Snohomish County unveils its innovative Law & Justice Dashboard, a groundbreaking tool merging law enforcement and prosecutor data. Developed through a collaborative effort involving the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, the county’s IT department, and the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the dashboard represents a significant milestone in enhancing public access to critical legal system information.
"This dashboard is a testament to our commitment to transparency and accountability," remarks Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney Jason Cummings. The project received crucial support from Microsoft, which granted funding to the City University of New York’s Institute for State and Local Governance for a comprehensive data review and framework development.
Kevin Miller, Microsoft’s Justice Reform Initiative Lead, underscores the dashboard's role in advancing fairness and policy informed by data. "It marks an important step in leveraging data to guide equitable practices within Snohomish County's criminal legal system," he notes, emphasizing the potential impact on policy and public understanding.
Unlike many similar initiatives across the nation hosted by single agencies, Snohomish County's dashboard uniquely combines law enforcement and prosecutor perspectives. "Having both sets of data integrated provides a holistic view essential for informed decision-making," explains Benjamin Estep, Research Project Director at CUNY’s Institute for State and Local Governance.
The dashboard’s accessibility and comprehensiveness enable stakeholders, from prosecutors to the general public—to analyze trends and monitor system performance effectively. "Transparent, up-to-date data on demographics like race, age, and gender enhances our ability to evaluate and improve system outcomes," adds Estep, highlighting its utility in addressing community needs.
Former Prosecuting Attorney Adam Cornell’s initiative during his tenure catalyzed the dashboard's inception in 2021. "His vision and collaboration with external partners were instrumental in launching this transformative tool," Cummings acknowledges, reflecting on the project's origins and community impact.
Accessible via Snohomish County’s official website, the Law & Justice Dashboard represents a significant stride towards fostering transparency and accountability in local governance. Its integration of diverse data sets promises to empower stakeholders and advance equitable practices within the criminal justice system.
