In 2018, the legislature passed a bill reducing legal financial obligations (LFO) imposed on defendants convicted of crimes. At that time, LFO legislation was one of the priorities identified at the 2017 Justice Summit. LFO’s are court costs and other financial costs that recently incarcerated … [Read more...]
Fair Fight Bond Fund Accepting Applications for Those Detained by Immigration in WA
The Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network is thrilled to share that the Fair Fight Bond Fund is open and accepting applications for people who are detained by immigration in the State of Washington and need support with paying bond. To request assistance with paying a bond, a request form must … [Read more...]
Fair Bond Fund to Help Release Detained Immigrants
As COVID-19 continues to impact our communities, those most at risk are the members of our community who are in detention. Last week, La Resistencia broke the news that dozens of immigrants at the Northwest Detention Center had been exposed to COVID-19 by a GEO guard. Last month, we heard how in … [Read more...]
A BAIL REFORM TOOL INTENDED TO CURB MASS INCARCERATION HAS ONLY REPLICATED BIASES IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
In 2011, as part of a criminal justice reform package meant to reduce incarceration and its related expenditures, Kentucky became among the first states to require judges to use a risk assessment as part of their pretrial decisions. Similar risk assessments have since proliferated across the country … [Read more...]
Now is an Excellent Time to Contact Your Legislators About Your Concerns
It is quiet right now in the Legislature, which makes it the perfect time to reach out to our Representatives and Senators and let them know what is important to us.See leg.wa.gov site for their contact information. I am suggesting three issues that may resonate with JUUstice Washington … [Read more...]
Justice Reform in Thurston County: What’s Cooking? Nov. 18, 2019, Olympia WA
Patrick O'Connor, Director of Thurston County Public Defense, will discuss new developments in the Thurston County justice system. These include bail reform as a part of a new risk-assessment tool for pretrial release; the First Look project that evaluates diversion potential for new arrestees; ICE … [Read more...]
End Money Bail Webinar, October 23, 2019, online.
Last year Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU) began a partnership with Love Resists. Bail keeps people in jail for weeks and even years—away from their families, friends and communities—before they see a judge. Bail traps people in debt, can mean a loss of custody of children, stable … [Read more...]
Hundreds of Unitarian Universalists protest new Spokane Co. Jail
KREM's Alexa Block said Unitarian Universalists Association leaders estimated there were about 1,000 to 1,250 protesters. Author: Ian Smay, Alexa Block Published: 12:58 PM PDT June 20, 2019 Updated: 8:13 PM PDT June 20, 2019 SPOKANE, Wash. — The Unitarian … [Read more...]
Reforming Debtors Prison in Washington State makes sense (and dollars!)
On a given day in Washington State, up to 50% of the people in county jail are there because they are poor. Cash bail enforces a guilty until proven innocent structure on the poor. It does not have to be this way. According to 2019 studies by the Washington State Auditor, bail alternative … [Read more...]
2019 Preliminary Summary of Legislation Passed by the Washington State Legislature
Pretty impressive document. Issued by the Office of Program Research Washington House of Representatives and published on April 29, 2019. Read more here . . . … [Read more...]