How Can We Fix the King County Jail Crisis?
Adopting Pierce County's booking restrictions could help end the crisis in King County's jails, but County Executive Dow Constantine has refused to do so.
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Adopting Pierce County's booking restrictions could help end the crisis in King County's jails, but County Executive Dow Constantine has refused to do so.
Public defenders and corrections officers describing inhumane conditions in King County jails are asking the county to stop booking people awaiting charges on nonviolent felony offenses amid staff shortages and a surge in coronavirus cases.
King County jails are plagued by COVID concerns, staffing shortages and 'inhumane' conditions. This has some community leaders pushing to release non-violent felony suspects, to take the burden off overworked corrections officers.
The King County Department of Public Defense is engaged in a coordinated push to stop jail bookings of suspects accused of serious crimes.