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Subjects › Public Safety › City and County Court Services
Updated 03/2011

City and County Court Services

Contents

About Court Services

Each county, city, and town is responsible for the prosecution, adjudication, sentencing, and incarceration of misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor offenses committed by adults in their respective jurisdictions, and referred from their respective law enforcement agencies, whether filed under state law or city ordinance, and must carry out these responsibilities through the use of their own courts, staff, and facilities, or by entering into contracts or interlocal agreements under this chapter to provide these services. (RCW 39.34.180.)

The courts administered by local governments include the county superior court (See description in New Commissioners Handbook) and the courts of limited jurisdiction: district courts; municipal departments in district courts; and municipal courts. (See description in Citizens Guide to Courts).

Because of the recent significant decrease in revenues for local jurisdictions and the continuing increase in costs related to courts, county and city governments are exploring other options for providing court services to their citizens. This page is intended to provide information related to various court services, including interlocal contracting, and to highlight some of the court service programs, with Web descriptions. If you have information to add to this page, please contact the page editor.

For more information about courts:

Court Related Statutes

Court Reform

  • Washington Court Funding Task Force - Created to study the funding of Washington’s trial courts
  • Courts of Limited Jurisdiction Work Group (CLJWG) - Charged with responsibility to study the structural and court funding issues in the courts of limited jurisdiction, to propose efficient and effective methods of delivering judicial services, including the possibility of consolidation of these courts, and to recommend appropriate legislation.

Interlocal Agreements for Court Services

Cities Contracting with Counties

  • Clallam County
  • King County
  • Kittitas County
    • Ellensburg and Kittitas County Interlocal Agreement (Adobe Acrobat Document) for municipal department in district court, 11-2003; provides  automatic 1-year renewals; current 2011
    • Kittitas and Kittitas County Interlocal Agreement (Adobe Acrobat Document) for court services; term is January 1, 2009  until terminated
  • Grand Coulee and Grant County  Interlocal Agreement (Adobe Acrobat Document)  to provide Grand Coulee with jail and district court services, including probation, prosecution, and public defense, term is 01/1998 to 12/2008, funding is through the city's share of county-wide sales and use tax for criminal justice.
  • Othello and Adams County  Interlocal Agreement (Adobe Acrobat Document) for provision of prosecution, adjudication, indigent defense, sentencing, and incarceration services for misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor offenses, 1-04, with automatic renewal; current in 2011
  • Spokane County
    • Spokane and Spokane County District Court Interlocal Agreement  (Adobe Acrobat Document)  for municipal court services, 01/01/2006
    • Spokane and Spokane County District Court Interlocal Agreement (Adobe Acrobat Document)  for costs incident to adjudication of misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor offenses, 1-1-09 
  • Walla Walla  and Walla Walla County District Court Interlocal Agreement (Adobe Acrobat Document) for municipal court services; term is 2007-2015

Cities Contracting with Other Cities

  • RCW 3.15. 850
  • In City of Medina v. Primm, 160 Wn.2d 268 (2007) - The Washington Supreme Court upheld the use of interlocal agreements to share municipal court facilities, and it determined that cities had the authority to enter into intercity agreements for the provision of court services outside the geographical limits of the contracting cities. In 2008 the statutes were amended to incorporate this decision.
  • The following cities are providing municipal court services for other cities: Auburn (Algona); Battle Ground (Ridgefield, La Center); Buckley (Carbonado); Enumclaw (Maple Valley); Kirkland (Clyde Hill, Yarrow Point, Medina, Hunts Point); Marysville (Lake Stevens, Arlington); Mercer Island (Newcastle); Napavine (Vader); Nooksack (Everson); Pateros (Brewster); Sunnyside (Mabton); Tenino (Rainier); and Wilkeson (South Prairie).

Examples of Intercity Contracts for Court Services

  • Des Moines and Normandy Park  Interlocal Agreement (Adobe Acrobat Document) - Des Moines provides municipal court services to Normandy Park, term 01/09 to 12/13.
  • Kirkland Interlocal Agreement () provides municipal court services to Clyde Hill, Yarrow Point, Medina, and Hunts Point;  beginning 01/2000 for a term of 10 years.
  • Mercer Island and Newcastle  Interlocal Agreement (Adobe Acrobat Document) - Mercer Island provides court services to Newcastle; initial termination 12/31/2005, with annual renewals.
  •  Issaquah and Snoqualmie Interlocal Agreement (Adobe Acrobat Document)- Issaquah provides court services to Snoqualmie; term ends 12/31/09 may be renewed an additional two years.

Municipal vs District Court Studies

Public Defense Services

Specialized Courts

Community Courts

Drug Courts

Youth Courts

Mental Health Courts

Veterans Court

Court Administration - Service Illustrations

Adjudication by Mail/Internet

Court Services

Probation Programs

See also Alternatives to Incarceration

Volunteer Programs