Vancouver resident Peter Bracchi says ‘while this model has helped some people, we should be alarmed at how quickly it’s evolving into a two-tiered legal system’

Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and do not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com

Vancouver has prided itself on innovative approaches to justice, including Community Court programs designed to address homelessness and low-level crime through support services. While this model has helped some people, we should be alarmed at how quickly it’s evolving into a two-tiered legal system — where personal background or political sympathy may now determine whether someone is fully held accountable under the law.

Community Court was never intended to replace the judicial system; it was a workaround — first for unhoused individuals — meant to pair accountability with services. But we are now watching this “alternative justice” model being proposed for alcohol-related offenses, mental illness, and veterans — and it doesn’t stop there.

If we follow the logic being applied, we could soon be looking at community courts for:

     •   Individuals who commit crimes (DUI, shoplifting, neglect)

     •   Chronic traffic offenders

     •   People involved in public fights or bar incidents

     •   Teens or adults who harass others online

     •   Repeat animal neglect offenders

     •   Individuals who commit crimes but say they don’t “agree with the law”

What about next year? Courts for social media influencers? Offenders who were “having a bad day”? People who feel misrepresented politically?

This is not compassionate justice — it’s a road toward legal inconsistency, leniency based on identity, and a breakdown in equal accountability. The justice system must be impartial. Carving out alternate paths for certain offenders undermines public trust and invites abuse.

The answer to community problems is not to dilute the law. It’s to enforce the law fairly, help people access services when needed — and apply the same legal standards to all of us.

Peter Bracchi
Vancouver

---

Also read:

• 
  Opinion: Transit agencies need accountability not increased state subsidy
  Charles Prestrud argues that Washington transit agencies face rising costs and declining ridership due to governance structures that lack public accountability.
• 
  Letter: ‘For years, American foreign policy too often felt like a blank check’
  Vancouver resident Peter Bracchi argues that the 2025 National Security Strategy marks a long-overdue shift toward clearer priorities, shared responsibility, and interest-based American leadership.
• 
  POLL: Are you better off than you were a year ago?
  This week’s poll asks readers to reflect on their personal financial situation and whether they feel better off than they were a year ago as economic conditions continue to shift.
• 
  Opinion: Does tailgating cause speeding?
  Target Zero Manager Doug Dahl examines whether tailgating contributes to speeding and explains why following too closely increases crash risk with little benefit.
• 
  Opinion: ‘The Democrats’ part of the bargain’
  Clark County Today Editor Ken Vance reflects on a New Year’s Eve encounter and a Bill Maher commentary to assess what he sees as cultural and political changes from the past year.