A year in, the Familiar Faces initiative shows promising results

SALT LAKE CITY — It’s been one year after the Salt Lake District Court launched a new initiative to help keep the homeless and the mentally ill out of the court system. And there’s hard evidence to suggest it works.

The County calls the initiative the Familiar Faces court. Those involved with the program participate in weekly meetings, complete with a free meal, with the same judge for defendants with lower level nonviolent crimes.

A year in, District Attorney Sim Gill said of the 30 who signed up, 26 graduated and didn’t re-offend. 

“The courtroom has been modified. There’s tables and chairs that are welcoming,” said Salt Lake City prosecutor Paige Williamson. “It’s an environment to foster trust.”

Williamson said in their weekly meeting with the same judge, a volunteer case worker joins to help connect them with resources and put them on a path to recovery, rather than just receiving fines and jail time.

Defense attorney Chris Manberg believes the new approach is making a difference.

“I mean, as with any program, you’re going to have some setbacks,” Manberg said. “And you’re going to have some people that we just aren’t able to help. But I think it’s been, speaking from my clients perspective, a massive success.”

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