Justice Project Oversight and Planning (JPOP) Committee

Purpose

The Justice Project Oversight and Planning (JPOP) Committee monitors Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force (IPRTF) and County progress toward Implementation Plan goals, ensures robust public engagement and communications, contributes to the Task Force's annual report to the County Council, and recommends periodic updates to the Implementation Plan. 

Meetings 

  • JPOP Committee meetings are generally held on the third Thursday of each month. 
  • Meetings are held in a hybrid format. Members of the public may attend via Zoom webinar using the provided join link on the committee webpage or in person at the County Council Office at 311 Grand Avenue, Suite 105, in Bellingham, WA. All committee members participate remotely via Zoom.  

Members 

The Justice Project Oversight and Planning Committee will include the following community member positions to be appointed by the County Council: 

  • Trevor Aerts, Behavioral health provider
  • Amber Rucker, Substance use disorder (SUD) treatment provider
  • Richard Gleason, Criminal legal system users 
  • Tawsha Thompson, Criminal legal system users 
  • Pamela Kahn, Supportive housing subject matter expert
  • Robert Sullivan, Reentry specialist 
  • Hannah Sloan, Recovery Subject Matter Expert
  • Scott Ryckman, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Paramedic 
  • Vacant, Youth (young adult 18-24)

The Justice Project Oversight and Planning Committee will also have the following permanent positions assigned by and representing their agency: 

  • Doreen Hillaire-Vargas, Lummi Nation 
  •  Roman Swanaset-Simmonds, Nooksack Indian Tribe
  • Barry Buchanan, Whatcom County Councilmember 
  • Satpal Sidhu, Whatcom County Executive
  • Donnell "Tank" Tanksley, Whatcom County Sheriff
  • Starck Follis, Public Defender 
  • Kim Lund, Bellingham Mayor 
  • Daniel Hammill, Bellingham City Councilmember
  • Mary Lou Steward, Representative of the small cities in Whatcom County 
  • Miriam Karamoko, Whatcom Racial Equity Commission Representative
  • Heather Flaherty & Peter Frazier, IPRTF Chair(s)

Vacancies

See the list of current vacancies. 

Term Information 

To be determined

Function 

The Justice Project Oversight and Planning Committee is a subcommittee of the IPRTF. The committee provides guidance to the IPRTF/Law & Justice Council (LJC) to monitor the progress of the Implementation Plan through preparation of an annual progress report on Plan goals to be included as part of the IPRTF/LJC annual report. The committee also recommends updates to the Implementation Plan at least every five years and identifies metrics for performance accountability related to each project. In addition, the Justice Project Oversight and Advisory Committee provides guidance to the IPRTF/LJC on advising the Whatcom County Council and Whatcom County Executive regarding the appropriate level of resources needed for the IPRTF/LJC to fulfill its planning, community consultation, and oversight charge.  

Additional Information 

Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force 

Justice Project Implementation Plan