September 21, 2012; Updated November, 2012 CriminalJustice Goals: Give priority to efforts to repair the harm suffered by victims over attempts to punish offenders Identify and address the causes of crime Replace costly incarceration for both juvenile and adult offenders through diversion, drug treatment, job training, and education whenever appropriate Redress the racial inequity of … Read more
September 21, 2012; Updated November, 2012 Criminal Justice Restorative Justice: Support educational programs for and increased use of restorative justice programs as options for diversion of juvenile offenders Repeal the Death Penalty Gun Violence: Study the causes of and possible ways to reduce gun violence Legalization of Marijuana, treating its abuse as a public health … Read more
The Friends Committee on Washington Public Policy has approved support for the Safe and Just Alternative coalition that advocates for abolishing the death penalty in Washington state. Although we continue to have reservations about the provision for the alternative of life without parole, we believe the death penalty itself has long been opposed by Friends. … Read more
Clerk of the Criminal Justice Working Group, Tom Ewell prepared the following summary of current criminal work under consideration by FCWPP. This summary will continue to be amended as the work evolves, but it serves as a good quick reference on the scope of opportunities out there. We welcome comments, corrections, or suggestions. Thank you … Read more
FCWPP Clerk, Tom Ewel,l prepared the following summary of current criminal justice work under consideration by FCWPP. This summary will continue to be amended as the work evolves, but it serves as a good quick reference on the scope of opportunities out there. We welcome comments, corrections, or suggestions. Thank you again for all your … Read more
HB 1775/ Restorative Justice – Signed by the Governor, Friday March 30! Standing left to right: Sen. Jim Hargrove, Lonnie Johns-Brown (Crime Victim Advocates), Rep. Roger Goodman, Sam Merrill, Paul McCold, Jana McKinley, Beth Rodman, and Steven Aldrich. On Friday, March 30 Governor Gregoire signed the Restorative Justice bill, HB 1775. FCWPP was represented … Read more
FCWPP Alert: Contact members of the House to oppose ESSB 6406 and Section 104 of HB 2801 ESSB 6406 would delay adoption of Western Washington toxic stormwater permits for three years and delay Eastern Washington permits by 1 year. These Dept. of Ecology permits are essential for protecting Puget Sound and other bodies of water … Read more
Washington State has one of the most — if not the most — regressive tax systems in the country. A progressive tax system is needed to avoid cuts in the safety net and other state programs in a time of diminished revenue. The following bills begin to address inequities in the tax burden and help … Read more
SB 6406 would modify protections of natural resources and is now in the Senate Rules Committee and may soon be on the Senate floor. Based on the following provisions in Part Three of the bill, we oppose SB 6406: 1) Section 317(2) (page 82) of the bill proposes striking the current statutory provision that permits … Read more
Friends, Criminal Justice issues form one of the primary focuses of FCWPP’s legislative work in Washington state, based in part because of the long-standing tradition among Friends to engage in prison visitation and advocate for prison and criminal justice reform. I was very pleased, therefore, to receive this month’s (March 2012) Friends Journal with its … Read more