COMMUNITY COURT

Community Court @ Central Library

Community Court is held in Events A & B at Central Library on Mondays from 10am-2pm. 

“Designed with restorative justice in mind, community courts typically focus on nonviolent cases. The legally binding sentences they issue usually include community service as well as a commitment on the part of the defendant to get help, such as drug treatment or other health care.” – Courting Libraries: Partnerships Bring Social Services and Restorative Justice to Communities (Library Journal, 2020)

The mission of the Spokane Municipal Community Court is to build stronger and safer neighborhoods by providing accountability with help for individuals involved in the criminal justice system to reduce and properly address quality-of-life offenses by utilizing a collaborative, problem-solving approach to crime. 

History of Community court @ The Library

Spokane Public Library served as a location for Municipal Community Court from 2013-2019, in a collaborative effort aimed to reduce and address quality of life offenses in downtown Spokane. More than 1,000 participants a year accessed a variety of services during Community Court including behavioral health, housing, crime victim assistance, health insurance, education/job training, and more. Once the remodeled Central Library opened in 2022, Community Court re-launched at this location. 

“Bringing Community Court back to Central Library is just one of the many efforts Spokane Public Library is actively working on to create structural community change at a larger level and address the Social Determinants of Health. – Bethiah Streeter, Social Services Manager at Spokane Public Library

To learn more about restorative justice see these articles:

social service resource room during community court

Additional resources are open to the public from 10am-12pm during Community Court and take place on the first floor of Central Library at the north entrance off of Spokane Falls Boulevard (through the same entrance as Community Court). You do not need to attend community court to utilize the following resources.

Additional resources include:

  • Housing
  • Legal
  • Substance Use Disorder
  • Mental health
  • Domestic Violence
  • Medical
  • Cell phone
  • DSHS
  • Detox
  • Peer support

If you’re interested in participating in the Social Service Resource Room or tabling at the library to provide on-site resources, please contact Bethiah Streeter.

City of Spokane Contact

Sarah Thompson | Therapeutic Court Coordinator | Spokane Municipal Court
PH 509.309.6948 | sthompson@spokanecity.org | spokanemunicipalcourt.org

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