Mason County Commissioner Randy Neatherlin and Shelton City Council Member George Blush are proposing a new diversion program that would include voluntary exile from a community which they call “Relocation Diversion”.
Neatherlin, who is running for another term on the Mason County Commission, sent MasonWebTV Powered by HCC a statement regarding “The Cleaner, Safer, Mason County, Voluntary Relocation as part of Diversion or Non-Prosecution Agreement (NPA)” proposal he and Blush created with the help of the Sheriff’s department, Public Defenders, Attorneys and Judges. The goal of the proposal is to relieve some of the burden on the courts and jails while helping to alleviate some of the criminal activity in the County and the City. The proposal would also help with new mandated Public Defender rules which limit the number of cases a public defender can handle.
Under the proposal, a code change would be required making offenses like squatting, being Intoxicated in public, open use of illegal substances, defecating in streets, stripping or having sex in public, malicious mischief, theft, accosting people, and violating private property rights a Misdemeanor and/or Gross Misdemeanor. These offenses would then be subject to up to 364 days in jail or up to $5,000 in fines and eligible for a diversion program.
According to Neatherlin’s statement, diversion programs can reduce costs to the public, lower caseloads for judges, attorneys and staff, and even offer people a second chance, especially with the proposal of a relocation option.
The “Relocation Diversion” requires offenders to voluntarily leave the county for 180 to 364 days depending on the crime and not return during that time period. This would be accomplished through a non-extraditable warrant deferring prosecution unless the offender returns. A non-extraditable warrant would only be honored within Mason County and if violated, the offender would be prosecuted in full or spend the original penalty time in the county jail.
Neatherlin told MasonWebTV that offenders accepting a relocation diversion would be sent to areas where appropriate services are available.
Neatherlin also acknowledges this proposal is a work in progress and is not necessarily “the answer” but should “restore accountability and provide consequences.”
Here is Neatherlin’s full statement: