Can intensive support in court keep people from re-offending? Tacoma is giving it a go

People ensnared in the criminal justice system often go on to re-offend. Tacoma is looking to help break that cycle through the launch of two therapeutic courts.

The city announced in an April 9 news release that its Community Court and Mental Health Court seek to treat the “root causes of crime.” The courts take a holistic approach to reducing recidivism rates.

Successful graduates of the therapeutic-court programs will see their charges dismissed .

Presiding Judge Drew Ann Henke wants the spaces to be inviting.

“We’re helping them, and so we’re hoping that people will come to court with the idea that they have a team of support helping them through their struggles so that they can have good, productive lives,” Henke said.

Other local governments across Washington and the country have rolled out therapeutic courts. A King County judge told KUOW last year that more than 80% of drug-court participants logged no new felonies after three years.

Tacoma’s therapeutic courts put together teams that go beyond the traditional prosecutor-defense attorney approach, Henke said. The services include treatment providers, court-case managers, judges, peer counselors and court coordinators who work together to help each participant.

Therapeutic courts aim to use evidence-based practices, said Judge Dee A. Sonntag.

“We are just committed to look at the research, to look at the data, see what’s working and just continue to adjust and improve our programs for our community,” she said.

Tacoma’s Mental Health Court officially started last June, and the Community Court was soft launched in October. Sonntag anticipates a hard launch or grand opening for that court sometime next month.

Who qualifies for therapeutic courts?

To qualify for the city’s Mental Health Court program, participants must have been diagnosed with a significant mental-health issue — one that’s been tied to their criminal behavior, Henke said.

Certain exceptions apply to therapeutic court, she added. People who have committed or been charged with certain crimes — including those related to violence, death of a person or vehicular homicide — wouldn’t be eligible.

Sonntag said the Community Court differs from its mental-health counterpart in that it doesn’t require a formal diagnosis. This court is geared toward helping people experiencing a range of issues, including substance-use and mild mental-health disorders, food and housing insecurities and more.

“Really just a lot of different things to include trauma that our community members suffer with: That’s our target population,” Sonntag said. “So if you’re charged with a crime here in Tacoma Municipal Court and you struggle with one of those things ... we have a presumption of eligibility as long as you meet those statutory requirements .”

How are the Tacoma therapeutic courts funded?

Initial funding for Tacoma’s therapeutic courts came in 2022 from a state grant, city spokesperson Maria Lee said via email. In today’s funding cycle, the courts are getting 41% of the money through city funds and 59% from the state.

“State funds go towards therapeutic court staff salaries, program equipment costs, treatment services, and participant support services such as employment training programs,” she said. “City funding goes toward Community Court rental space and security as well as mental health treatment services.”

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray included the Tacoma Municipal Court in a recent congressional spending request, Lee added. It is “tentatively selected to receive $500,000 in funding to support the Therapeutic Courts.”

How many people are getting help in the therapeutic courts?

Tacoma’s Community Court has 35 referrals, five graduations and “seven participants with a new entry scheduled [last Thursday] afternoon,” Sonntag said.

Henke said there are 14 referrals and five people enrolled in the Mental Health Court program, which aims to host its first graduation in June.

The therapeutic courts want participants to overcome their struggles and lead good lives, she said: “Our goal is to have them be productive members of our community, because we all benefit from that.”

The Community Court partners with the county’s District Court Resource Center to offer help with housing, employment, education and transportation, according to a city brochure. Sonntag said the resource center is open to everyone in the community.

Henke believes that the therapeutic courts can have a positive “ripple effect” throughout the city.

“If everybody was able to have the resources that they need, able to stay on the right path, we would all be benefiting from that in a better place,” she said. “So that’s my take on therapeutic courts: The real success is not only when the person’s going through the program, but afterwards for the whole community.”