Kensington Voice, 1/7/25: “The city will launch its weekly “neighborhood wellness court” in Kensington in the coming weeks, according to multiple city officials.

The program is for people arrested on summary offenses, including disorderly conduct, obstructing the highway, public intoxication, and failure to disperse. Those arrested will face same-day adjudication and be given a choice between entering a drug treatment program or facing criminal penalties.

Summary offenses, which are less serious than misdemeanors, are processed entirely by the police department rather than being referred to the Defender Association and the District Attorney’s Office.

The concept of a Kensington fast-track court was first mentioned publicly by Capt. Christopher Bullick of the 24th Police District at a September Harrowgate Civic Association meeting.

Bullick described the court as a way to ‘hold people accountable for what they’re doing’ by demonstrating that there are ‘consequences.’ He also mentioned its potential to connect individuals with treatment programs.

However, critics, including legal and harm reduction advocates, have raised concerns about due process, racial disparities, and the ethics of increasing criminal justice involvement without adequately addressing the underlying needs of people targeted.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) raised constitutional concerns about the program in a Dec. 17 letter to the Parker administration*.”

Read the full article here.

*ALC was a co-signer of this letter.