Public News Service

Youth diverted from incarceration have shown a smaller likelihood of re-arrest. (Delphotostock/Adobe Stock)

Report: WA, other states expand diversion of youth from incarceration

A new report found states are making progress in diverting more youth from incarceration, including in Washington state. However, The Sentencing …

The Puyallup Tribe reservation is located outside of Tacoma. (Derrick/Adobe Stock)

Puyallup Tribe played key role in WA police accountability push

By Frank Hopper for Yes! Magazine.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Washington News Service reporting for the Yes! Magazine-Public News Service …

A 2023 bill to eliminate the statute of limitations on child sexual abuse cases has been modified and is in front of Washington lawmakers again this session. (photogeek/Adobe Stock)

WA lawmakers again consider erasing statute of limitations on sex abuse cases

Washington state lawmakers are considering eliminating the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse cases again this session. House Bill 1618 …

A bill to give voting rights for people in prison was introduced by Rep. Tarra Simmons, D-Kitsap, who was formerly incarcerated. (Brian/Adobe Stock)

WA voting rights bill for people in prison would ‘restore humanity'

Legislation in Olympia could give people in Washington prisons their voting rights. House Bill 2030, known as the Free the Vote Act, would allow …

The FBI advises people to reach out for help before cooperating with

FBI warns of tragic results from 'sextortion' targeting teens

January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and the FBI says financially motivated sextortion - often targeting teen boys - went up 20 percent …

Bellingham is the largest city in Whatcom County, which borders Canada. (CascadeCreatives/Adobe Stock)

Opponents push back on initiative to build jail in NW WA

A new jail would be built in northwest Washington if a measure on the November ballot passes. Opponents say it isn't a good solution to issues facing …

Washington state is holding elections on November 7. (Darylann Elmi/Adobe Stock)

Washingtonians Out of Prison Can Participate in Voter Registration Day

It is national voter registration day and one population in Washington state has only recently had their right to vote restored: people who were incar…

Scammers Pose as NW Credit Unions in Fraudulent Text Messages

Washington and Oregon credit unions are working together to tackle text-message scammers. Credit unions in the region say they're seeing a sharp …

There are more than 13,000 people in Washington state prisons. (doc.wa.gov)

WA to Extend Medicaid to People Close to Release from Prisons, Jails

Washington will allow people nearing release from state prisons and jails to qualify for Medicaid health coverage. The expansion starts in July 2025…

Washington state broadened protections for child sexual abuse survivors three decades ago, but critics argue its fallen behind since then. (Rawf8/Adobe Stock)

WA Bill Eliminates Statute of Limitations for Sexual Abuse Cases

Washington state lawmakers are considering eliminating the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse cases. House Bill 1618 would revise the …

The share of arrests of young people has decreased in every major crime category over the past two decades. (sakhorn38/Adobe Stock)

Research Undermines Narrative of Youth-Led Crime Wave

Crime rates among young people have dropped dramatically in recent decades - despite media coverage that points to a supposed "crime wave" led by yout…

Washington state has followed California in limiting nondisclosure agreements, where lawmakers passed a law in 2021. (rboerdijk/Adobe Stock)

WA Law Means Workers Are 'Silenced No More'

A new law in Washington state bans employers from silencing employees about illegal acts in the workplace. The Silenced No More Act - which passed …

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed a dozen police reform bills into law last year, and new research indicates they're working to reduce police-related deaths. (Reuben/Adobe Stock)

Progress on WA Police Accountability, with Refinements on Tap

A year after their passage, police accountability bills in Washington state are showing signs of success. An ACLU Washington analysis found a 62% …

A recent survey found about one in six Americans lost money to a scam in the past year. (Rokas/Adobe Stock)

Report: Life Stress Can Lead to Fraud Susceptibility

SEATTLE - Scammers have upped their game during the pandemic. New research looks into who is most susceptible to falling victim to fraud. AARP …

Health professionals compare bike-helmet laws to laws requiring people to wear seat belts. (Maridav/Adobe Stock)

Health Profs Object to Repealing King County Bike Helmet Law

SEATTLE - A proposal to repeal King County's law requiring helmets while riding bicycles has health professionals concerned. The King County Board …

Two Washington state school districts removed police officers from campuses last year. (Chalabala/Adobe Stock)

Report: Use COVID Relief Funds to Stop School-to-Prison Pipeline

SEATTLE - Billions of federal stimulus dollars are heading to schools across the country. A report says states should use some of these funds to …

There are more than 2,000 people incarcerated in the Monroe Correctional Complex, located in a small southeast Washington town. (SounderBruce/Wikimedia Commons)

As Redistricting Begins, New WA Law Ends 'Prison Gerrymandering'

