Update: Large turnout for Council Town Hall on reforming criminal justice

A standing-room-only crowd of 350 joined Councilmembers September 24 at a Council Town Hall in Seattle’s Central Area to examine the status of ongoing reforms in King County’s criminal justice system and focus on the community partnerships that are helping deter crime, prevent recidivism, and encourage self-empowerment. Following the program, more than 50 local residents testified before the Council for over two hours.

Next Council Town Hall Meeting will highlight criminal justice system reform

Please join the King County Council for a Town Hall Meeting in Seattle on reforming the criminal justice system.

The meeting will examine ongoing innovations and reforms in the King County criminal justice system, and the community partnerships that are needed to deter crime, prevent recidivism, and encourage self-empowerment.

Presenters will include:

• Nate Caldwell – Director, King County Community Corrections
• Patricia Clark – Chief Juvenile Judge, King County Superior Court
• Mary Flowers – The Village of Hope and Black-on-Black Crime Coalition
• Kelly Jefferson – Know Thy Self and The Akoben Brotherhood
• Clif Curry – Lead Council Analyst for the Law, Justice, & Human Services Committee

Audience members will have an opportunity to question panelists. At the conclusion of the program, the Council will take open public testimony on any issue.

The meeting will be held on Monday, September 24 at First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Seattle at 1522 14th Avenue. The public is invited to meet face-to-face with King County Councilmembers at an informal reception starting at 6:00 p.m. The program will run from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m.

The County Council is a regional government committed to engaging King County residents in their local communities. Throughout the year, the Council holds local Town Hall Meetings on issues of public importance. Community members have the opportunity to meet Councilmembers, be briefed by local and regional experts, and provide public testimony.

Each Town Hall is a special meeting of the Council’s Committee of the Whole (COW), the only standing committee on which all nine members serve. COW considers legislation and policy issues of interest to the entire council.

Recent town hall meetings have been held in Sammamish, Maple Valley, Shoreline, Seattle, Redmond, Renton, West Seattle, Carnation, and Auburn.

Questions? Please email CouncilTownHall@KingCounty.gov or call 206-296-0335.