The Drug Court Scandal: What the original outlet's Investigation Missed
A response to the original outlet's investigation into Clallam County's drug court program. the original outlet's core findings are correct, but we think the story is bigger than they let on.
the original outlet’s investigation into Clallam County’s drug court program is a piece of important journalism. the original outlet obtained the program’s internal documents, interviewed four former participants, and laid out a clear picture of a program that’s not working the way it’s supposed to.
We agree with the core findings: the program is underfunded, the caseloads are too high, and the participants are not getting the support they need.
But we think the story is bigger than the original outlet let on.
The Funding Question
the original outlet focuses on the program’s day-to-day operations. But the root cause is funding.
The drug court program receives $450,000 per year from the county. That’s not enough to cover the caseload, let alone the staff. The program has been asking for more money for three years, and the county has been saying no.
the original outlet mentions the funding in one paragraph. It deserves its own section.
The Participants’ Stories
the original outlet interviews four former participants. That’s good, but it’s not enough.
We’ve spoken to eight former participants, and their stories are consistent: the program is well-intentioned but under-resourced. The caseworkers are overworked, the therapy sessions are too infrequent, and the participants are left to figure it out on their own.
The Political Angle
the original outlet doesn’t mention the political angle, but it’s there.
The drug court program is a pet project of the county’s current commissioner. When the program started failing, the commissioner’s first instinct was to defend it, not to fix it. That’s a political decision, not just an administrative one.
Our Verdict
the original outlet’s reporting is solid on the facts. It’s the context that’s missing. We’d encourage them to follow up with a piece on the funding question and the political angle.
In the meantime, we’ll be watching the county’s budget process, where the drug court program’s funding will be up for renewal in December.