Community Court: redemptive path for high-risk offenders
But to be successful, participants "have to want it."
EPHRATA —Grant County District Court Judge Brian Gwinn called him “The Man of the Hour.” Getting to that hour has consumed most of Shannon Lee Robinson’s adult life.
Last month, the 55-year-old Robinson became the 16th graduate of Grant County Community Court, a therapeutic program Gwinn initiated in 2023 to help “high risk, high needs” individuals struggling with substance abuse, mental health, or other disorders resulting in poor decisions, life instability, and criminal behavior.
Robinson certainly qualified.
“I’ve been in prison most of my life (for) committing burglaries and stealing cars to pay for drugs … Drug addiction has been a big part of my problem,” Robinson candidly acknowledged during his March 4 graduation ceremony at the county courthouse in Ephrata.
Robinson grew up in Seattle but has dozens of court cases stretching from Benton to Snohomish counties. He entered the local treatment program in November 2024, following an arrest earlier that fall for shoplifting at the Ephrata Walmart.
Over the next 17 months, Robinson made a transformational journey, attending all his scheduled court cases, abstaining from illicit drugs and alcohol, and voluntarily submitting to an individualized service plan to address problems which led him — like many others — to commit crimes.
“So many people who come through the court fear success,” Gwinn told Robinson. “You stuck with it … It took awhile, but you made connections with others in the program. I’m super proud of you.”
Now, Robinson’s challenge is “to go on. Keep up with the progress (and) sobriety,” the judge said.
A relative, Patty Hash of Ephrata, told the court that she had known Robinson for decades and watched him emerge from prison stints, only to return to drinking and drugs, then end up back in jail.
“I thank God for this program, Judge Gwinn. He’s a good man,” she said.
While incarcerated, Robinson said there was never what he termed a “whole wraparound” of services available that included recovery treatment, job training, and housing assistance.
“We need more programs like this,” he said. "I've wasted a lot of years."
WASHINGTON STATE’S ‘THERAPEUTIC COURTS’
As a former public defense attorney, Gwinn is well acquainted with defendants whose criminal histories have been fueled by drugs and alcohol, behavioral issues, and dysfunctional lifestyles.
Shortly after taking the bench in 2021, Gwinn pursued a grant from Washington state’s Administrative Office of the Courts to establish a local “therapeutic court” to address those underlying behaviors in lieu of traditional sentencing. The goal is to have the defendants’ criminal charges dismissed and for them to avoid future involvement in the legal system.
The AOC has several specialized types of programs — drug, mental health, DUI, veterans, community, tribal healing to wellness, juvenile therapeutic, safe babies/early childhood, and human trafficking courts. But they all involve interdisciplinary teams, led by a judge, who work collaboratively in addressing the individual needs of participants.
Grant County Community Court operates under the auspices of District Court, which handles misdemeanor cases, but defendants may also have felony cases pending in Superior Court. Gwinn said the county prosecutor’s office is a primary “gatekeeper” in determining who qualifies.
To be eligible for Community Court, candidates must age 18 or older, legally competent, obtain a referral, and submit to a screening process that includes a key component — the willingness to commit to a minimum of 12 months’ participation while refraining from drugs and alcohol.
Accepted participants agree to intensive monitoring, accountability, and mandatory drug testing. They receive social services that include substance abuse treatment, mental health counseling, and — later — assistance with housing, employment, and education. Progress is assessed during a four-phase process that typically takes 18 months, said Amy Paynter, GCCC’s coordinator.
And there is a lot to coordinate.
While there are no costs or fees to be in the program, participants pay for their own treatment and other monitoring services when they can. Treatment might be through Renew, Grant County’s own behavioral healthcare provider, or other out-of-county service providers in Spokane, Seattle, the Tri-Cities, and Yakima where residential programs are also available.
“We go to where the resources are and what is best for the participants,” said Gwinn. “There’s lots of planning, collaborating, and coordinating resources for the participant to get them to stability.”
“There’s no set formula. It depends on the person," Paynter observed. But for anyone to ultimately be successful, she said, “They have to want it.”
As of last month, Grant County Community Court had 26 active participants plus three more being processed, one new referral, and a half-dozen “inactive” cases. Those are individuals out of compliance with their service plan, not getting treatment, or in “warrant status” meaning they have violations which make them subject to re-arrest.
Paynter works with two Community Court resource specialists/case managers: Alma Farias and Manny Garcia. The trio are primarily funded by state monies that pay their salaries and for some office equipment. The revenue is allocated annually, and there is lingering uncertainty whether the state funding will continue and at what level, Paynter acknowledged.
Consequently, the program represents a significant investment of money, manpower, and resources with no guarantee of a positive outcome. But so does locking up criminal defendants with high risk of reoffending.
THE GOAL IS GRADUATION, AND BEYOND
Progress in the program has four phases: get sober and stable; consistently practice what they’ve learned; pass all their UA’s (urine analysis drug tests); and get situated in a “safe” home with a commitment to find a job or pursue education.
Progress also involves regular court appearances, whether in person in Ephrata or Moses Lake, or online for those residing outside of Grant County. Unlike traditional court proceedings, the Community Court sessions with Gwinn are fairly informal and sometimes quite personal. As case managers, Farias and Garcia offer their assessment of each participant’s status and progress, with Gwinn then questioning or encouraging their conduct.
During the March 4 court session, there were multiple stories. Positive ones were met with applause.
Marcos told the judge that he recently shaved off his beard to improve his appearance because “I’m a working man now” in his first week of employment. Daniel shared that he recently returned from a family visit to Arizona following the death of his mother, and was commended for maintaining his sobriety during a time of deep personal loss. Abigail said a cousin who uses drugs had called her, but she no longer wanted to associate with him or that culture because “I’m sober. I’ve got boundaries now.”
All good decisions, said Gwinn, who will dole out a “Good Decision Dollar” or similarly reward positive behavior by reducing mandatory community service by a half-hour, inviting a participant to lunch, or placing their name in periodic drawings for prizes that have included coffee machines and televisions.
Sometimes, as an ice breaker, Gwinn opens a court session with the “question of the day.” An example: “If you could have an unlimited amount of anything, what would it be?”
Not surprisingly, several answered “money.” One said he would want gold to invest, then use the profits “to open a treatment center and provide housing” for others. Replies also included unlimited gasoline, time, acceptance, fishing poles and tackle, and Flaming Hot Cheetos.
Not all the reported behaviors are positive. Missing a check-in, failing a drug test, not following through on community service, or “lack of accountability” may lead to sanctions such as writing a “reflective” paper, getting additional community service time, or having to observe Superior Court proceedings.
And not everyone graduates. If serious enough, old behaviors and/or new criminal charges can result in expulsion from the program and a return to jail.
“Engaging with the judge, and the judge providing incentives and sanctions, is the key to program success,” said Gwinn.
Ultimately, the “team” — case managers, treatment liaisons, corrections personnel, prosecuting and defense attorneys — make a final recommendation to the judge on whether a participant is ready to “graduate” from the program.
And when they do, it is celebrated.
For the "Man of the Hour," there were gifts, balloons, pizza, and accolades from his case manager and service providers. Gwinn and Grant County deputy prosecutor Jeremiah Jensen signed orders formally dismissing Robinson’s misdemeanor and felony criminal charges that had been placed on hold.
Robinson then added his name to a large banner signed by the program’s prior graduates, some of whom remain involved as volunteers offering support and guidance to others. And Robinson expressed his appreciation “to everybody” for their help.
“I enjoyed being in the program,” he said, then quipping, “most of the time.”
