Faced with an overcrowded jail, packed court dockets, and community concerns about a high-profile law enforcement incident, Spokane two years ago was not unlike dozens of towns nationwide. What now sets it apart is the holistic approach the city and surrounding county are taking to reimagine and reform the regional justice system.
A key figure in this ambitious effort is Jacqueline van Wormer, assistant professor of criminal justice and criminology at WSU Spokane. In her unique role as participatory evaluator for the Spokane Regional Law and Justice Council (SRLJC), van Wormer is steering the first major steps in a comprehensive overhaul of the way area police, courts, judges, and detention centers work together.