME.
THEY ARE PROVIDING WORK OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOLKS AND WE SHOULD BE PLUGGING THOSE PEOPLE
INTO CITY PROJECTS AS WELL AND IDENTIFY THAT AS ANOTHER PIPELINE FOR PRE-APPRENTICESHIP
.
YES THERE IS A FAS PERSON ON THE WORKGROUP AND SHE COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY . WE CAN DO
A FOLLOW-UP WITH THOSE FOLKS BECAUSE THEY KNOW A LOT MORE ABOUT THAT WORK THAN I DO
.
I HAVE A QUESTION THAT I FORGOT TO ASK.
AT THE BEGINNING I HEARD SOME PEOPLE SAY OF THE SEVEN STRATEGIES , A COUPLE I THOUGHT
WERE THE HIGHEST PRIORITY . WAS --WHICH WERE THOSE , WAS IT 1 AND 2 ?
YES , AND ALSO STRATEGY 6 . SO 1 AND 2 BECAUSE HE WANTED TO FOCUS ON THE FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
YOU ALLOCATED FOR THIS WORK GROUP . AND ALSO NUMBER 6.
YOU CAN TAKE THOSE NOW BECAUSE IT DOESN'T NEED FUNDING INVESTMENTS TO DO THAT WORK . MARCOS,
WE ARE SUMMARIZING . NEXT STEPS ?
YES . TO BRIEFLY UNDERSCORE THE ACTION STEPS THAT COUNSEL CAN TAKE.
AS JENNA OUTLINED, THE DRUG TRAFFIC LOITERING AND PROSTITUTION LOITERING LAWS CAN BE REPEALED
. THERE ARE FUNDING STRATEGIES.
ALSO , WHEN ALLOCATING 2019 REENTRY FUNDING , THE WORKGROUP WAS RECONVENE TO BRING IN
AN INVESTMENT STRATEGY . ALSO USING WORKGROUP PRINCIPLES.
THIS CAN LEVERAGE IN COUNSEL POSITION . I WOULD ADD THAT WHILE WE APPRECIATE THE $250,000
INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET , I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT FOR THEIR TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK THAT
WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT AND THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE , THAT REALLY IS PROBABLY IN ADEQUATE
. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE CITY TO FIND ADDITIONAL FUNDS IN ORDER TO REALLY ADDRESS THE NEEDS
WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING TODAY AND TO MAKE THIS WORK REAL.
I REALLY WANTED TO JUST PUT THAT OUT THERE.
RYAN , WERE YOU REACHING?
YES , MARCOS , THE WORK YOU PRESENTED TODAY AND THE STORIES YOU TOLD WAS VERY POWERFUL
AS MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID.
WE APPRECIATE THE CONCRETE STEPS WE CAN ALL TAKE . THAT IS VERY HELPFUL FOR US . I APPRECIATE
THE FOCUS ON HOW WE INVEST THAT MONEY . I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE SPEND MORE
MONEY ON CREATING THE SYSTEMS AND SUPPORTING THE SYSTEMS . WE NEED TO SHIFT THAT AND I
KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN PUSHING ON US . IT'S NOT AN EASY THING TO DO BUT IT IS SOME OF THE
MOST IMPORTANT WORK TO DO SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK . I WANT TO PLEDGE TO YOU THAT THESE ARE NOT RECOMMENDATIONS
THAT WILL BE SITTING ON A SHELF.
WE WILL PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO MOVE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS FORWARD.
I THINK SOME OF THEM WILL BE CHALLENGING IN THAT I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF COMMUNITY-
BASED WORK THAT WE NEED TO DO WITH PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE THESE EXPERIENCES OR DON'T
REALLY KNOW VERY MUCH ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM . MUCH LIKE WE
DID WITH THE FAIR HOUSING, I THINK WITH ENGAGEMENT WITH THE BROADER COMMUNITY AND MESSAGING,
I THINK WE CAN DEFINITELY TAKE SOME POSITIVE LEGISLATIVE STEPS AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY
TO THE TRUE CRIMINALIZATION PIECES YOU HAVE IDENTIFIED . ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE
A LITTLE BIT OF CONCERN WITH , CONCERN MAY NOT BE THE RIGHT WORD BUT QUESTIONS, I FEEL
A GREAT URGENCY ABOUT A LOT OF THIS WORK.
