Bail Set After Violent Richland Break-In A man who allegedly broke into a Richland home and held a knife to an 11-year-old girl’s throat is in custody in the Benton County Jail. According to investigators, Jordan Smith broke into a house and ordered the girl to come with him. After a brief struggle, during which both Smith and the girl were… Read More
Controversial Tweet Exposes Weakness in Pretrial Release System In a recent tweet, Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best expressed apparent frustration with the city’s jail release system. “A business owner reported a property crime, and @SeattlePD arrested the suspect. Within hours, the suspect was released from jail and returned to commit a new crime. The same officer re-arrested the suspect. This not only hurts… Read More
Hate Crimes Spiked in Washington During 2018 A recent report from the Anti-Defamation League confirmed what the FBI said last November. The number of hate crimes in Washington State increased dramatically in 2018. According to a national audit, anti-Semitic incidents in Washington increased 60 percent between 2017 and 2018. Hate crimes are up overall as well. According to the FBI report, race,… Read More
Seattle Police Arrest Nearly a Dozen People in Undercover Anti-Theft Operation On March 15th, 2019, the Seattle Police Department announced the arrest of ten people in a string of theft operations. Law enforcement reports that the broad anti-theft operation used undercover officers from the Major Crimes Task Force Detectives and the North Anti-Crime Team officers. According to information provided by representatives of the Seattle Police, law… Read More
New Gun Storage Laws Could Apply in Case of Pregnant Mother Shot by Toddler Son A recent tragedy in Seattle involving a pregnant woman shot by her four-year-old son could be the first in which a new Washington gun storage law may apply. If so, the father in the case could end up facing felony criminal charges. As well as, a potential jail sentence. According to a February 3, 2019… Read More
DUI Enforcement Increases in Washington State The Washington State Patrol and other members of local law enforcement have intensified patrols for drunk drivers. This started at the beginning of the holiday season, with increased efforts to collect Place of Last Drink (POLD) data. On December 7, Washington State Patrol troopers participated in a program known as Night of a Thousand Stars.… Read More
Federal Criminal Justice Reform Could Affect Seattle Housing Lawsuit The recent passage of the federal First Step Act could signal that Seattle’s Fair Chance Housing Act is lawful and should remain in force. That city ordinance is being challenged in a Washington court. However, the aims of the First Step Act and its bipartisan support might underscore the necessity, and the importance of… Read More
Washington Supreme Court Clarifies Duty of Indigent Criminal Defendants to Pay In June 2018, the Washington legislature amended the laws governing legal financial obligations imposed on criminal defendants. The new law forbids assessing discretionary obligations. In June 2018, House Bill 1783 took effect in Washington. This new law revises the state’s system for imposing legal financial obligations (LFOs) on criminal defendants. LFOs are basically the fines, fees, court… Read More
Washington State Lawmakers Plan to Introduce Stricter DUI Bill Washington state lawmakers are planning to introduce a bill that tightens drunk driving laws in the state. Frockt plans to reintroduce a DUI bill in the upcoming state legislative session. Anyone who has been convicted of a DUI or DWI in Seattle should know that Washington State lawmakers recently announced plans to reintroduce a bill to tighten… Read More
Researchers Say A Breathalyzer Has Flaws – Casting Doubt on Countless Convictions The source code behind a police breathalyzer widely used in multiple states — and millions of drunk driving arrests — is under fire. It’s the latest case of technology and the real world colliding — one that revolves around source code, calibration of equipment, two researchers and legal maneuvering, state law enforcement agencies, and… Read More