MEMBERS PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON MAY BE COMING WHILE WE
ARE IN THE MEETING.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH IS
CURRENTLY WITH US ONLINE. WE ARE
DOWN ONE SINCE COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE HAS RESIGNED. IF THERE IS
NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
FOR CHAIR COMMENT THIS MORNING,
I JUST WANTED TO FIRST WELCOME
OUR GUEST FROM KING COUNTY. THIS
IS A LITTLE BIT OF A UNIQUE
COUNCIL MEETING. I WELCOME THE
REPRESENTATIVES FROM KING
COUNTY, BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT,
AS I HAVE STATED OFTEN , ABOUT
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. I
THINK IT IS HELPFUL FOR THE
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE TO KNOW OF THE
PIECES, PARTICULARLY WHERE THERE
IS OVERLAP, BETWEEN THE COUNTY
AND CITY. SEPARATELY, FOR MY
MAIN CHAIR COMMENT , PILLAR SIX
OF THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK PLAN
IS ENGAGING THE COUNTY AND STATE
ON PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES. BUT WE
ALSO NOW HAVE A LOT OF FEDERAL
CHALLENGES, PARTICULARLY WITH
FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. I THINK
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US, AS A
CITY, AND IN MY ENGAGEMENT WITH
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
AND MAYOR'S OFFICE TO MAKE
THESE POINTS. THIS KIND OF
BUILDS ON THE CONVERSATIONS I'VE
HAD HERE ON THE DAIS WITH CHIEF
BARNES. THE IDEA OF
PROFESSIONALISM WITH LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT, BUT ALSO FEDERAL
LAW ENFORCEMENT. SPD POLICIES
AND PROTOCOL REQUIRE OFFICERS IN
UNIFORM OR PLAYING CLOSE TO
IDENTIFY THEMSELVES , SHOW THEIR
IDENTIFICATION AND EXPLAINED THE
REASON FOR ARREST. OFFICERS ARE
NOT PERMITTED TO HIDE THEIR
IDENTITY BY COVERING THEIR FACES
. IF THERE IS ANY INDICATION A
SUBJECT MIGHT RESIST ARREST, OR
THAT AN ARREST MAY BE
PROBLEMATIC , AND IF
CIRCUMSTANCES PERMIT, UNIFORMED
OFFICERS SHOULD BE SUMMONED TO
BE PRESENT. FOR STOP THE
DETENTION POLICY, WHEN
REASONABLE, AND AS EARLY IN THE
CONTACT SAFETY PERMITS, THE
OFFICER MAKING CONTACT WITH THE
SUBJECT , THE CONTACT OFFICER,
WILL INFORM THE SUSPECT OF THE
FOLLOWING. THE OFFICER UP HIS
NAME, RANK OR TITLE, THE FACT
THAT THE OFFICER IS A SEATTLE
POLICE OFFICER, AND THE REASON
FOR THE STOP, AND IF THE STOP IS
BEING RECORDED, YOU KNOW, EITHER
IN CAR OR BODY WORN VIDEO.
SEPARATELY, WHEN TAKING THE
SUSPECT INTO CUSTODY, SWORN
EMPLOYEES WILL IDENTIFY
THEMSELVES, INFORM THE SUSPECT
THEY ARE UNDER ARREST AND STATE
THE REASON FOR THE ARREST AS
EARLY AS PRACTICAL. IT SHOULD BE
NOTED TOO THAT A SERGEANT OR
ABOVE APPROVES ADMINISTRATOR OF
ARREST WARRANT SERVICE, AND A
LIEUTENANT OR ABOVE APPROVES
DYNAMIC OR HIGH RISK ARREST
WARRANT SERVICE AND HIGH-RISK
OPERATIONS. IF ANY HIGH RISK
FACTORS ARE PRESENT, THE
LIEUTENANT WILL CONSULT WITH
S.W.A.T. FACTORS ARE PRESENT,
THE LIEUTENANT WILL CONSULT WITH
S.W.A.T. SEATTLE PD S.W.A.T. IS
THE DESIGNATED UNIT TO SERVE
HIGH-RISK WARRANTS AND CONDUCT
HIGH RISK ARRESTS. I COVER THIS
TO KIND OF BASE LINE US AS A
CITY REGARDING WHAT IS SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT POLICY, AND
THE FACT THAT WE WILL BE
PROFESSIONAL CARRYING OUT THIS.
