Seattle's last attempt at a therapeutic community (read: addiction) court was a total neo-abolitionist farce, where people diverted to it faced no consequences for not showing up (and most did not), and there were almost no meaningful interventions offered to the few who did. But that doesn't mean that a well conceived and resourced municipal misdemeanor-level therapeutic court isn't a good idea. There are therapeutic courts in suburbs like Auburn and Renton that do really excellent work helping those suffering from addiction regain control over their lives. Seattle could benefit from one too, provided it's done correctly. And King County Drug Court, which I recently had the privilege of visiting and touring, does absolutely incredible work turning around the lives of people arrested for serious crimes after falling deep into the trap of addiction. Which brings me to this very smart must read op ed (link to follow) in @SeaTimesOpinion today from my friend @josephbarsana about how drug court-style therapeutic approaches make a real and positive difference in people's lives. He should know, since he's both a graduate of King County Drug Court and now works there, providing meaningful assistance to those following in his footsteps as they seek to turn their lives around. He writes: "One of the biggest misconceptions today is that compassion and accountability are opposites. They are not. In therapeutic courts, they work together. Compassion does not mean lowering expectations. It means recognizing that people grow through support, not fear... And at the heart of diversion is a simple truth: We meet people where they are, but we do not leave them there. Therapeutic courts understand that people enter the system in crisis, but with the right expectations, support, and structure, they can leave with stability, dignity, and purpose."