For many people, the notion of coming to court or being involved in the judicial system is anxiety-inducing—especially for defendants. Seattle Municipal Court (SMC) has a resource available to help individuals who are going or have been through the court—its Community Resource Center, a service hub located in the courthouse… [ Keep reading ]
In November, Seattle Municipal Court (SMC) introduced a new blog series—essentially a “Who’s Who at SMC”—that lets you get to know the people behind the scenes who make the day-to-day interactions at the court function. Our third person for you to meet is Makayla Garrett, a probation counselor at the court…. [ Keep reading ]
On Friday, October 20th, Seattle Municipal Court Probation was honored with one of four Innovating Justice Awards by the Washington State Court’s Board For Judicial Administration. The award is given to individuals or groups who have provided exceptional leadership in helping courts deliver innovative and responsive justice by promoting race equity… [ Keep reading ]
Seattle Municipal Court (SMC) has developed three explainer videos as additional tools for guiding court-involved individuals through court processes and procedures. At SMC, we understand that receiving a ticket or being summoned to court can be a stressful time, and that court processes may be difficult to navigate. We are… [ Keep reading ]
On August 25, 2023, Presiding Judge Faye R. Chess and Probation Manager Jason Grant discussed successes and insights from the Court’s three-year Probation Evolution Project, which focused on improving client outcomes and addressing disproportionate impacts on women and people of color. Judge Chess and staff then answered questions from the… [ Keep reading ]
By Victoria Moreland, SMC Community Engagement Advisor The Seattle Municipal Court (SMC) recently completed its Probation Evolution Project, implementing a new probation approach that is more empathetic and supportive to probation clients. This new approach departs from the traditional, punitive-based model and focuses on helping clients succeed in rehabilitation and… [ Keep reading ]
Seattle Municipal Court (SMC) is pleased to announce the completion of the Probation Evolution Project, an effort focused on improving client outcomes and minimizing disproportionate impacts probation has on women and people of color. SMC thanks everyone who participated in focus groups, webinars, and surveys to share their concerns and… [ Keep reading ]