THIS IS WHAT HAS BEEN PART OF
THE GIVE-AND-TAKE AND
DISCUSSIONS RELATED TO CHIEF
BARNES COMPILATION. BUT FURTHER,
OUR WORK HERE ON THE COMMITTEE,
AND OUR OVERSIGHT OF SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT. THIS IS ABOUT
BEING PROFESSIONAL. I WOULD SAY
THIS IS ABOUT BEING VARSITY.
THIS IS THE BASELINE . BY THE
WAY, THIS APPLIES TO FEDERAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT TOO. IF THEY WANT TO
BE PROFESSIONAL, IF THEY WANT TO
BE VARSITY, THIS IS WHAT THEY
SHOULD BE DOING TOO. IF LAW
ENFORCEMENT DOES NOT DO THAT AS
AND HOLD THE STANDARD SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT IS BEING HELD,
TO BE FRANK, THEY ARE JUNIOR
VARSITY, JV. I KNOW A LOT OF LAW
ENFORCEMENT, EVERY LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WANTS TO BE
CONSIDERED AS BEING A TRUE
PROFESSIONAL OF HIS CRAFT, HIS
PROFESSION. AND SO, MY CHARGE TO
FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT IS TO BE
THAT VARSITY LAW ENFORCEMENT
ENTITY. TO BE THAT VARSITY LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. TO MEET THE
STANDARDS, TO INCLUDE THE
STANDARDS THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT FALLS UNDER. WITH
THAT, I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU
AGAIN FOR EVERYONE ATTENDING. WE
WILL NOW OPEN THE HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD. PUBLIC COMMENTS
SHOULD RELATE TO ITEMS ON
TODAY'S AGENDA, OR WITHIN THE
PURVIEW OF THE COMMITTEE. CLERK,
HOW MANY PEOPLE DO WE HAVE
SIGNED UP TODAY? PRETTY
CURRENTLY, WE HAVE THREE IN
PERSON AND ONE REMOTE SPEAKER.
>> OKAY. EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE
TWO MINUTES. WE WILL START WITH
THE IN PERSON SPEAKERS. PLEASE
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS.
>> PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL BE
MODERATED IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER. THE PERIOD IS UP TO SIX
MINUTES. SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED
IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY
REGISTERED. SPEAKERS WILL CURE
CHAI IN. -- MIKE MAX WILL BE
MUTED TO ALLOW US TO CALL ON THE
NEXT BIGGER. THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS NOW OPEN. WE WILL
BEGIN WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER ON
THE LIST. THE FIRST IN PERSON
SPEAKER.
>> HELLO. TO START OFF, I WANT
TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR TAKING
MY COMMENT. QUICK QUESTION. I
WAS GOING TO SEE WHERE THE
COMMITTEE IS OUT, AND IF THEY
CAN PROVIDE INSIGHT, INTO THE
STAFFING MODEL FOR PARAMEDICS
FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE .
CURRENTLY, THERE IS OVER 800,000
PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE CITY.
THERE ARE EIGHT PARAMEDIC UNIT
STAFFED WITHIN THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT. I KNOW THROUGH OTHER
PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT OR THE FIRE INDUSTRY
, NOTED ARTICLES THAT HAVE BEEN
WRITTEN IN THE PAST THAT ,
DURING PUBLIC EVENTS, UNITS WILL
BE DOWN TO POTENTIALLY ONLY
THREE PER 800,000 PEOPLE. I
THINK THAT IS SUB OPTIMAL. IS
SOMEONE WHO HAS A YOUNG CHILD ,
I'M LOOKING FOR WAYS TO PROTECT
MY FAMILY. WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR
THE COUNCIL TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE
OF THESE REDUCED STAFFING LIMITS
DURING THESE EVENTS? AND IF THEY
FEEL IT IS APPROPRIATE TO
PRIORITIZE EVENTS OVER CITIZENS
OF THE CITY. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP .
