Justice

 Utah News Dispatch - It’s been one year since Salt Lake City launched a new court tailored toward individuals struggling with mental health, addiction or homelessness and so far, the data looks promising, with dozens of people who previously had hundreds of run-ins with police now steering clear of the criminal justice system.   The city’s new, aptly named “Familiar Faces” program works with people who have had multiple contacts with Salt Lake City Police officers in recent years, resulting in dozens, sometimes more than 100, low-level, nonviolent charges during their life. That mostly includes class B and C misdemeanors like trespassing, illegal camping, theft or criminal mischief. 

Most of the participants are struggling with homelessness and have acute, untended mental health needs. Rather than the traditional pathway, which for these cases is usually through the Justice Court, they come into court once a week to create and provide updates on a personalized plan that often involves enrolling in rehab or mental health services. 

Offenders charged with violent crimes, domestic violence or driving under the influence are excluded. As long as they don’t pick up additional charges during the program and follow through with their plan, they “graduate,” meaning the charges against them are dropped.

From what prosecutors describe, it’s not your typical court. Judge Clemens Landau doesn’t sit on the bench but instead joins the defendant, their public defender, a prosecutor and social worker at a roundtable. 

Landau will often trade his judicial robe for a less imposing T-shirt, and makes lunch for the participants. As they share a meal, the participant will talk about their immediate needs and barriers to self reliance. With help from a social worker, they’ll leave their first court hearing with a plan, then check in each week. 

Paige Williamson, the Familiar Faces prosecutor, said some of the participants compare it to meeting with family.  “Forever, the criminal justice system has been tasked with dealing with the symptoms of homelessness. This program, in contrast, is dealing with the root cause,” said Williamson, who described the court as a friendly, welcoming place to have difficult and complex conversations. 

And data from the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office suggests it’s working. The program currently has 30 active participants charged with 210 offenses — an additional 26 have graduated and only seven exited without finish the program during the first year.  Those 26 graduates had a combined 195 contacts with Salt Lake City Police the year before they entered the program. Since graduating, they’ve had a combined 40 contacts.