Seattle Municipal Court to Hold Community Outreach Event in South Seattle, Monday, September 19, 2022
By Laura Bet, Public Information Officer
Seattle (August 25, 2022) – Seattle Municipal Court (SMC) is bringing court and social services to the Rainier Beach Community Center on Monday, September 19, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Community members will get help with resolving SMC warrants and setting up payment plans or community service plans to address Seattle tickets. Visitors can also begin steps to renew their vehicle registration (tabs) if they are held up by unpaid Seattle tickets and access supportive services through the Community Resource Center.
Staff will answer questions about court processes, schedule hearings, and provide information on programs available through the court. No appointment is required. Participants can register in advance for faster check-in at the event.
Interpretation in Amharic, Mandarin, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese will be available.
Masks are required and health and safety measures will be in place during the event. Masks will be provided for attendees who do not have one.
This will be SMC’s first outreach event since October 2019. Outreach events were postponed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Supportive services offered on-site at the event include*:
- SMC warrant and ticket customer service
- King County traffic ticket payment plans and removal of fines from collections
- DSHS benefit enrollment (food, cash, medical, Identicard)
- Free smartphone with data for qualifying low-income people
- Access to an attorney to talk about vacating felony drug convictions
- Public defense eligibility screening
- YWCA healthcare access
- Mental health services and resources
- Medication-assisted treatment information
- Substance use disorder treatment programs
- Housing resources
- Utility and energy bill assistance
- ORCA LIFT card and transportation resources
- Education, job placement, training, and apprenticeship programs
- Free hygiene kits
- Free lunch provided 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
“We’re excited to get back out into the community,” said SMC Presiding Judge Adam Eisenberg. “At Seattle Municipal Court, we work hard to address the underlying causes that bring people into the legal system, and to connect them with life-changing social services. But we know it can be difficult for some people to travel to our downtown courthouse, and not everyone can access services using our website. This outreach event is a great opportunity for us to connect with members of the public in a safe and convenient location.”
This outreach event is funded and supported by the court and its Community Resource Center. The Community Resource Center is a social services hub located on the second floor of the courthouse, open to the entire community, and saw nearly 7,000 visitors in 2019.
Anyone who needs assistance is encouraged to attend on Monday, September 19, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. at the Rainier Beach Community Center, 8825 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118. For the latest information, visit our event website: seattle.gov/courts/community.
Event flyers are available in:
We are grateful for our event partners*: Tukwila Municipal Court, King County Department of Public Defense, Asian Counseling and Referral Services, CHAMPS Resource & Service Center Cowlitz Tribal Health, DSHS, Goodwill, Hopelink, Molina Healthcare, MPS Lifeline LLC, Pioneer Human Services, Public Health – Seattle and King County, Rapid Relief Team, Seattle City Light, Seattle Parks and Recreation, Seattle Police Department Community Service Officers, Uplift NW, Valley Cities Behavioral Health Care, Washington Drivers Relicensing Taskforce, and YWCA.
*These services are scheduled to be offered at the event, with no guarantee depending on provider availability.
The Seattle Municipal Court provides a forum to resolve alleged violations of the law in a respectful, independent, and impartial manner. We adjudicate misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor crimes, infractions, and civil violations authorized under the Seattle Municipal Code and certain Revised Code of Washington statutes. For more information visit: www.seattle.gov/courts
