After three decades presiding over a Miami-Dade County courtroom, a meteoric rise as a criminal justice advocate and international recognition from the late Pope Francis, Judge Steven Leifman has turned his focus on Spokane County.

The Safe and Healthy Spokane Task Force, a public-private partnership hoping to run a tax measure to fund a revamp of the regional criminal justice system , has tapped the decorated former judge to serve as a consultant.

“He’s a very high-quality, high-caliber consultant,” said Spokane County Superior Court Judge Tony Hazel. “… One thing I really like about Judge Leifman is he brings evidence-based practices and best practices that have been vetted and screened with data across the country. It’s not just him, as a source.”

Leifman met with the task force be

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