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Prevention, Restoration, Accountability
November 2025 |
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Join Us in Ferndale - Nov. 20th 6PM to 8PM
The team that will be designing and building the new justice facilities are holding an interactive community engagement workshop at the Pioneer Pavilion Community Center (2007 Cherry St) in Ferndale on November 20th, from 6PM to 8PM.
Whatcom County’s Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force, Sheriff’s Office, and Executive’s Office invite the public to attend.
Participants will be able to:
- Learn about the progress made on key goals of the Justice Project
- Provide input on the priorities for the design and services of the new jail and behavioral care center
- Ensure the project reflects the commitments made to the community
Elected officials, county staff, and construction professionals will be on hand to solicit input, provide updates and answer questions.
For questions or ADA accommodations, please contact Riley Sweeney with the Whatcom County Executive’s office at 360-778-5213 or RSweeney@whatcomcounty.us.
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Sheriff's Office Set to Relocate to Cordata in 2026
The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office is set to relocate to Bellingham’s Cordata neighborhood. This decision comes after an extensive search for a new headquarters to address a long-standing need for a more functional and modern workspace.
Last week, Council approved a lease for the former headquarters of Ryzex, Inc (4600 Ryzex Way), a printing technology manufacturer. The facility includes approximately 30,000 square feet and has direct access to the Guide Meridian, making it a strategic location for emergency response and daily operations.
Under the lease agreement, the annual base rent will be $507,132, — an amount consistent with market rates for comparable properties. The term runs through the end of 2033 with options for two additional two-year extensions. The County also retains the option to purchase the property in the future.
Initial funding for this new space is set to be provided by Whatcom County funding, not from the Justice Project.
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County Receives Funding for Supportive Housing Project
Whatcom County has been awarded $3.6 million in grant funding through the Trueblood Diversion Workgroup to expand permanent supportive housing for residents with behavioral health needs.
This funding, in partnership with investments from the City of Bellingham, will add 37 new supportive housing units, including 11 units specifically for people who experienced unconstitutional delays in receiving competency evacuations or restoration services after a criminal charge. Other funders include the City of Bellingham, the Washington State Department of Commerce and a direct appropriation from the state legislature.
Housing will be provided at Lake Whatcom Center’s new Lincoln Street redevelopment.
This investment makes progress on one of the key components of the Justice Project Implementation Plan, which identified a severe shortage of affordable and supportive housing for both the general population and justice-involved individuals with mental health needs.
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IPRTF Unanimously Recommends Out-of-Custody Model for Behavioral Care Center
The Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force (IPRTF) unanimously recommended the County move forward with a Behavioral Care Center model that provides services out-of-custody rather than an in-custody model within the new jail. No recommendation was made as to off-site or on-site with the jail at this time.
With a legal framework in place that allows for diversion of qualifying inmates, the behavioral care center can provide an alternative to incarceration, as well as offer needed services to the greater community. This recommendation has been moved forward to the County Council, as the project team works to develop recommendations with respect to size, scope, and services of the new jail and behavioral care center.
Interested community members are encouraged to attend IPRTF meetings where they can receive updates and provide feedback on the Justice Project. Meeting dates and agendas can be found here.
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Learning the Lingo: What is the "Validation" phase?
Currently, the County is in the Validation phase for the Justice Project facilities (the new Behavioral Care Center and Jail), so what does that mean?
The Validation phase happens after the Design-Build team is hired but before they begin drafting blueprints and site plans. This phase is where the project decision-makers (elected officials in consultation with project staff, community members, etc.) decide the scale, scope, services, and budget for the facilities.
In practical terms, the Design-Build team is proving information to support decision makers as they answer those big questions: Where should the Behavioral Care Center be located? How large should the new jail be? What are the tradeoffs between offering various treatment programs at the jail versus at the Behavioral Care Center? How do these programs and services interplay with other facilities like the Anne Deacon Center for Hope or the proposed 23-hour crisis care facility?
You can be part of these conversations by attending an IPRTF meeting (see above), or joining the Community Engagement Workshop on Nov. 20th (see above), or participating in future community engagement workshops throughout the Validation phase.
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 The County is hard at work developing the Justice Project facilities. Here is a draft timeline (click here to view a larger version) although there are several factors that can impact design and construction timelines including:
- Decisions made during validation phase
- Multiple (federal, state, city) permitting timelines
- Utility provider engineering & permitting timelines
- Unforeseen site conditions
- Supply chain and tariffs
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The Justice Project has many moving parts. To keep you updated, here's a few miscellaneous updates on Justice Project-related milestones.
- Initial geotechnical of the jail construction site is complete and being reviewed.
- Staff is reviewing off-site wetland mitigation opportunities to ensure the project meets all relevant requirements.
- Finance staff continue to monitor Sales Tax revenue to ensure that the County is collecting the resources necessary to meet our goals. The most recent financial report is the Sept 2025 data, provided to the Justice Project Finance and Facility Advisory Board and is available online here.
- A WCHCS epidemiologist is analyzing findings from the Behavioral Health & Corrections Workforce Survey of behavioral health and corrections professionals to address critical shortages.
- Response Systems started a pilot internship/practicum program with seven interns placed in Mental Health Court, Alternative Response Team (ART), and GRACE
- Staff continue work on a re-entry waiver allowing individuals to retain their Medicaid while incarcerated. Staff are putting infrastructure in place to begin tracking and billing in 2026, a critical step towards qualifying for that waiver.
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