WA Senate passes quicker-release prison bill
By Terry Murry on Friday, February 4th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
OLYMPIA – A bill making it easier for violent criminals in Washington to get out of prison passed Wednesday in the state Senate. The Democrat-backed legislation, Senate Bill 5036, makes changes to the Clemency and Pardons Board. The vote was 28 to 19.
Under the bill, 128 offenders now serving time for aggravated murder or first-degree murder would immediately become eligible to apply for commutation of their sentences. Another 68 such offenders would be eligible to seek commutation within the next five years.
An additional 321 inmates sentenced to life without parole who have been in prison for more than 20 years can apply for commutation. Those convicted of capital murder – such as Gary Ridgway, better known as the Green River Killer – would be eligible to apply for commutation if they have served over 25 years. Ridgway was sentenced to prison in January 2004. Other life-without-parole offenders would no longer be subject to the “utmost scrutiny” standard found in the state law on clemency and pardons.
No Republicans voted for the measure. Senate Republican Leader John Braun (R-Centralia) said Senate Bill 5036 couldn’t have come at a worst time.
“Washington already has a public-safety crisis, between rising crime rates and the anti-police laws that absolutely must be fixed this year,” Braun said. “The legislature should be creating laws that protect our communities and victims, not be looking for ways to put violent offenders back out on the street to victimize others.”
Senator Judy Warnick (R-Moses Lake) said there’s little comfort in the fact that victims would be allowed to participate in the clemency process.
“Victims don’t need to relive that experience every time someone petitions to be released,” Warnick said. The bill now heads to the state House of Representatives.