OLYMPIA, Wash. - The recent release of detailed Census data means states can begin drawing up new voting maps. In Washington state, a new law will …

Pacific County is among the smallest in Washington. (Chetsford/Wikimedia Commons)

WA County an 'Innovator' in Criminal-Justice Reform

PACIFIC COUNTY, Wash. -- As parts of the country rethink criminal justice, a small county in Washington state is providing a model on how to better …

A new Gallup survey shows more than 60% of Americans say they know

Juneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval

SEATTLE -- Juneteenth National Independence Day is now an official holiday, after President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday, approved by both the US …

Police use of force was a major focus during Washington state's legislative session. (adonis_abril/Adobe Stock)

DOC Officer: WA Police Reforms Good for Corrections Employees, Too

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Washington state's police reform measures are receiving praise, including from Department of Corrections employees. It has been a …

Under the Trump administration, 234 judges were appointed to the federal bench. (Joe Wolf/Flickr)

More Diverse Group of Federal Judges Expected Under Biden

SEATTLE -- The change from the Trump to Biden administrations means a different approach to appointing federal judges. President Donald Trump …

The families of people killed in police shootings have led the charge on reforms in Washington state. (Dimo Fedortchenko/Flickr)

Families Impacted by Police Shootings Praise WA Reforms

OLYMPIA, Wash. - Police reform has been a major theme of the Washington legislative session this year. Lawmakers passed bills that ban certain police …

Twenty states and the District of Columbia automatically restore a person's right to vote once they're released from prison. (zimmytws/Adobe Stock)

Bill Would Restore Voting Rights for People After Prison Release

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Washington lawmakers could restore voting rights for people after they've been released from prison. House Bill 1078 would allow …

A coalition representing more than 14,000 police officers are giving the thumbs up to many reform efforts in Washington state. (Diego Gomez/Adobe Stock)

Despite Narrative, Law Enforcement Unions Back Reform in WA

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- A broad coalition of groups and unions representing law enforcement and corrections officers are applauding Washington state …

About four in five people in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody were in privately run facilities as of January 2020. (Common Language Project/Flickr)

Private Immigration Prisons Not Included in Biden Ban

TACOMA, Wash. -- President Joe Biden signed an executive order this week ending the federal use of private prisons, but the order does not include …

More than 200 federal judges have been appointed since President Trump took office.(Mariakray/Adobe Stock)

Often Overlooked, Judicial Appointments Issue Looms in Election

SEATTLE -- A lot of focus is on the likely confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court today. But federal judicial appointments to …

The rate of Black and Latinx young people admitted to jails has fallen faster than the rate for white youth during the pandemic. (luaeva/Adobe Stock)

Report: COVID-19 Narrows Racial Gap in Youth Jails

SEATTLE -- Fewer young people are being admitted to jails because of COVID-19, according to data from The Annie E. Casey Foundation. And the drop …

A Pierce County medical examiner has ruled Manuel Ellis' death a homicide. (Cory Doctorow/Flickr)

Qualified Immunity for Police Could be Barrier to Justice for Ellis

TACOMA, Wash. -- In the wake of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, a Tacoma man, Manuel Ellis, has become part of a somber list of black men …

Norm Stamper was Seattle police chief during the 1999 crackdown on WTO protesters. He calls it a painful learning experience. (Seattle Municipal Archives/Flickr)

Former Seattle Police Chief Urges 'Radical' Changes to Policing

SEATTLE -- A former Seattle police chief says American policing needs sweeping change. Norm Stamper was head of the Seattle Police Department from 1…

The Seattle demonstrations against the World Trade Organization in 1999 are seen as turning point in how police handle protests. (Steve Kaiser/Flickr)

50-Year-Old Report Warns Against Police Tactics Used Today

SEATTLE - In the past week of demonstrations over George Floyd's death, videos on social media have shown police across the nation using force to …

Washington state has created a map that breaks down racial health disparities due to environmental conditions. (Washington State Department of Health)

Environmental Racism, Police Brutality: Intertwined Issues of Violence

SEATTLE -- Environmental groups are joining the chorus of voices denouncing police brutality in the wake of George Floyd's death at the hands of polic…

Former national security advisor Michael Flynn admitted that he lied to the FBI during Robert Mueller's Russia investigation. (Gage Skidmore/Flickr)

More than 1,000 DOJ Alumni Urge Flynn Prosecution to Go On

SEATTLE - Former federal prosecutors are asking a judge to reject the Justice Department's request to drop its years-long case against former national…

The decrease in youth detention rates over the last month has been as dramatic as the reduction rate from 2010 to 2017 at detention centers in 30 states. (pixelcarpenter/Adobe Stock)

Fewer Young People in Detention During Pandemic

SEATTLE -- The number of young people in detention centers has decreased dramatically since the coronavirus outbreak began, according to a new survey…