I SUPPORT THIS EFFORT TO CREATE A SORT OF A CONVENING OF BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL
STAKEHOLDERS TO DO THIS CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM WORK . I AM A LITTLE WORRIED THAT FOR THINGS
THAT THERE IS GREAT URGENCY ON, LOW HANGING FRUIT, EASY TO DO BUT WITH GREAT IMPACT, IF
WE MAKE EVERYTHING GO THROUGH THE PROCESS IT COULD SLOW US DOWN . THAT IS IS REALLY
SOMETHING I THINK WE COULD USE YOUR HELP ON IN DESIGNING THAT PROCESS . IN DESIGNING SORT
OF THE INSIDE /OUTSIDE WORKGROUP TO GIVE US SOME GUIDANCE ABOUT THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT
REALLY WOULD BENEFIT FROM THAT SORT OF MORE COORDINATED APPROACH THAT FOLKS HAVE BEEN
LOOKING FOR.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS BECOME ANOTHER BARRIER . ONE THING WE COULD DO IN THE NEAR TERM ALONG
WITH THE RESOLUTION THAT I BELIEVE WILL BE PUT FORWARD, AND THIS COULD BE ALREADY INCLUDED
IN THE RESOLUTION IS CREATE A WORK PROGRAM.
MAYBE THINGS THAT ARE NOT ON THE WORK PROGRAM ARE THINGS THAT DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO
GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND CAN GO THROUGH MORE -- FOR INSTANCE, MAKING SURE THAT THE
FUNDING THAT THE COUNCIL HAS ALLOCATED FOR REENTRY , WE SHOULDN'T NEED TO WAIT TO CONVENE
THE NEW GROUP TO GIVE GUIDANCE TO THE EXECUTIVE ON WHAT SORT OF SERVICES WE WOULD LIKE TO
SEE THEM FUND.
QUICK STATEMENT.
I WANT TO GET SOME OPEN FEEDBACK SO WHEN I CONTINUE TO WORK ON THIS , I DON'T WANT SOMEONE
SAY I DIDN'T MENTION IT AT THE TABLE . THE ADVISORY BOARD SUGGESTION . I DO LIKE --I
WASN'T KEEN ON CALLING IT AN ADVISORY BOARD . I ENVISIONED AN ACTUAL BOARD OF PEOPLE THAT
WOULD HELP DO THE WORK AND NOT JUST GIVE ADVICE . I THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE A COMMISSION . I
DO LIKE MORE THAN 50% OF PEOPLE HAVING DIRECT LIVING EXPERIENCE WITH DIRECT INCARCERATION
. IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT A PERSON WHO HAS ACCESS TO JOBS , YOU WANT THAT PERSON AT THE
TABLE AS PART OF THIS COMMISSION . THEY THEN HAVE CONNECTIONS TO THE MANY EMPLOYERS OR
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
I LOVE TO SEE PEOPLE THAT HAVE TIES TO EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND JOBS CARING ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
HAVE AN FOR BED WE GET AND INDIGENOUS PERSON WITH THE SAME CONNECTIONS ON THIS COMMISSION
. I AM ALL FOR PEOPLE HAVING LIVED WITH EXPERIENCE OF INCARCERATION COUPLED WITH THESE FOLKS
THAT MAY HAVE NEVER SET FOOT IN JAIL BUT THEY ARE COMMITTED TO THIS WORK . THAT IS NOT AN
ADVISORY BOARD , THAT IS A WORKING BOARD.
I'M NOT SAYING I AM RIGHT BUT THIS IS MY PERSONAL OPINION LOOKING AT THIS REPORT.
E-MAIL ME YOUR THOUGHTS IF THAT MAKES ANY SENSE AT ALL.
I THINK IT DOES.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ?
THIS IS BEEN FANTASTIC.
I APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR SPENDING THE EXTRA TIME AND YOU ALL SPENDING THE EXTRA
TIME AS WELL.
I AM GLAD WE HAD THE CHAMBERS AND WE DID GET BOUNCED OUT BY SOME OTHER GROUP BECAUSE THIS
WAS TIME WELL SPENT . I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING FORWARD WITH YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS
I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE DIRECTOR.
I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AS WELL . IT IS VERY VALUABLE HAVING YOUR LEADERSHIP AS THIS
PART OF THE WORK.
THANK YOU .
WERE THERE ANY OTHER WORKGROUP MEMBERS THAT WANTED TO SAY ANYTHING?
OKAY .
WITH THAT, WE ARE ADJOURNED . THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[ EVENT CONCLUDED ]