Month: February 2022

Sometimes all a person needs to turn their life around is for someone to believe in them. That’s where Dominique Hardeman comes in. Dom oversees the probation program for District Court.  He also manages the Court Resource Center that provides those exiting incarceration the services they need for a hopeful and positive transition to the community. His work to give people a chance for redemption is inspiring and lifechanging. His belief in the power of encouraging support and action gives us all reason to be proud.  I find him to be one of the most positive and innovative leaders in Pierce County – and that is saying something! I invite you learn more about Dom and his passion to foster redemption and renewal for court-involved individuals in District Court –…

Many people and departments across the County are doing the critically important work to create both safe AND just communities for all our residents. As you may remember, our Criminal Justice Workgroup (made up of leaders from the Prosecutor’s Office, the Sheriff’s Department, the Department of Assigned Council, and the Executive’s Office) has been providing both transparency and reform recommendations to promote a more just system.   Previously, they have issued two important reports that provide crucial insight into the criminal justice system.  The first report reviewed key policies and procedures as well as an analysis of arrest data Countywide, and the second report was a comprehensive review of the use of force by the Sheriff’s Department.  I wrote about this work in a recent blog. These are important first steps…

Every four years, many of us settle into our favorite comfy chair and watch amazing athletes from around the world pull off stunning physical achievements, under the banner of their home country. The strength, agility and stamina on display are truly inspiring.  Although there is often some controversy attached to the Olympic Games, it is impossible to not be captivated by the stories of the competitors.  You can’t watch the competition without respect for the unseen years of practice, repetition and sacrifice that make their Olympics dreams possible – and a healthy dose of national pride. This year's Games in Beijing had very special meaning for me, as my nephew, Ben Ogden, is competing as a cross-country skier for Team USA! Like athletes’ families from across the globe, due to the pandemic…

We are publishing our second annual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) report today. While it may seem as if we still have a long road ahead of us in our goal to ensure everyone has “a seat at the table,” it is reassuring to see how far we’ve come. You’ll see in the report – linked below – that decisions we’ve made have helped us move forward in our goal to have the racial makeup of our County workforce reflect that of our County residents. For example, we instituted a change to how we bring on “extra hire” employees so that we now have an open, competitive process instead of the old practice of hiring based on “who you know.”  As a result, we’ve broadened the potential pool of candidates…