City of Edmonds - Washington

Community Court is Edmonds Municipal Court's approach to justice that prioritizes connection to services and support alongside traditional court processes. Rather than focusing solely on punishment, Community Court aims to address the underlying factors — such as housing instability, behavioral health, or substance use — that contribute to involvement in the justice system.

The program operates in two distinct but related ways: open-access Resource Fair Days available to anyone, and a structured Therapeutic Community Court program for individuals who benefit from ongoing engagement and support.

Resource Fair Days are open to anyone, require no enrollment or commitment, and focus on connecting individuals with community service providers in a low-barrier setting. You can walk in, speak with providers, and leave — no formal agreement required.

Therapeutic Community Court is a structured program that requires a voluntary opt-in, a formal entry agreement, and an individualized case plan. It involves regular court check-ins, case management, and engagement with services over a defined period. It is designed for individuals whose situation calls for a higher level of structure and support.

No formal commitment or agreement is required simply to attend a Resource Fair Day and speak with service providers. The event is open access.

If you have a pending court case, speak with your attorney about how attending may be advantageous to your situation. Your attorney can advise you on what participation may mean in the context of your specific case.

Resource Fair Days are open to anyone, including:

• Individuals with pending court cases
• People currently on probation
• Individuals recently released from custody
• Anyone in the community seeking voluntary assistance
• Friends and family members who may benefit from available programs

You do not need a court case to attend.

No. Service providers who participate in Resource Fair Days are there solely for your benefit. They do not provide information to the court without your explicit permission or a signed release of information. Their only connection to the court is their presence at the event.

You are free to speak openly with providers about your needs without concern that the conversation will be reported to the court or used in your case.

We do our best to have a variety of service providers present at each Resource Fair Day covering many areas of need, including housing, food access, substance use disorder evaluation and treatment, behavioral health, medical care, employment, and more.

Our goal is to have a provider present who fits your specific need — or, at a minimum, someone who can point you in the right direction and connect you with additional resources. Provider availability may vary by month.

If you are required to appear in court and miss that appearance, a bench warrant may be issued. If you are unable to attend for any reason, contact the court and your attorney as soon as possible.

In some circumstances, an attorney may be able to appear on your behalf. Check with your attorney about your specific obligations.

Entry into Therapeutic Community Court generally involves the following steps:

• Step 1 — Risk/Needs Assessment: Complete a risk and needs evaluation. This helps the court team understand your situation and identify what level and type of support would be most helpful.
• Step 2 — Attorney and Prosecution Review: Your attorney can work with the prosecutor to discuss whether an agreement for entry is appropriate given your individual circumstances. In some cases, you can sign a release of information so that your case can be reviewed at a staffing meeting — without formally entering the program — in order to receive a suggested entry plan before you commit.
• Step 3 — Entry Agreement: If you, your attorney, the prosecution, and the court all agree, you will sign a formal entry agreement that includes an individualized Track Addendum outlining the expectations and phases of your participation.

The decision to enter is always yours. The goal of this process is to put you in a position to make a fully informed choice — understanding what the Therapeutic Community Court path looks like, and what your options may look like through the traditional court process. Speak with your attorney about what makes sense for your case.

Yes. Participation is voluntary, but it requires a formal opt-in. You will sign an entry agreement alongside your attorney and the prosecutor. The agreement includes an individualized Track Addendum that outlines the phases, conditions, and expectations of your participation.

Because participation involves waiving certain rights depending on whether your case is pre-trial or post-conviction, it is important to review the agreement carefully with your attorney before signing.

A staffing is a confidential team meeting that takes place before your court hearing, off the record. The judge, prosecutor, defense attorney, probation staff, case manager, and service providers meet to review your progress, discuss your needs, and align on recommendations before you appear in court.

You are not present during staffing, but your attorney is there representing you. After staffing, your attorney can share relevant information with you before your hearing.

This collaborative approach is a core feature of evidence-based therapeutic court practice. Having the full team aligned before a hearing — rather than working through issues adversarially in open court — leads to more consistent, individualized, and effective outcomes for participants.

As part of the entry agreement, you will sign a Community Court Consent for Release of Information authorizing communication between your service providers and the court team regarding your participation and progress.

Staffing discussions are confidential. Some information may be discussed in open court during your review hearings. If there is particular information you would prefer to keep limited to staffing only, communicate that with your attorney — they can raise it with the team on your behalf.

Therapeutic Community Court uses three tracks — Track C, Track B, and Track A — representing increasing levels of engagement and timeframe (approximately 1 month, 4–6 months, and 9–12 months respectively).

Your track is determined by the court team based on your risk and needs assessment. The goal is to match the level of structure and support to what will actually be helpful — not to over-engage individuals with lower needs, and not to under-support those who need more.

You can download and review each Track Addendum using the links on this page. Speak with your attorney about what track may be appropriate for your circumstances.

Graduation from Therapeutic Community Court is recognized in open court, and includes a graduation celebration for participants who successfully complete the program.

The outcome on graduation depends on your individual entry agreement and case status:

• Pre-trial cases: Charges may be dismissed with prejudice or amended, as specified in your entry agreement.
• Post-conviction cases: The probation violation is deemed satisfied, and probation may be terminated, as specified in your entry agreement.

Because outcomes are individualized, speak with your attorney about what graduation will mean specifically for your case.

Non-compliance does not automatically result in termination. The court team's first approach is therapeutic — responses may include increased reporting requirements, community service, GPS monitoring, or short-term jail sanctions, with the goal of getting participation back on track.

Termination is reserved for repeated, serious, or unresolved non-compliance, commission of a new serious offense, conduct that presents a safety risk, or extended failure to appear. Termination can only occur after a formal hearing before the court, with notice to you and your attorney, and a judicial finding that termination is appropriate.

Whether you are involuntarily terminated or choose to voluntarily leave the program, the potential consequences depend on your individual case and circumstances. Speak with your attorney if you have any questions about what leaving the program could mean for you.

If you are required to appear and miss a hearing, a bench warrant may be issued. Contact your attorney and the court as soon as possible if you are unable to make a scheduled appearance. In some circumstances, an attorney may be able to appear on your behalf — check with your attorney about your specific obligations.

For questions about Community Court programs, please contact:

Omar Gámez
Assistant Court Administrator / Community Court Coordinator
Phone: 425-771-0210
Email: [email protected]

Court hours are Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM (closed 12:00–1:00 PM).