Community Partnerships
The Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is committed to being proactive in our mission to advocate for public safety, seek justice in criminal cases for victims and those accused, represent the interests of children, and provide effective legal services to Thurston County government, by partnering with local government and community-based organizations. We recognize that today's investments in education, mentoring, and other support services for children and families will yield significant returns in the form of less crime, reduced costs for criminal justice and social services, and an overall improvement in the quality of life for all Thurston County residents.
Investing in Youth
Members of the Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office visit local schools to assist with mock trials and speak to classes about the legal process and justice system. Prosecutor Tunheim and our deputy prosecuting attorneys are available to visit classrooms, as their court schedules allow. For more information, educators and administrators should contact the PAO at (360) 786-5540.
It’s an annual tradition for Prosecuting Attorney’s Office members to volunteer with the Thurston County Family Support Center at Camp Hope. Camp Hope is an evidence-based camping and mentoring program for children and youth who have witnessed domestic violence and experienced trauma. Learn more about Camp HOPE Washington.
Community Engagement
The Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is accessible to the public through community outreach by way of court tours, educational programs, participation in inter-agency committees, community event attendance and speaking events at conferences, meetings and panels.
Victim advocates and Deputy Prosecuting Attorney’s (DPA) with the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office volunteer their time to teach young people and community members about the law and the role of the prosecutor by delivering presentations. Please reach out if you’d like a DPA or victim advocate to visit your community meeting/event or classroom (both virtually and in-person, when safe to do so).
We frequently partner with local academic institutions for projects, including Saint Martin’s University, The Evergreen State College Master of Public Administration Program and South Puget Sound Community College. Educators and administrators are encouraged to reach out to (360)786-5540 to discuss opportunities to partner with our office. Internships are available for both undergraduate and law students.
If you would like to invite a representative of the Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to address your organization or academic institution, please contact Community Engagement staff at (360) 786-5540.
Community Partners
The Thurston County Family Justice Center is a collaborative effort of the Family Support Center of South Sound, the Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, the Thurston County Sheriff's Office, and the Thurston County Clerk's Office. Deputy prosecuting attorneys from the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office help provide clients with access to civil legal support, protection orders, culturally appropriate advocacy, military advocacy, victim support in criminal cases, and other emergency assistance. In addition, safety planning, housing, transportation and translation services are available for non-English speaking clients. Services at the Thurston County Family Justice Center are client driven - designed with the assistance of survivors to ensure the safety and support of other survivors. The top priority is meeting the needs of each survivor and her or his family.
Victim Advocates for the Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office provided advocacy services to over 1,260 victims of domestic violence in 2019 at the Family Support Center of South Sound (FSCSS). If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence in Thurston County, please contact the FSCSS at 360-754-9297 x 200 or email: fjc@fscss.org.
The Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office participates in the Thurston County Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Task Force, a multi-disciplinary and multi-system-based group working together to prevent sexual and domestic violence in our community.
The Task Force includes individuals from law enforcement, the courts, prosecutors, private attorneys, advocates, service providers, health care providers, children's services, adult protective services, youth programs, batterer's intervention programs, first responders, school professionals, businesses and community members.
The goals of the Task Force are to:
- Provide the opportunity for individuals and agencies within our own community to come together on a regular basis to network, learn about services and resources, train each other, identify system gaps and promote collaboration on ending sexual and domestic violence.
- Research/identify, coordinate and promote effective community interventions that minimize domestic violence and sexual assault.
- Influence the systems we work with to produce a continuum of prevention and response that raises standards of care/services for all victims to increase victim safety and perpetrator accountability.
- Promote education and training to community residents, agencies, businesses, schools and other entities to include providing an annual conference or summit in our own community.
- Annually assess our own structure and goals. Serve as a consultant body for review of legislative and policy issues.
- Make ourselves available as an educated body to consult with individuals and/or agencies in order to provide assistance, education and/or support in the overall goal of ending sexual and domestic violence.
Monarch Children's Justice & Advocacy Center is a collaborative effort of the Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, Providence St. Peter Hospital Sexual Assault Clinic, DSHS/Division of Children's Services, additional community agencies, local law enforcement agencies and private therapists. Child Advocacy Centers work to reduce the incidence and impact of child abuse by providing a coordinated, multidisciplinary response to victims of child abuse and their families. This response includes prevention, investigation, prosecution, and treatment and community partners.
The Monarch multidisciplinary team is changing the way the community responds to child victims of sexual abuse. This multidisciplinary approach offers child victims and their families a place where they can access the help they need to heal emotionally and physically from abuse.
The Thurston Council Law and Justice Council provides an interjurisdictional forum for consideration of initiatives and resources to improve criminal justice services, enhance public safety, and reduce crime throughout Thurston County.
As a current co-chair, Prosecutor Jon Tunheim has played an active role on the council since its formation in 2014.
Members of the public are welcome to view or attend Law and Justice Council meetings.