>> TODAY IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE
GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE
TOP OF THE ICEBERG. I'M TALKING
ABOUT THE LOWER PART OF THE
ICEBERG. THE PEOPLE THAT DON'T
SEE ANY INTERACTION WITH THE
CRIMES COMMITTED . ONE OF THE
BIG DIFFERENCES I HAVE NOTICED
OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS OR MORE
OF DEALING WITH THE CITY IS WHEN
I WAS YOUNGER THE NUMBERS WERE
USUALLY PRETTY GOOD . AS A
MATTER OF FACT, WHEN WE GOT SOME
CHANGE IN POLICY WITH THE CITY
MANY YEARS AGO, THE ONLY THING
THAT CHANGED ON THE REPORT WAS
WE RECOMMEND, OR WE CHANGE WHAT
WE DO . NOWADAYS, I AM NOT AS
SURE ABOUT THOSE NUMBERS.
BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN ASSAULTS
WRITTEN DOWN TO NOTHING. LIKE,
WHY THE HECK DID THEY EVER CALL
THE POLICE? YOU KNOW? I SEE THAT
NUMBERS ARE ACHIEVED , NOT BY
ACTION, BUT BY NOT REALLY
REPORTING . THIS BOTHERS ME.
HORRENDOUS DECISIONS HAVE BEEN
MADE IN THE PAST, EVEN WITH GOOD
REPORTS . BUT AT LEAST YOU WERE
WORKING ON HONEST INFORMATION. I
SEE THE CITY RIGHT NOW , WHEN IT
IS GOING IN A DIRECTION OR
PROTECTING ITSELF, WRITING
REPORTS THAT DO THAT RATHER THAN
LOOK VERY CAREFULLY AT WHAT
REALLY HAPPENED, OR ROOT REALLY
DIDN'T HAPPEN. MY HOPE IS YOU
CAN REACH OUT AND DO MUCH, MUCH
BETTER ON THAT. PEOPLE NEED TO
BE ENCOURAGED , NOT JUST TO
PROTECT THE BACKSIDE. I HOPE
THAT WILL BE DONE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> LAST IN PERSON SPEAKER .
>> PRAISE GOD. PRAISE GOD.
PRAISE GOD. I AM HERE TO SUPPORT
SECURITY. I USED TO DO SECURITY.
THE POINT IS, WE NEED TO INVEST
OUR TAX DOLLARS IN SECURITY. I
THINK IF WE INVESTED OUR MONEY
AND PROTECTING EACH OTHER , WE
WOULD BE BETTER OFF. WE DON'T
ALWAYS HAVE TO -- THE HUMAN
FACTOR , WE ARE NOT PERFECT BUT
THE POINT IS, WE GOT SOMETHING
THAT WILL HELP US BE BETTER AND
PROTECTING EACH OTHER , WHICH IS
TECHNOLOGY. I THINK IF WE INVEST
OUR MONEY, OUR TAX DOLLARS, IN
TECHNOLOGY, WE WOULD BE BETTER
OFF IN THE LONG RUN. PRAISE GOD.
I HOPE YOU GUYS ENJOY AND
PROTECT YOURSELF . THAT'S ALL I
WANTED TO SAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE FIRST, AND ONLY, REMOTE
SPEAKER.
>> THANK YOU. I'VE HAD 20 BIKES
STOLEN FROM ME IN SEATTLE.
