The High Priority Offender (HPO) Program
resolves 500th High Priority Offender Case. The High Priority Offender (HPO) Program, an innovative data-driven approach to prosecution, began in 2015. This year, the HPO Unit resolved its 500th case. HPOs are sent to prison at twice the state rate and for sentences nearly four times as long. The HPO program focuses resources on the small percentage of criminals who cause a large percentage of crimes, the career criminals and other prolific offenders.
Prosecutor Lindquist and staff presented to more than 100 community groups and city councils about Elder Abuse in an effort to protect vulnerable adults, increasing awareness is part of how we decrease elder abuse. Please contact us if you would like us to speak with your group.
Our office remains vigilant to ensure Pierce County does not get more than its fair share of dangerous offenders released into our community from the Department of Corrections, the Special Commitment Center on McNeil Island, and Western State Hospital. In one example, our office prevented the release of a King County Crips gang member to his mother’s house in Pierce County when we determined that the house was vacant. In another example, our office prevented the release of a particularly dangerous man from Western State Hospital.
Gang Unit continues to reduce gang violence in Pierce County. Thanks to vigorous gang sweeps, as well as prevention efforts with our partners, gang violence is down 60 percent in the past five years.
Burglaries and armed robbery reduced in Pierce County. According to 2017 crime statistics, burglaries are down 33 percent and armed robbery is down 26 percent. In addition to the work performed by our team in the HPO Unit, our office partnered with the Pierce County Sheriff Department’s Proactive Property Crimes Unit and the Tacoma Police Department’s Burglary Reduction Team.
Our office partnered with District Court in their Drug Abuse Reduction Team or “DART” program. First time felony drug possession cases are resolved in District Court to make use of their probation system, which allows for greater supervision of court-ordered drug treatment and provides incentive to stay engaged in treatment.
Pierce County’s Felony Mental Health Court doubled in capacity. Our office collaborates with other stakeholders in the Felony Mental Health Court where criminal activity is largely caused by an underlying mental health problem. Through court ordered and monitored evaluation and treatment, the court creates improved outcomes and reduced recidivism.
Our Juvenile Division began a new diversion program for family-based, non-intimate partner domestic violence. The program connects juveniles with social services aimed at addressing the underlying causes, instead of pursuing traditional prosecution. The goals are to improve outcomes for the juveniles and families involved and reduce recidivism.
Family Support Division collected almost $1.2 million in unpaid child support. The division has finalized more paternity actions than any other county in the state, and has streamlined support modifications, increasing efficiency.