Law & Justice Public Review Committee

LJ Review Committee image

About the Committee


The Pierce County Council created the law and justice public review committee in 2020 to review reports generated by the county’s law and justice departments, per Resolution R2020-43. The Council directed the County Executive to review the policies, procedures and best practices of these departments.


The departments included the Sheriff’s Department, corrections system, Assigned Counsel, Medical Examiner and Economic Development Department. Council also requested the Judicial Branch and Office of the Prosecuting Attorney provide a thorough review of policies, procedures and best practices in use as it relates to serving Pierce County residents.  


Retired Pierce County Superior Court Judge Frank Cuthbertson served as facilitator of the committee, which was composed of 14 people, two from each of the seven Council districts.


The committee met weekly and focused on specific areas of review. The committee drafted a report with its observations and recommendations, which was shared with the Council at a Committee of the Whole meeting Nov. 18, 2020.


The report was reviewed by Council's Public Safety Committee at its Feb. 8, 2021 meeting.


Council intends to use the committee recommendations to inform its development of an action plan for how to prevent and reduce inequality and injustice, including the formulation and implementation of public policies and procedures that assure fair distribution of public services and management of county operated, public-serving institutions to achieve fairness, justice, equality and equity.


Committee organization

View the Purpose, Objectives and Operating Agreements of the Committee.

Public Comment


Public comment was accepted and reviewed by the committee. Comments were made both orally during meetings and in writing following meetings.


View written public comments received by the committee and written comments from committee members.


Watch the Law & Justice Public Review Committee


The Public Review Committee presented its final report with recommendations to Council at a Committee of the Whole meeting, Nov. 18, 2020. Click the link to view a recording of the meeting.


Committee members


District 1: Pablo Monroy, Tim Reynon
District 2: Erin Calata, Paul M. Herrera
District 3: Ken Garcy, Anthony McDaniel
District 4: Preston Anderson, Tisha Wosencroft
District 5: Shalisa Hayes, Jim Walton
District 6: Alfred Authorlee, Jim Cook
District 7: Richard Benson, Roxanne Simon


Facilitator:
Retired Pierce County Superior Court Judge Frank Cuthbertson

Staff liaison:
Chris Carlson, Chief of Staff

Meeting timeline


The committee met virtually every week for seven weeks starting Sept. 23, 2020. Meetings were broadcast live and recordings are linked below.


Meeting dateAgendaMeeting recordings
Sept. 23, 2020Click to view meeting agenda packetSept. 23, 2020 meeting (click to view)
Sept. 30, 2020Law Enforcement and Corrections review.
Agenda packet.
Sept. 30, 2020 meeting (click to view)
Oct. 7, 2020Prosecuting Attorney's Office review.
Agenda packet.
Oct. 7, 2020 meeting (click to view)
Oct. 14, 2020Department of Assigned Counsel review, Medical Examiner's Office review, Department of Economic Development review.
Agenda packet.
Oct. 14, 2020 meeting (click to view)
Oct. 21, 2020Review of Superior and District courts.
Agenda packet.
Oct. 21, 2020 meeting (click to view)
Oct. 28, 2020Review and discussion of draft report.
Agenda packetView the draft report.
Oct. 28, 2020 meeting (click to view)
Nov. 4, 2020Review and finalize report. 
Agenda packet (draft report included).
Nov. 4, 2020 meeting (click to view)
Nov. 18 special Committee of the Whole meetingPublic Review Committee report to Council at Committee of the Whole meetingNov. 18, 2020 Committee of the Whole (click to view)


Associated legislation


Resolution R2020-43, which directed the Executive and requested the Judicial Branch and Prosecuting Attorney to conduct the reviews.


Resolution R2020-75, changed the date for when the reports were presented to Council and moved the presentation from the Public Safety Committee to a Committee of the Whole meeting.


Resolution R2020-76, which established the public review committee on law and justice.