Phoenix Councilmember Jim Waring is concerned the program would give a pass to bad behavior. Others say, 'It's not a cake walk.'
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego discusses affordable housing, compact homelessness and water resources in her State of the City address on April 12, 2023.Phoenix wants to launch a specialty court for people experiencing homelessness who find themselves repeatedly entering the criminal justice system. But at least one City Council member is concerned the program will give a pass to bad behavior.
Phoenix Municipal Court Judge Don Taylor compared it to the city's three other specialty courts, the Veteran's Court, Behavioral Health Court and the Regional Homeless Court. Taylor described them as focused on problem-solving by addressing the unique needs of people typically caught in or in danger of being caught in cyclical law-breaking. He clarified Phoenix's new court would address unsheltered people not appropriate for the regional homeless court.
"The book should be thrown at you, and that's it. There should be no discussion. You reap what you sow, and you get what you deserve when you're acting like that," Waring said. Waring responded,"I certainly hope your prosecutors would have more sense than to say, 'You know what, a little therapy and everything will be good in this case,' because clearly that's not true.""I think people think of euphemistically. We're going to give them a pat on the head, a cookie and an apology. That's not what services look like," Ward said.
Ward said pulling a knife on somebody"is going to be a felony" that would be considered aggravated assault, thus not eligible for Phoenix Community Court., but rather with trespassing and threatening injury. The charges were dismissed Phoenix Municipal Court.A green light for the program will cost the city $2.3 million per year and $45,000 in one-time startup costs.
"This community court will empower individuals to see the different paths available to them that can inspire them to end the cycle of recidivism through the criminal justice system. This program will create hope and a true pathway for their goals in life," he said."Too often those without resources, support and guidance cycle throughout our justice system simply because the right resources aren't in place.
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