Whatcom County Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force

05/18/2026

Join us for Task Force and committee meetings this week:

On Monday, May 18 at 9:00 AM, the full Incarceration Prevention & Reduction Task Force meets to review the 2026 IPRTF Annual Report, discuss jail planning, review IPRTF goals, priorities, and enabling statutes.

Learn more about the Task Force: www.whatcomcounty.us/2188

On Thursday, May 21 at 2:00 PM, the Justice Project Oversight & Planning Committee will receive updates on planning and community engagement around the new jail and behavioral care center, review the draft 2026 IPRTF Annual Report, and participate in a panel discussion with supportive housing specialists.

Learn more about the JPOP Committee: www.whatcomcounty.us/4461

On Friday, May 22 at 11:00 AM, the Legal & Justice Committee will hold a regular meeting--agenda coming soon!

Learn more about the Legal & Justice Systems Committee: www.whatcomcounty.us/2355

05/07/2026

Join us this morning, Thursday, May 7, at 11 a.m. for a meeting of the Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Steering Committee!

Meeting Agenda:

1. Call to Order
2. IPRTF 2026 Annual Report
3. County Council Resolution establishing a preliminary planning budget cap, affirming governing commitments, and providing recommendations to the administration from the Whatcom County Council on the capital construction of the Whatcom County Jail and Behavioral Care Center
4. Items for the next Task Force agenda
5. Other Business
6. Public Comment

You can join the meeting via Zoom or you can watch along in the County Council Office Conference Room (Suite 105) at 311 Grand Avenue in Bellingham. Please note that all committee members will be participating via Zoom.

Zoom Info:

Call-in phone number: 253-215-8782
Meeting/Webinar ID: 851 4007 3452
Password: 17783

Learn more at our website: www.whatcomcounty.us/2353

04/14/2026

Led by the efforts of the Justice Project Oversight and Planning (JPOP) Committee, Whatcom County launched a new data tracking site to share currently available data related to the Justice Project, the voter-approved initiative to reshape our community’s criminal justice and behavioral health systems.

The site presents data and reports from a variety of sources with a nexus to the county’s criminal justice and behavioral health systems, including the Anne Deacon Center for Hope Crisis Triage Center, the Sheriff’s Office, and various diversion programs operating in the county.

Tawsha Thompson, Co-Chair of the JPOP Committee, stressed that reliable and accessible data is essential to the success of the Justice Project. She said, "Data allows us to better understand current outcomes, identify disparities, measure progress, and guide meaningful, evidence-based improvements tailored to our community."

The new data tracking site compiles the most relevant data available now in an easy-to-access format while Whatcom County continues its work to develop a comprehensive data dashboard.

Justice Project Data Tracking Site: www.whatcomcounty.us/4769

04/02/2026

Looking for ways to get involved in the Justice Project?

Whatcom County is moving forward with design and construction of new justice facilities including a Behavioral Care Center and a New Jail and is on track to cut the ribbon on both facilities in 2028.

You can get involved in the process by:

- Attending or speaking at a Justice Project Oversight and Planning Committee meeting (https://www.whatcomcounty.us/4322/Justice-Project-Oversight-and-Planning-J)

- Attending or speaking at a Whatcom County Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force meeting (https://www.whatcomcounty.us/4086/Incarceration-Prevention-Reduction-Task-)

- Signing up for monthly email updates on the Justice Project (https://www.whatcomcounty.us/4666/Justice-Project)

- Sending your thoughts directly to your elected officials via email at [email protected] or [email protected].

01/30/2026

On Tuesday, the Whatcom County Council affirmed the Task Force’s recommendation to construct a new out-of-custody behavioral care center on Division Street in Bellingham. A critical component of the Justice Project, the behavioral care center will provide inpatient, therapeutic, community-based care as an alternative to incarceration for individuals charged with behavioral health-driven offenses.

Stay up to date on Justice Project progress: www.whatcomcounty.us/4666

32-bed behavioral health center will be on Division Street, available to wider public

12/16/2025

The Incarceration Prevention & Reduction Task Force is looking for new members! Applications are due by 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.

Current Task Force member, Rosa-Maria Hunter, explained why residents should consider volunteering for the advisory group.

"We often say, 'it takes a village,' and that saying holds true here. When the people of a community stay engaged and involved, the community moves forward," said Hunter. "When we don't, progress stalls."

Current Vacancies (4-year terms):
•2 Vacancies for Health & Social Services Provider, current member eligible to reapply
• 1 Vacancy for a consumer of services or family member of consumer
• 1 Vacancy for an interested citizen, current member eligible to reapply

Learn how to apply: www.whatcomcounty.us/1584

12/04/2025

We have two Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force subcommittee meetings today, Thursday, December 4!

At 11:00 AM, join the Steering Committee for discussion of the 2025 Year-End Report, discussion of the Land Acknowledgement statement, review of the 2026 IPRTF meeting calendar, and discussion of the Justice Project Implementation Plan.

Steering Committee: www.whatcomcounty.us/2353

At 2:30 PM, join the INDEX Committee for a review of 2024 jail data, discussion of the 2026 INDEX Committee action plan, and review of the 2026 committee calendar.

INDEX Committee: www.whatcomcounty.us/2967

11/19/2025

Join us tomorrow, Thursday, November 20 at 2 p.m. for a meeting of the Justice Project Oversight and Planning (JPOP) Committee!

Agenda:
--Debrief October presentation/panel about closing gaps at re-entry
--Presentation and discussion of racial disparities in incarceration
--Review summary of the County Executive's 2025 Quarter 3 Report
--Provide feedback on the IPRTF Year-End Report
--Develop 2026 JPOP Committee action plan and brainstorm about future panel discussions

All JPOP Committee meetings take place on Zoom. If you need a place with a computer where you can watch along and participate, you can use the Council Conference Room in the County Courthouse at 311 Grand Avenue, Suite 105, Bellingham, WA 98225.

Learn more about the JPOP Committee: www.whatcomcounty.us/4461

11/10/2025

Join us Wednesday, November 12 for a meeting of the IPRTF Steering Committee!

Agenda:

--Review draft year-end report
--Review Task Force/Law and Justice Council enabling statutes
--Receive updates on the Justice Project Implementation Plan
--Discuss items for the next Task Force meeting agenda

All Task Force and subcommittee meetings take place on Zoom. If you need a place with a computer where you can watch along and participate, you can use the Council Conference Room in the County Courthouse at 311 Grand Avenue, Suite 105, Bellingham, WA 98225.

Learn more about the Steering Committee and get a link to today's meeting: www.whatcomcounty.us/2353

10/16/2025

There are two Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force subcommittee meetings on the schedule today, Thursday, October 16!

At 11:00AM, join the Steering Committee for discussion of the 2026 calendar and committee and workgroup structure, Year-End Report timeline and content, and upcoming legislative agenda.

Steering Committee: www.whatcomcounty.us/2353

At 2:00PM, join the Justice Project Oversight & Planning (JPOP) Committee for a discussion of key gaps in re-entry systems, highlights from the All Hands Whatcom Summit, and 2025 year-end reporting.

JPOP Committee: www.whatcomcounty.us/4461