Snohomish County Therapeutic Courts serve a crucial role in our community through the Adult Recovery Court (ARC) program. Overseen by Judge Joseph P. Wilson, ARC allows participants to receive treatment services instead of being incarcerated. Per the ARC website:
The Snohomish County Adult Recovery Court (ARC) mission is to provide therapeutic and legal services for adults affected by substance use disorder and involved with the criminal justice system. Our program adheres to best practices and our approach is guided by compassion, accountability, and equity.
Our vision is to reduce recidivism by providing therapeutic services to encompass a person’s mental, physical, and social well-being for sustainable sobriety.
ARC allows people to participate in treatment services as an alternative to incarceration. Upon successful completion of ARC, a participant’s current felony charge(s) will be dismissed.
ARC is a twelve-to-eighteen month voluntary program providing treatment services to Snohomish County residents who are eighteen years of age or older, with pending felony charge(s) within Snohomish County that can be associated with their substance use.“

Eric Velez, works for Snohomish County Therapeutic (SCTC) Court and does many things. He’s the Recovery Support Coordinator for SCTC, Snohomish County Recovery Coalition co-lead, and is a UW student. One of his main duties is facilitating people going through Adult Recovery Court (ARC) and Family Recovery Court (FRC) programs. For example, if a participant needs recovery housing, he’ll locate available housing and funding while facilitating a warm handoff to ensure a smooth transition from homelessness or incarceration. He does this for a range of needs, from housing to employment to education and more.
Judge Wilson strongly suggests ARC participants go to Everett Recovery Café for support. Participation in the Café is a way for someone to practice autonomy outside of court-ordered activities for the ARC program and to choose to get support. The Café stands as a crucial social component and support system. It allows Recovery Court participants to build a supportive community of peers and get some self-directed recovery coaching.
Judge Wilson, Eric, and the rest of the Recovery Court staff have been generous in their praise of Everett Recovery Café, and we’re happy to fill a needed role for those going through the legal process. This very much slots in with our mission of being a safe and healing community for individuals in recovery from not only substances, but trauma too. We would like to express our appreciation for SCTC for their work and we look forward to a long future of working hand in hand with them.