New Whatcom County Jail, New Diversion Programs

The revolving door that is Whatcom County jail

As former Bellingham Police Chief Flo Simon recently put it, “It’s basically a revolving door”.

The way the system is set up today, non-violent inmates are “likely to re-offend, re-use and run outta meds and then the cycle starts over again” according to Simon.

An array of behavioral health programs and services are currently available for people who are in jail, leaving jail, or as diversion from jail.

Whatcom County plans to enhance the existing programs as well as add new programs and services.

Existing programs:

  • Re-entry Specialists

  • Medical care

  • Mental Health Court

  • Recovery Court

  • GRACE (Ground Level Response and Coordinated Entry)

  • LEAD (Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion)

  • ART (Alternative Response Team)

  • Law Enforcement Co-Responder program

  • Law Enforcement Behavioral Health Officers

  • MCOT (Mobile Crisis Outreach Team)

  • PACT (Program of Assertive Community Treatment)

  • Peacehealth Community Connectors

  • Basecamp (low barrier shelter operated by Lighthouse Mission)

  • Behavioral health specialist at What-Comm 911

  • Crisis Stabilization Center (Anne Deacon Center for Hope)

  • City Gate Housing - post-incarceration housing with case management

Proposed efforts (included in the Implementation Plan):

23-hour Crisis Center

Prosecutorial diversion and competency restoration program

Mental Health Sentencing Alternative program

Embedded SUD (Substance Use Disorder) specialist at the Response Division of Health and Community Services

Image: Cascadia Daily

Man walks with head down carrying a stick on a Whatcom beach with the Lummi island in the background.