YESTERDAY I HEARD DEBORAH SAY
SHE DIDN'T WANT TO PUT A BIKE
THIEF IN JAIL, AS IF SHE IS
STILL SYMPATHIZING WITH
CRIMINALS. SHE WAS IN CHARGE AND
THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT AS SOCIETY
CONTINUE TO EMPLOYED -- EMPLOYED
WITH 911 REFUSING TO PROCESS
CRIMES. THEY CREATED A RACIAL
EQUITY TOOLKIT WITH NOTHING BUT
A BUNCH OF RACE OR SKIN COLOR
MISJUDGMENT. I WANT TO IGNORE
THE FACT THERE IS CRIMINALS
CONDUCTING CIVIL MORE ON
COMMUNITY, AND THEY ARE DEEMED
THE MOST HONORABLE BECAUSE THEY
DON'T KNOW ANY BETTER. THE SAD
PART IS, YOU ARE MANIPULATING
THE STATISTICS WHEN IT IS
INCREDIBLY UNSAFE. IT'S LIKE,
IF THERE IS 100 GUNSHOTS IN ONE
INCIDENT, AND NO ONE WAS KILLED,
THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY , AND
EVERYBODY ELSE ON THE
PROGRESSIVE SIDE, SEEMS TO THINK
THAT IS AN IMPROVEMENT IN PUBLIC
SAFETY BECAUSE NOBODY DIED, AND
IT WAS ONLY ONE INCIDENT INSTEAD
OF, LIKE, 10 INCIDENTS WITH 10
GUNSHOTS IN DIFFERENT AREAS.
IT'S A REAL CONCERN. SPARE US
THE BOGUS STATISTICS BASED ON
THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY
REFUSING TO REFER A CRIME THAT
IS A CRIME. YOU ALL ARE
MANIPULATING THE STATISTICS AND
SELF-PROMOTING YOU ARE HAVING
SUCCESS, YET, IT IS STILL UNSAFE
BASED ON RECORD LEVELS OF PUBLIC
SAFETY CONCERNS. ONE THING IS
FOR CERTAIN, SEATTLE
PROGRESSIVES ARE NOT TOUGH ON
CRIME. YET ALWAYS BLAMING THE
WHITE MAN WHILE SYMPATHIZING
WITH THE BLACK AND BROWN DRUG
PRESSURES, AS IF THEY ARE THE
MOST VULNERABLE. THEY GET
PRIORITIZE FOR HOUSING AND
SERVICES WHILE THE INNOCENT
HOMELESS GET RACIALLY
DISCRIMINATED AGAINST AND
SUBHUMAN MISTREATED WHILE
BUSINESSES ARE RUN OUT OF
BUSINESS AND PEOPLE DISCOUNT ALL
THE THINGS THEY GOT TO PUT UP
WITH BECAUSE CITY COUNCIL HAS
NOT COME UP WITH A PROPER
RESPONSE FOR ALL THESE JUNKIE
THIEVING LOW LIVES THAT ARE
SYMPATHIZED WITH AND ALLOWED TO
ROAM AROUND AFTER THEY TAKE
THEIR FREE DRUG FROM THE CLINIC.
THEY'RE NOT FORCED TO BREAK THE
HABIT. THINK OF THE VOLUNTARY
AND COME ON BACK AND DODGE
MEDICAID.
>> THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL
REGISTERED SPEAKERS.
>> THANK YOU. PUBLIC COMMENT HAS
EXPIRED . I DO THANK EVERYONE
FOR COMING. I AM AWARE OF THE
PARAMEDIC ISSUED . SOMETHING I
HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS IN TERMS OF
RECRUITMENT. I AM AWARE OF THE
ISSUE, AND WE ARE ENGAGING WITH
SEATTLE FIRE. I WAS WORKING WITH
NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY ISSUES. AND
TECHNOLOGY. WE HAVE SOME THINGS
COMING UP FOR YOU IN THE NEXT
FEW MINUTES. MORE TECHNOLOGY.
DON'T WORRY ABOUT TECHNOLOGY.
WE WILL NOW PROCEED TO ITEMS OF
BUSINESS. BY THE WAY, MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC ARE ENCOURAGED TO
EITHER SUBMIT WRITTEN PUBLIC
COMMENT FOR SIGN-UP CARDS AT THE
PODIUM OR EMAIL THE COUNCIL.
OKAY. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO THE
FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM NUMBER
ONE INTO THE RECORD?