Community supervision terms for people released from prison currently run consecutively rather than all at once. (Ulia Koltyrina/Adobe Stock)

WA Community Corrections Officers Fear Bill Stretches Department Too Thin

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Legislation in Olympia would reduce community supervision terms for people with multiple felonies. But corrections officers are …

GEO Group's contract to operate the Northwest Detention Center expires in 2025. (Common Language Project/Flickr)

WA Bill Would Ban Private Detention Facilities

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Washington lawmakers could bring an end to private prisons in the state this session. On Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Human …

Solitary confinement can have detrimental effects on the developing brains of young people, studies have found. (karenfoleyphoto/Adobe Stock)

Trend to End Youth Solitary Confinement Alive in WA Legislature

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- A bill to end solitary confinement for young people in Washington state jails and detention facilities is making its way through …

Washington state still has an estimated backlog of more than 6,500 untested sexual assault kits. (Sgt. Rebecca Linder/defenseimagery.mil)

WA Bill Would Reform Sexual Assault Kit Handling

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- As Washington state continues to test its backlog of sexual assault kits, lawmakers also are looking to reform how kits are managed…

Hundreds of immigrants have been detained outside courthouses across Washington state since 2017, according to the state Attorney General's office. (Joe Wolf/Flickr)

State AG Sues to Block Courthouse Arrests of WA Immigrants

SEATTLE - Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson is suing the federal government over its policy of immigration arrests near courthouses…

Voting rights could expand to about 21,000 Washingtonians in community custody, with legislation coming to the Statehouse in 2020. (Scott Van Blarcom/Adobe Stock)

WA Bill Would Restore Voting Rights for People Out of Prison

SEATTLE – While many Washingtonians with felony convictions had their voting rights restored a decade ago, barriers – and confusion –…

Neighbor spoofing is a tactic used by robocallers that makes it seem as if the call is coming from a number with a local area code. (massimo vernicesole/Adobe Stock)

More Than a Nuisance: WA Groups Launch Campaign Against Robocalls

SEATTLE – Robocalls to Washingtonians are picking up, and AARP Washington has launched a new campaign urging people not to fall for their scams…

Jeff Chale (middle) questioned Washington lawmakers about a law that bars him from filing wrongful death claims on behalf of his daughter. (Washington State Assn. for Justice)

Justice Denied: Parents Challenge Wash. Wrongful-Death Law

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Emily Locke was crossing the street when she was hit by a car and died two months ago. Locke, who had the rare genetic disease …

The Yakima Valley Farm Worker's Clinic provides a safe place for 1,400 young people in eastern Washington to go after school. (Yakima Valley Farm Worker's Clinic)

Youth Program Advocates Make Their Case to WA Legislature

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Advocates for youth development and learning programs outside the classroom will be in Olympia on Tuesday. One priority is …

CAIR offers bystander intervention training to help people deescalate harassment of people of color in public. (CAIR-Washington)

American Muslims: Hate Crimes More Prevalent than FBI Data Show

SEATTLE — Reports of hate crimes rose across the nation in 2017, and grew at an even faster pace in Washington state. Statistics from the …

Thirty-eight people were killed by police in Washington state last year and nearly a third showed signs of a mental health crisis, according to the Washington Post. (De-Escalate Washington)

Wash. Initiative on Police Use of Deadly Force Passes

SEATTLE – A measure to strengthen accountability of police officers who use lethal force and that requires more mental health crisis training ha…

About 90 percent of people of European descent can expect to have a third cousin on the genealogical DNA website GEDMatch, according to one geneticist. (Libertas Academica/Flickr)

Ethical Questions Raised Over DNA Database Used to Catch Killers

SEATTLE – The use of online genetic databases has helped to crack cold murder cases recently, including two decades-old murders in Washington …

U.S. appellate judges heard nearly 60,000 cases in 2017. (Joe Wolf/Flickr)

Beyond SCOTUS: Federal Court Appointees Affecting Workers' Rights

SEATTLE — U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh will begin confirmation hearings next week. But one legal expert says President Donald …

At least 200 people in the Northwest Detention Center have said they will join nationwide prison protests. (Seattle Globalist/Flickr)

WA Immigration Detainees Join Nationwide Prison Strikes

TACOMA, Wash. – People in Tacoma's immigration detention center have joined nationwide prison protests that started this week. People …

The private company GEO Group operates the Northwest Detention Center, an immigration prison in Tacoma, Wash. (Seattle Globalist/Flickr)

Bill Would Provide Oversight of Immigration Detention Centers

SEATTLE – Companion bills in Congress aim to increase oversight and put a moratorium on the additional construction of immigration detention cen…

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WA: Criminal Justice