Public Safety

Major public safety issues in 2011 include:

Reform to the “Three Strikes” Law

The Judiciary Committee will consider modifying the “Three Strikes” statute to enable those offenders who were committed to life imprisonment by three Class B felonies to seek release. Those offenders who have served fifteen full years in prison, and were sentenced to life based on three Class B felonies, may appear in front of the Intermediate Sentence Review Board and will be eligible for release.

Reforming Bail Procedures

In 2010, legislation was passed creating a Bail Work Group to review bail procedures in response to the actions of Maurice Clemmons, who was released on bail and subsequently murdered four police officers. The work group will present its recommendations to the Legislature in 2011.

Inquest Hearing on Officer-involved Fatalities

In response to several recent officer-involved fatalities across the state, the Legislature will consider requiring an inquest hearing for incidents of officer-involved fatalities. The procedure would require a jury determine certain facts that may then be used a county prosecutor to pursue further action.

Gang Enforcement

Lawmakers are expected to consider several proposals to address the rise in gang involved criminal activities.

Reducing Corrections Costs while Continuing to Improve Public Safety

Thanks to policy initiatives implemented over the past 15 years to reduce crime, recidivism and the incarceration rate, there are fewer repeat offenders in both the juvenile and adult systems, Washington's violent crime is down by 27 percent since 1980, and the state is poised to close both Maple Lane School and McNeil Island Correctional Center. Senate Democrats will continue to explore evidence based strategies to make further improvements in this arena.