>> KING COUNTY PROSECUTING
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE OVERVIEW AND
2025 UPDATES.
>> PLEASE JOIN US AND INTRODUCE
YOURSELF.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. CAN
YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES. MAYBE PULL IT UP A
LITTLE CLOSER. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK
WITH COUNCIL TODAY AND SHARE
INFORMATION REGARDING OUR, I
BELIEVE YOU CALLED IT, HOLISTIC
FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE, FOR THE INVITATION. I AM
JUST GOING TO SHARE SOME
INFORMATION I GET ASKED A LOT
ABOUT WHEN I'M OUT AND ABOUT IN
THE COMMUNITY. THE THING I GET
ASKED MOST ABOUT IS THE STATE OF
CRIME IN BOTH SEATTLE AND KING
COUNTY. I AM GOING TO WALK
THROUGH SOME STATISTICS. I WILL
SAY THE OVERARCHING TRENDS ARE
ENCOURAGING. OVERALL, FELONY
CRIME IS DECREASING IN SEATTLE.
TO BE CLEAR, AND I WILL REPEAT
THIS, I DO NOT THINK THAT MEANS
WE ARE YET CRIME FREE. IT DOES
NOT MEAN WE DON'T HAVE MORE
WORK TO DO, BUT IT DOES SAY THAT
THE NUMBERS ARE TRENDING IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION, AND I ATTRIBUTE
THAT TO THE PARTNERSHIPS FROM
THE KING COUNTY PROSECUTING
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE SEATTLE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE,
MUNICIPAL PROSECUTORS AND POLICE
AND ALL PARTS OF SEATTLE AND
KING COUNTY. FROM 2019 THROUGH
2024 WE SAW SEATTLE ADULT FELONY
REFERRALS DROPPED BY 30 6.7% --
36.7%. WHEN I SPEAK TO
REFERRALS, THOSE ARE THE CASES
SENT TO US BY LAW ENFORCEMENT
FOR POTENTIAL CHARGING DECISION.
IN 2019, WE HAD 3925 REFERRALS .
THAT NUMBER IS AT 2485 FOR 2024.
WE ARE ALSO SEEING ENCOURAGING
TRENDS IN ALL SEATTLE CRIME
CATEGORIES. ADULT BURGLARIES,
BOTH COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL,
REFERRALS ARE DOWN 38%. IN 2019,
REFERRALS WERE 439 , WHICH
RESULTED IN 2019 FILINGS OF 324
. IN 2024, THAT NUMBER DECREASED
TO 272, AND THE NUMBER OF
CORRESPONDING FILINGS, CASE
FILINGS, WAS 245. DURING THE
PANDEMIC, WE THOUGHT REFERRALS
PEAK IN 2020 AT A RATE OF 622.
