This online forum was held May 26, 2021

Thurston County is now home to several innovative justice programs. In this forum, you will hear about these programs’ progress, their plans for the future, and how the programs may affect the significant disparity in Thurston County’s minority arrest and incarceration rates. A question-and-answer session will follow the presentations.

Panelists include:

Tye Menser, Thurston County Commissioner, will talk about the County’s new Justice Resource Center and Criminal Justice Reginal Program Manager position.
Anne Larsen, Outreach Services Coordinator, Olympia Police Department, will talk about Olympia’s Crisis Response Unit and Familiar Faces programs.
Mary Ann O’Garro, Senior Epidemiologist, Thurston County Public Health & Social Services Department, will talk about the County’s new Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program.
Larry Jefferson, Director, Washington State Office of Public Defense, will share his experience with the criminal justice system in Thurston County.

Moderator – Rev. Carol McKinley, Affiliated Community Minister, Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation

Produced by Justice not Jails (tilley.jnj@gmail.com)

Virtual hosting by the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation