Whatcom County Sheriff Office
(360) 778-6600

Bellingham Police Department
(360) 778-8800

Ferndale Police Department
(360) 384-3390

Lynden Police Department
(360) 354-2828

Everson Police Department 
(360) 966-4212

Blaine Police Department
(360) 332-6769
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Handling The Arrest Of A Family Member

The arrest of a family member or friend can be very upsetting.  Trying to figure out what to do and where to start can feel overwhelming.  Here are some steps to take to help your loved one through the situation.  
If you don't know which jail your loved one is being held in you can use the online inmate locator for Washington State -  https://www.doc.wa.gov/information/inmate-search/

Handling Medication

If your family member requires medication, they should inform the jail staff.  If they have not informed the jail staff, you should ask his psychiatrist to contact them.  Although there's no privacy law restricting a medical professional from sharing information with jail staff, some will refuse.  If that happens, your should make contact with your family member's doctor.  It is best to do this in writing and then follow up with a phone call.  This will ensure a written record of your request.  Your request should be to the point and include:
~ Your loved one's diagnosis
~The type of medication
~ Contact information for their doctor
​~Your contact information
~ Your Con

Going To Court

The arrest of a family member may mean he or she needs to appear in court.  Knowing what to expect can help you provide the most support for your loved one and hopefully lead to the best outcome.

1. Make contact with the attorney.  This can be hard as attorneys are often in court all day, so call early in the morning or during lunch.  If you can't reach an attorney call office and ask for email address.
   
2.  Attend the initial hearing.  Introduce yourself to the public defender.  Be brief, polite and thank them.  Let them know that you are happy to provide whatever information would be helpful to them.  
3. Ask the attorney to consider any jail diversion or pretrial release programs.

Remember that the public defender works for your loved one, not you.  You can ask your loved one to sign a release that allows the attorney to share information with you.  However, hethey may refuse and there is little the attorney can do.