Justice system planning

The Tribe needs a more cohesive approach to building out and strengthening its justice system.  The current system consists of the tribal court, the tribal police department, the prosecutor’s office, the public defender’s office, and partner social services and health departments.  While there is daily collaboration on specific cases, actual discussion of how the whole system should work together is limited and yet very necessary given the recent dynamic changes in the work place and social structure of the community.

The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community is proposing a comprehensive justice system-side strategic planning project involving the tribal court, the tribal prosecutor, the police department (all units), domestic violence and victim services, and other partners engaged in wrap around services.  The project will take place over a 3-year period beginning October 1, 2022 and ending September 30, 2025. 

The goal is to conduct justice system-wide strategic planning and to develop a long-range Swinomish Justice System Strategic Plan that identifies the priority needs facing the tribal justice system and that outlines a victim-centered strategy for all elements of the tribal justice system.  Through this tribal strategic planning process:

The Swinomish community justice needs assessment will be updated;
An evaluation of the justice system will be conducted;
Gaps in the just system will be identified;
Existing trends and issues will be identified; 
Options and strategies will be developed for each element of the justice system; and
The Tribe will begin to shift the culture of the tribal justice system players to achieve the preferred goals/objectives.

The resulting strategic plan will address the following justice system elements:    

Law enforcement
Courts
Community corrections
Alternatives to incarceration
Collaborative strategies to address serious and violent crime
Strategies to address crime related to substance and alcohol abuse, including opioids and stimulants
Tribal jail alternatives
Crime victims’ rights and services for all victims of crime, including services to promote safety for victims of child abuse, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking
Addressing juvenile justice needs from prevention through re-entry, and
Community resources that support alternatives to incarceration and re-entry into the community following incarceration (i.e., jail, prison, etc.)