Justice Project Community Engagement Draws Crowds in Whatcom County

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

A recent Whatcom County community workshop on the Justice Project drew a significant turnout, with more than one hundred residents gathering in Ferndale to learn about the county’s progress on the new jail and behavioral health facility. The event offered a chance for the public to speak directly with county officials, planners, and the design-build team responsible for shaping the next phase of the project. Attendees spent the afternoon reviewing displays, asking questions, and participating in hands-on activities designed to illustrate the challenges, costs, and tradeoffs involved in building new public safety and behavioral health infrastructure.

Residents moved through a series of stations featuring visual boards, data charts, and project concepts. Many spent extended time speaking with staff about the current state of the county jail, the need for expanded behavioral health space, and the long-standing booking restrictions that have shaped the county’s justice system for years. The workshop emphasized transparency around cost drivers and space planning, including programming needs, courtroom availability, administrative areas, and treatment capacity.

One of the most interactive elements involved jars filled with sand, black stones, white beads, and blue beads. Each material represented different components of the new facilities, such as soft costs, behavioral health beds, administrative areas, and jail beds. Participants were invited to create their own preferred allocation by choosing which mixture best reflected what they believe the county should prioritize. The visual exercise gave residents a tangible way to understand the realities of building a combined behavioral care center and jail that must balance safety, treatment, staffing, operations, and long-term sustainability.

County leaders said the goal of the event was not only to present updated information but also to gather detailed public input. Many attendees stated the importance of prioritizing behavioral health services, reentry support, and housing stability to reduce incarceration. Others voiced concerns about the historically high incarceration rates across the country and questioned the overall scale and need for a new jail. Some community members said the facility as proposed may not be large enough to meet public safety needs and encouraged a faster construction timeline. Residents also raised questions about transportation access to the LaBounty site, diversion programs, and the long-term operating costs of the facility.

The county also asked residents how success should be measured once the new facilities are built. Responses ranged from reducing the number of incarcerated individuals to ensuring access to mental health and treatment services, shortening pre-trial jail stays, eliminating booking restrictions caused by overcrowding, and lowering local crime rates. Some residents said success would mean shifting more resources toward housing, healthcare, and food security, while others emphasized the need for a facility that can hold individuals with warrants to restore basic law enforcement functionality.

Throughout the workshop, residents reviewed progress made under the Justice Project Implementation Plan, which guides the county’s approach to programming, operations, and facility design. Informational boards showed early concepts for behavioral health services, treatment spaces, and other components that will be refined as more public input is gathered. Officials said this was the first of three major community engagement sessions that will shape the size, scope, and budget of the Justice Project. The next meeting is scheduled for early 2026, when additional design details and updated planning materials will be presented.

County staff said that all feedback gathered at the workshop will be reviewed and incorporated into ongoing decision-making. More information, including graphics, materials, and updates, is available on the county’s Justice Project webpage.

Fernando Gonzalez is the Editor-in-Chief of BMN, contact him at [email protected]; 360-510-0929 TEXT ONLY. For tips, email [email protected]