BIG WEEK on Criminal Justice!

Friends–This week is an exciting one, with a chance for us to make progress in criminal justice reform. If you can make some calls or write some emails right away, this is an excellent time. Questions? Don’t hesitate to call me at 206-276-9128 or email me at redtuffy@embarqmail.com. And thank you!   — written by … Read more

Omnibus Reentry Bill

SB 5070, the state omnibus reentry bill to salvage lives and reduce recidivism for the benefit of offenders, their families, and our communities, is in the House awaiting floor action before tomorrow’s cutoff deadline. Please urge your representatives to help bring this important bill to a vote, and to only support amendments that will mitigate unnecessarily harsh sanctions and make … Read more

SB 5295, The Corrections Ombudsman Bill

We have been successful in obtaining a hearing on SB 5295, the corrections ombudsman bill, which will be heard this Friday, Feb. 9 at 8:00 a.m. by the Senate Human Services & Corrections Committee, which meets in senate hearing room 1.   We will have to make a very substantial showing to get this significant … Read more

Urge Senate to Give Corrections Ombudsman Bill (SB 5295) a Hearing

Please call or email Sen. Jim Hargrove, chair of the Senate Human Services & Corrections Committee, to urge him to give SB 5295, the Corrections Ombudsman bill, a hearing.  Sen. Hargrove’s district 24 covers Clallam, Grays Harbor, and Jefferson counties. Calls from people in those counties are particularly needed, but calls from throughout the state will also be helpful … Read more

Support Bill to Create a Corrections Ombudsman

Sen. Jim Kastama (D-25th District) has filed a bill to establish acorrections ombudsman, which would fulfill one of FCWPP’s major goals for this legislative session.Current co-sponsors include Sen. Dan Swecker (R-20th District), Sen.Karen Fraser (D-22nd District), Sen. Chris Marr (D-6th District), Sen.Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D-36th District), and Sen. Debbie Regala (D-27th District).  Please thank them. Other senators can … Read more

Interest-Rate Reduction for Ex-offenders

Action: Please call or e-mail members of the Senate Rules Committee to pull HB-1359 out of rules and to the floor for a vote, and call or email members of the House Rules Committee to pull SB-5611 out of rules to the floor for a vote.  Each of these identical bills drafted by FCWPP has passed … Read more

Task force to examine issues of depleted uranium and hazardous substance exposure for the National Guard

We need quick action.  the Senate Budget has included our task forceconcept to examine issues of depleted uranium and hazardous substanceexposure for the National Guard. The House Budget does notcontain corresponding language. The next step in the process is a Joint Committee of the House andSenate to reconcile the two bills. Our last and only … Read more

Interest-Rate Reduction for Ex-offenders

Action: Please call or e-mail members of the Senate Judiciary Committee tovote HB-1359 out of committee and members of the House Judiciary Committeeto hear and vote SB-5611 out of committee.  See the Background below forwhy a Committee needs to process a bill from the other chamber. Background: HB-1359 has passed the Washington State House and SB-5611 haspassed … Read more