Criminal Justice News

African American men incarcerated at the Washington State Reformatory in Monroe founded the Black Prisoners’ Caucus (BPC) in 1972. The men organized Black Culture Workshops between 1969 and 1972. These workshops laid the foundation for the development of BPC. The organization fosters respect, responsibility, self worth and unity. The BPC stands as a testimony to the potential of the African American community to create a healthier future for ourselves. In spite of the challenges, the men of the BPC have kept the organization moving forward since 1972. Today the BPC is open to all inmates regardless of ethnicity and was featured in the documentary Since I Been Down.  Its inmate-run TEACH education program is highly successful, but needs sponsors in order to comply with WA DOC requirements. This Application form is for all interested community members who are invested in actively dedicating their time & wisdom in the form of Sponsorship for a BPC chapter/program across the state of Washington. The purpose of this application is for us to be able to identify, assist and document any interested community member in navigating the sponsor and volunteer process. Please take a couple minutes to complete this form.  Or contact Kimonti Carter of BPC directly for more information kimonti[at]blackprisonerscaucuscg[dot]org.

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 people are required to pay after release, and they can deter them from paying other costs such as housing or job searches. HB 1412 would reduce these costs even more because it:

• Allows a court to refrain from imposing or waive full or partial restitution and accrued interest owed to any insurer or entity that is not an individual if the offender does not have the means to pay.
• Allows a court to not impose interest on restitution after inquiring into and considering specified factors and input of the victim.
• Revises standards for the waiver of accrued interest on restitution and non-restitution obligations.
• Revises the time periods in which judgments for restitution and non restitution legal financial obligations may be enforced.
• Establishes a revised standard of indigency for purposes of a number of provisions applicable to legal financial obligations.