Latest news with #HouseCommunitySafetyCommittee
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
2 bills aimed at improving community safety advance in WA State Legislature
The Brief A Washington bill that seeks to reform pre-trial release policies for both adults and juveniles, as well as enhance judicial accountability, has passed out of the House Community Safety Committee. The revised legislation mandates that judges provide a written explanation for their decisions regarding the pre-trial release of suspects who flee from law enforcement, are charged with violent crimes or have firearms offenses. OLYMPIA, Wash. - In a significant legislative development, House Bill 1252, which seeks to reform pre-trial release policies for both adults and juveniles as well as enhance judicial accountability, took a major step forward as it successfully passed out of the House Community Safety Committee with a commanding vote of 8 to 1. The backstory The revised legislation mandates that judges provide a written explanation for their decisions regarding the pre-trial release of suspects who flee from law enforcement, and for individuals charged with violent crimes or offenses involving firearms. Currently in Washington state, there is a presumption of release for defendants. After a preliminary court appearance, anyone charged with a noncapital offense should be released on personal recognizance pending trial. This presumption can be overcome though, if the court finds that the defendant is likely to fail to appear, commit a violent crime, or intimidate witnesses or interfere with justice. Before imposing bail, judges must consider less restrictive options. However, recent decisions by judges to release suspects pending trial for violent crimes have left family members of victims feeling frustrated. HB 1252 stipulates that judges can only order the release of these high-risk individuals on electronic home monitoring if such monitoring includes real-time oversight coupled with an immediate law enforcement response. "The electronic monitoring that is used by courts in the state of Washington for defendants pre-trial is not actually monitored. So, there is no real time monitoring and there is no real time response to anything, geographic restriction violation, curfew violation. About 10% of the time defendants cut the strap, no real time response," said Representative Lauren Davis (D-Seattle), who sponsored the bill. Local perspective She pointed to a horrific case in December, in which a 17-year-old, despite being under electronic monitoring, traveled after his curfew and disemboweled a 14-year-old boy in Snohomish County. "Electronic home monitoring creates a deceptive illusion of safety," said Davis. "What I'm striving to eliminate is the misguided belief that there exists a safe middle ground where a defendant charged with a violent or firearms-related offense can be released into the community." Proponents of the legislation assert that it will significantly bolster public safety, while opponents voice concerns that it could result in higher incarceration rates, particularly impacting juvenile offenders. Another public safety bill sponsored by Representative Davis was unanimously approved to move forward out of committee. House Bill 1668, which seeks to impose stricter penalties on felons who evade community custody requirements. This situation arises when individuals released from prison fail to report to their community corrections officer as mandated or violate the terms of their release. "There were only 78 convictions for escape even though there were 11,000 high level sanctions for the Department of Corrections," said Rep. Davis. Under the new provisions, the potential confinement period for such offenders who are convicted of escape from community custody would escalate from a minimum of 0 to 90 days to an average range of 14 to 18 months in prison. What you can do To comment on either of these bills, you can connect directly with your state legislator through the Washington State Legislature website. The Source Information in this story is from Washington State Legislature, Representative Lauren Davis (D-Seattle), and FOX 13 Seattle reporting. Politics: Lawmakers propose pay-by-mile charge for WA drivers Food: Starbucks phasing out plastic cups for cold drinks in WA, other states Local: IRS tax refund schedule 2025: What you need to know To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
WA lawmakers discussing bill to reform pre-trial release policies
The Brief Washington lawmakers are weighing House Bill 1252. The bill would reform how pre-trial releases are handled across the state. Some lawmakers say current policies endanger the public, while members of the ACLU argue the bill would do more harm than good. OLYMPIA, Wash. - The House Community Safety Committee convened Thursday to hear testimony on House Bill 1252, which aims to reform pre-trial release policies in Washington state. Sponsored by Rep. Lauren Davis, D-32, the bill seeks to make it more difficult for suspects who run from police to get out of jail and to increase judicial accountability. The bill would require judges to classify suspects who flee from police as public safety threats, granting them the authority to impose higher bail amounts. What they're saying "We have a small collection of judicial officers, primarily concentrated on the I-5 corridor who are routinely making pre-trial release decisions that, by any objective measure, by any reasonable predictability are reckless and dangerous. These judges are, in fact, abusing their discretion, and they are doing so in a manner that endangers innocent Washingtonians and the brave peace officers who work tirelessly to keep us safe," said Rep. Davis. Oftentimes, judges release defendants on personal recognizance or on low bail with Electronic Home Monitoring. Rep. Davis says that provides a false sense of security. Strap cuts are common and there is no real-time monitoring by law enforcement. Responses to violations, such as curfew breaches or device tampering, can take up to a day, leading to significant risks for the community. "We should not be sacrificing the safety of the entire community at the altar of liberty for one criminal defendant," she added. Big picture view Currently in Washington state, there is a presumption of release for defendants. After a preliminary court appearance, anyone charged with a noncapital offense should be released on personal recognizance pending trial. This presumption can be overcome though, if the court finds that the defendant is likely to fail to appear, commit a violent crime, or intimidate witnesses or interfere with justice. Before imposing bail, judges must consider less restrictive options. Local perspective However, recent decisions by judges to release suspects pending trial for violent crimes has left family members of victims feeling frustrated. "We've seen some judges claim to be part of quote, the resistance in a system quote, complicit and perpetuating oppression and seeking to speak quote, my truth as a judge. This kind of behavior only heightens the reason to simply require a judge to give a reason, at least allowing us to know why dangerous individuals are being released back into our communities," said James McMann of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs who supports the bill. The bill also received support from several local law enforcement leaders including Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders and Sumner Police Deputy Chief Andy McCurdy. "I understand that incarceration can often worsen situations but for individuals committing violent crimes who lack a support system, temporary detention is often the only way to prevent further harm until intervention and prevention resources can be effective implemented," said Chief McCurdy. He recounted a violent incident last year as an example. "We had two armed suspects who violently carjacked a woman at the Sumner Winco. They shot at bystanders. They shot one bystander in the head and severely injured the man who lost his eye and almost lost his eye as a result . After a lengthy manhunt with extensive resources, we finally got them in custody and then the judge quickly released one to the community. This sent the wrong message," said Chief McCurdy. Renton Police Chief Jon Schuldt also added his support after several violent suspects were released and have remained on the run, "Far too often, the judges are showing more empathy towards the suspects and minimizing the suspect's behavior at the expense of public safety." The other side Opposition to the bill came from civil rights advocates, including Jasmine Clark from the ACLU. She argued that the bill undermines the presumption of innocence and disproportionately affects marginalized communities. "This could lead to more juveniles held in detention, which studies have shown to have long-term negative effects on their development and rehabilitation," Clark cautioned. "This bill undermines the principle that individuals are innocent until proven guilty and disproportionately impacts marginalized communities who are more likely to encounter aggressive policing tactics." she added. Romana Brandise, representing the Washington Defender Association and the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, contended that the bill violates the separation of powers between the judiciary and the legislature. "This bill changes the presumption of release, conflicting with court rules established by the Supreme Court," she stated. What's next A committee vote on whether to move HB 1252 forward is expected this week. To comment on this proposed bill under consideration, please call or email your legislator directly. Details about commenting on legislation can be found here. You can also download House Bill 1252. The Source Information for this article comes from original FOX 13 reporting. Politics: Lawmakers propose pay-by-mile charge for WA drivers Food: Starbucks phasing out plastic cups for cold drinks in WA, other states Local: IRS tax refund schedule 2025: What you need to know To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lawmakers weigh proposal to let certain people out of prison early
The Brief Washington lawmakers are considering legislation to let certain inmates in prison apply for resentencing, prompting debate about rehabilitation and accountability. House Bill 1125 would allow inmates who meet certain conditions to apply for a review of their sentence. Proponents say the process best recognizes people's rehabilitation, while opponents believe it could cause more harm. OLYMPIA, Wash. - State lawmakers are considering legislation to let certain inmates in prison apply for resentencing, prompting debate about rehabilitation and accountability. House Bill 1125, also called the "Judicial Discretion Act," would establish a process to allow inmates to petition a court to change their sentence. The process is already available to prosecutors. With the exception for those sentenced as "persistent offenders" or convicted of first-degree aggravated murder, any inmate could apply for a hearing after serving a minimum amount of time or having a certain medical condition. The petitioner would need to show they've made changes in their behavior and have a low risk of reoffending. Ultimately, it would be up to a judge whether that inmate could get out sooner than sentenced. What they're saying "This population who does get out has a less than 1% recidivism rate," said prime sponsor State Representative Tarra Simmons (D-Bremerton) at the bill's first hearing on January 23. Simmons pointed to her own experience of being incarcerated in trying to make changes to the criminal justice system. She highlighted provisions that would keep crime victims involved in the modification process, like notices about petitions and hearings, and provide them with advocacy services like financial assistance. "Every 12 years we shave off a sentence, we're saving a million dollars," Simmons said. "But right now we underfund victim services. And all the money that we're gonna save from this, I want to put it into victim services." One man who received a resentencing initiated by a prosecutor told the House Community Safety Committee on Thursday there are plenty of people behind bars who should receive careful consideration to be released. "We're not asking them to let everybody out," said Jacob Schmitt. "We're asking to have the opportunity to have a professional judge to review the totality of things. To include who the person is today and the things that they have done to demonstrate extraordinary rehabilitation so they might be returned to the community." But not everyone agrees. The other side One woman whose brother was murdered told the committee the bill prioritizes the rights of violent individuals over those who were affected by their violence. "By allowing offenders who have already demonstrated a willingness to assault and kill to petition for resentencing–this legislation, it jeopardizes public safety and retraumatizes families like mine," Krista Stogner testified. "I've heard the word 'retribution' used, and 'retribution' is the act of seeking revenge," said former victim's advocate Tiffany Attrill. "It is not 'retribution' for a victim's family to want the judicial system to uphold the commitment when a sentence is imposed." Other opponents say clemency and pardons should be used to release those who have reformed. They also raised concerns about court caseloads increasing with the resentencing requests. State Representative Lauren Davis (D-Shoreline) said she is struggling with how to vote on or amend the bill because of instances where judges release people who go on to commit other crimes. "How can I have confidence in granting more discretion to judicial officers when I have some concerns about the ability of some judges to assess dangerousness and prioritize public safety," she said at the bill's first hearing. The bill is currently slated for a committee vote on February 6. The Source Information in this story is from Albert James, a television reporter covering state government as part of the Murrow News Fellowship program – a collaborative effort between news outlets statewide and Washington State University. LIVE DC plane crash updates: Midair collision leaves no survivors President Trump's response to the plane crash in Washington, DC FULL VIDEO: Trump questions role of helicopter pilot, air traffic control; faults Biden after deadly DC crash Seattle weather: Snow possible in areas this weekend Another movie theater in Seattle is closing after 10 years Two earthquakes, 4.2 and 3.0, strike off WA coast Renton police, families slam King Co. judge for release of 2 violent suspects To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily Fox Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.
