Past Efforts

In May of 2004, Thurston County voters turned down a proposal for a property tax supported bond to construct a $103 million regional justice center.  The project had been proposed by a consortium of city and county officials to address Thurston County's jail crowding problems.  The failure of the bond election required local officials to return to the drawing board to examine and propose other solutions.  Since that time the following work has been accomplished:

• An analysis of six alternative sites for a 256-bed satellite correctional facility was prepared by KMD architects.  This report was reviewed by the Board of County Commissioners in the fall of 2004.

• The Thurston County Office of Assigned Counsel converted office operations from reliance upon contract panel attorneys, to in-house staff to improve public defender services and support more efficient court operations.

• A review of services for mentally ill offenders was prepared by David Wertheimer of the National GAINS center.  Substantial progress has been made towards implementing Mr. Wertheimer's recommendations.

• The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners has expanded in-custody mental health services for those offenders with mental health problems.

• Construction for the Thurston County Evaluation and Treatment Center was completed in the fall of 2004.  Operations for the mental health center have been steadily phased up over the past six months.

• An analysis of staffing and operational costs associated with a satellite correctional facility was prepared Ms. Kathy Gookin, a local criminal justice planner.  Concomitant with her work, an analysis of the potential –highest and best use” of the current County jail facility was conducted.

• In early 2005, the Justice Project Oversight Committee directed the Jail Management Team to develop concepts for a satellite correctional facility that would facilitate and support a "community corrections" approach to jail population management.

• The Board of County Commissioners toured recently constructed correctional facilities in King, Pierce and Lewis counties.

• Using a model from Superior Court's drug court program, Thurston County's District Court developed and implemented a mental health court to find opportunities to divert mentally ill offenders from jail.

• An analysis of potential non-correctional uses of the 3400 Building was commenced in late spring, 2005.  The results of this work were made available at the Board's work session on June 27, 2005.

• In spring, 2005, the County retained Billy Wasson, a National Institute of Corrections funded criminal justice planner to review and evaluate Thurston County's current complement of community corrections programs and options.  His recommendations are the basis of the recommendation pending before the Board of County Commissioners.