October 2, 2023
From Reagan Dunn
Councilmember, District 9
Metropolitan King County Council
Dear State Auditor McCarthy,
I understand that the Citizen Action Defense Fund, a watchdog group for state and local governments,
has requested that your office perform performance and financial audits of King County juvenile
diversion programs. I believe that they thoroughly outlined several valid concerns with diversion
programs initiated by the King County Prosecutor’s Office (KCPAO) Juvenile Division, funded through the
Department of Community and Human Services, and operated by affiliated non-profit juvenile justice
organizations. I find their requested audits not only reasonable, but in line with the best interests of King
County taxpayers, public safety in general, and the youth who rely on diversion programs that are
successful in providing rehabilitation and restoration.
It is worth noting that the concerns expressed by the Citizen Action Defense Fund are not theirs alone.
Reports of financial fraud, lack of performance metrics, and gravely worrying anecdotes of the internal
affairs of the County-funded juvenile diversion programs have been documented in highly-reputable
media outlets including The Seattle Times and KUOW, Seattle’s NPR station. It is also worth noting that
while King County recently transmitted its own internal review of one of the programs in question,
Restorative Community Pathways, it did not address any of the issues in this letter in a meaningful way
and did not identify ways to demonstrate performance or improve financial oversight.
To date, King County has allocated $17.5 in public funds to 18 private organizations that are responsible
for preventing youth gun violence and incarceration by treating juvenile offenders outside of the judicial
court system. Alarmingly, these organizations do not track collect metrics that would demonstrate
meaningful success, such as whether the juvenile offenders complete all requirements of the
rehabilitation program or not, or whether the juvenile offenders commit future criminal charges.
Because of this lack of information, we do not know whether these programs benefit either public safety
or the juvenile offender. Surely, it is reasonable to seek metrics on the success of these organizations
that are receiving public funds so we can know if they are fulfilling their obligations.
While the lack of data raises a red flag, occurrences that have come to light about the nature of these
diversion programs warrant an urgent response and investigation. A KUOW article details a gun battle
between a juvenile going through a King County-funded Community Passageways diversion program and an employee of that same program. As the article reveals, the Community Passageways employee who fired a gun at the young man in question had just been convicted of a firearms violation one year prior. Though Community Passageways has opted to end its contract with King County, there needs to be improvements made to King County’s internal processes to prevent similar occurrences in the future. It is, frankly, unjustifiable that King County is not only entrusting our troubled youth to unreformed criminals who are directly harming them, but are funding these very criminals with public dollars. This is negligent to taxpayers, to victims of violent crimes, and to the juvenile offenders who need to be redirected onto a better path in order to improve their lives.
Besides concerns over program performance, financial accountability is demonstrably lacking. A Seattle
Times article details how the Director of Finance for Community Passageways embezzled $890,000 in
taxpayer funds from the program. In addition, Restorative Community Pathways openly stated on their
website: “The county does not determine what our program looks like or how we go about practicing
restorative justice, and they have no control over the funds we receive … they are not our allies or
colleagues.” Clearly, there are problems not only with the performance of these organization, but also
with financial transparency around use of public dollars. In particular, the explicit resistance to oversight
to their use of County funds is gravely concerning. Taxpayers deserve accountability on these matters.”
As a former federal prosecutor, I know that juvenile diversion programs, if done right, are an invaluable
component of a juvenile justice system. Successful diversion programs can reduce future delinquency,
prevent recidivism, and, importantly, help young people live out their potential by giving them the
opportunity to re-route their lives. We must have diversion programs available for juvenile offenders
that are not just feel-good measures, but are clearly successful in improving their decision-making and
altering their trajectory, giving them hope for a future that isn’t defined by the long-term consequences
associated with committing crimes. It’s also pertinent that King County is balancing the need for juvenile
diversion services against the responsibility to provide for public safety and bring justice to victims.
Due to the seriousness of the matter at hand, as well as the documented financial corruption and
unsound practices of King County-funded juvenile diversion programs, I formally request financial and
performance audits of KCPAO-funded juvenile diversion programs. I believe these audits are necessary
to provide transparency for the use of taxpayer funds, to deliver justice to those impacted by the crimes
committed, to provide for the safety of our communities, and to improve our services to juvenile
offenders who need diversion services that are truly restorative.
Thank you for your attention to this matter of great importance.
Respectfully,
Reagan Dunn
King County Council, District 9
