Issues and Facts
The Yes! Safe Jail Healthy Outcomes committee is dedicated to providing Whatcom County voters with accurate information to help make an informed decision on November’s ballot. If you have questions not answered, spot an inaccuracy, or need more information, please reach out to us.
WHY A NEW JAIL
Is our current jail a legal liability?
Can the downtown jail be renovated?
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
What is the Implementation Plan and what does it have to do with the Jail/BCC?
What Behavioral Health services/programs will be in place once the new jail opens?
How much of the sales tax money could be used for behavioral health and jail diversion?
How will we pay for behavioral health and criminal justice funding priorities?
A NEW MODERN JAIL
How might the new facility be different from the current downtown jail?
How do we know a jail/BCC will be built first?
How will the number of beds in the new facility be determined?
How will the size of the new jail/BCC be determined?
Will the jail/BCC be too small?
Where would a new jail be constructed?
How will inmates and their families get to and from the jail at LaBounty Drive?
How much will a new jail cost?
Why is “one bunk per cell” a guiding principle?
Is it true a new jail will hold ICE or Border Patrol detainees?
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Who is responsible for operating a jail?
Who is currently in jail? What crimes are they in for?
Aren’t inmates held pretrial only because they can’t afford bail?
Is it true most people in the jail are pretrial (not serving a sentence)?
FINANCING
Wasn’t a tax increase passed by voters in 2004 to pay for a new jail?
Will the State help with capital dollars for a jail?
How would the County pay for the construction of a new jail?
Does the County get all the money?
What happens to the sales tax revenue stream over time?
What would "excess revenue" be used for?
When will the bond be paid off?
What happens to the money collected before construction starts?
Who will oversee the spending of funds collected from this sales tax?
Would the new Jail/BCC be built in addition to our current jail?
Is it true Whatcom County doesn't have a plan for spending the levy funds?
IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS
Ordinance 2023-039
Whatcom County Council passed this in June adopting the Justice Project Needs Assessment Implementation Plan and authorizing the submission of a ballot measure for a sales and use tax for public health, safety, and justice facilities and services.
Justice Project Needs Assessment Implementation Plan
Provides a road map for addressing issues in the criminal legal system and behavioral health services in Whatcom County and includes specific steps for providing adequate facilities, staffing, resources and services at all points of contact between the community and the criminal legal system.
Memo on Services Investments A memo from the County outlining services investments they will make beginning year one after the passage of the Levy. This information is also included in the Implementation Plan beginning on page 12.
Letter of Support from 40th and 42nd Legislators Our legislators reviewed the Implementation Plan with an eye to where state support and funding can be useful. They included recent related work that demonstrates their commitment to the vision in the Justice Plan.