Seattle’s new Connection Court began hearing cases this week, offering some people accused of low-level offenses a chance to complete service-related requirements and have their cases dismissed. But King County’s Department of Public Defense has distanced itself from the program, saying its rules are too restrictive and may reproduce problems the court is meant to address. The court, launched by City Attorney Erika Evans, is scheduled to hear cases every other Wednesday. Participants who complete assigned “engagements” — which can include attending a mental health appointment, not merely scheduling one — may have their cases dismissed. A central point of dispute is a 90-day period during which participants must avoid new offenses. If someone is accused of another crime during that period, they can be removed from the program and their original case can proceed through the regular court system. Katie Hurley, special counsel for criminal policy and practice at the Department of Public Defense, said the office had worked with Evans’ team for months before pulling back in August, shortly before the court was initially expected to launch. Hurley said the 90-day requirement was introduced late in those discussions and makes the program more restrictive than Seattle’s previous community court. That earlier program used jurisdiction periods of 14 or 28 days, Hurley said — periods intended to allow people to complete assigned tasks without leaving an open case hanging over them for months. Evans said public defenders wanted the period to last one day. Hurley clarified that DPD’s position was for the court case to conclude once a participant completed the required engagements. Jenna Robert, criminal division chief in the City Attorney’s Office, said the longer period is meant to give participants time to complete substantive steps, such as attending an appointment. Evans said the 90 days would provide time for that work to happen. The rule could pose particular challenges for people without housing, who may face trespassing charges for sleeping outside. Connection Court does not currently connect participants with shelter options. Evans said she is discussing that possibility with Mayor Katie Wilson. DPD also objects to Evans’ separate High-Priority Repeat Offenses program, or HiPRO. It covers people accused of three crimes in three months or six in six months and calls for prosecutors to recommend aggravated sentences. The cases focus in part on conduct affecting businesses, including trespassing, theft and vehicle prowls, and are not eligible for Connection Court. Evans said HiPRO differs from a similar initiative under her predecessor, Republican Ann Davison, because it assesses conduct over a rolling period rather than relying on a set list. She said enhanced sentences would follow repeated opportunities to avoid prosecution and could amount to a few additional days in jail, though the penalty is not fixed. Public defenders argue that people repeatedly caught up in low-level cases are often those most failed by the traditional system, and that more jail time does not address the causes of those offenses. Evans said some HiPRO cases may still be considered for Connection Court through prosecutorial discretion or other pre-filing diversion programs. Seattle has been without a community court since Davison ended the previous program in 2023. Evans and other candidates pledged during the 2025 campaign to revive a therapeutic court. Evans said she wants Connection Court to grow, while acknowledging that its current form is not enough.