WITH REGARD TO SERIOUS ASSAULTS
AND VIOLENT ASSAULTS, REFERRALS
WERE DOWN 15.2%. IN 2019,
REFERRALS WERE 693 WITH A
CORRESPONDING NUMBER OF FILINGS
AT 542. THE 2024 REFERRALS WERE
588 WITH A CORRESPONDING NUMBER
OF FILINGS OF 354. DURING THE
PANDEMIC, WE SAW THE PEAK IN
2020 AT A REFERRAL RATE OF 719.
ADULT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HAS ALSO
DOWN , REFERRALS DOWN 29.3%. IN
2019, THE REFERRAL NUMBER WAS
634 WITH CORRESPONDING FILINGS
OF 382. IN 2024, THE NUMBER
DECREASED TO 448 AND FILINGS
WERE 299. DURING THE PANDEMIC,
WE THOUGHT REFERRALS PEAK IN
2020 AT 593. AUTO THEFT
REFERRALS ARE STABLE , UP LESS
THAN 1%. IN 2019, THERE WERE 262
REFERRALS WITH CORRESPONDING
FILINGS OF 194 CASES. IN 2024,
THAT NUMBER INCREASED SLIGHTLY
TO 264 , AND THE NUMBER OF
FILINGS INCREASED TO 224. DURING
THE PANDEMIC, WE SAW REFERRALS
PEAK IN 2022 AT 373. BECAUSE WE
KNOW THAT SEATTLE DOES NOT EXIST
IN A VACUUM, AND WE HAVE TO LOOK
TO OUR BROADER COMMUNITY, I ALSO
WANT TO REPORT THAT OVERALL
FELONY CRIME IN ALL OF KING
COUNTY IS ALSO DECREASING. FROM
2019 THROUGH 2024, ADULT FELONY
REFERRALS AND KING COUNTY
DROPPED BY 25.3%. ADULT FELONY
BURGLARIES , THE REFERRAL RATE
IN 2019 WAS 854 , AND THE
CORRESPONDING NUMBER OF FILINGS
641. IN 2024, THE REFERRAL
DROPPED TO 612 WITH A
CORRESPONDING NUMBER OF 409
CASES FILED. DURING THE
PANDEMIC, WE THOUGHT REFERRALS
PEAK IN 2020 AT 1189. IN KING
COUNTY, SERIOUS ASSAULTS AND
VIOLENT ASSAULTS ARE DOWN 13.4%.
IN 2019, THE REFERRAL RATE WAS
1834 WITH THE CORRESPONDING
NUMBER OF CASE FILINGS AT 1299 .
IN 2024, REFERRAL RATES DROPPED
TO 1589 WITH CORRESPONDING
NUMBER OF CASES FILED 919.
DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE THOUGHT
REFERRALS PEAK AND KING COUNTY
IN 2020 AT 1959. ADULT DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE REFERRALS HAVE
STABILIZED IN KING COUNTY . IN
2019, REFERRALS 1714 WITH
CORRESPONDING NUMBER OF CASE
FILINGS 1141. IN 2024, THE
NUMBER OF REFERRALS INCREASE BY
TWO CASES, 1716 , BUT THE NUMBER
OF FILED CASES ALSO DECREASE TO
1700 -- 1076. DURING THE
PANDEMIC, WE THOUGHT REFERRALS
PEAK IN 2020 AT THE RATE OF
1828. OVERALL, AND KING COUNTY,
UNLIKE CITY OF SEATTLE, ADULT
FELONY VEHICLE THEFT CASES ARE
DOWN 7.7%. IN 2019, THERE WERE
939 LAW ENFORCEMENT REFERRALS
WITH A CORRESPONDING NUMBER OF
CASES FILED AT 693. IN 2024,
THERE WERE 867 LAW ENFORCEMENT
REFERRALS AND 654 CASES THAT
WERE FILED. DURING THE PANDEMIC,
AND KING COUNTY WE THOUGHT
REFERRALS PEAK IN 2022 AT 1108.
WE ALSO HAVE ENCOURAGING NUMBERS
TO SHARE WITH REGARD TO GUN
VIOLENCE. KING COUNTY JUST
EXPERIENCED THE SAFEST START TO
A NEW YEAR WE HAVE HAD IN FIVE
YEARS . WE ARE STARTING TO SEE
EVIDENCE THAT OUR EFFORTS TO
COMBAT GUN VIOLENCE WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITY IS
GAINING TRACTION. MY OFFICE IS
THE ONLY OFFICE IN KING COUNTY
THAT PROVIDES QUARTERLY AND
ANNUAL REPORTS ON GUN VIOLENCE
IN KING COUNTY. WE HAVE NOT ONLY
RECENTLY SEEN POSITIVE PROGRESS,
BUT WE ARE SEEING THAT SENTIMENT
EMERGING AMONGST THE PUBLIC AND
MEDIA. I HAVE MADE IT A TOP
PRIORITY IN MY ADMINISTRATION TO
HOLD PEOPLE WHO USE FIREARMS AND
CAUSE HARM IN OUR COMMUNITY , TO
HOLD THOSE FOLKS ACCOUNTABLE. WE
HAVE ALSO PARTNERED WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT TO SOLVE NONFATAL
SHOOTING CASES, AND WE ARE
STRENGTHENING OUR PARTNERSHIP
WITH POLICE AND COMMUNITY TO
INTERVENE IN THE LIVES OF PEOPLE
WHERE THE DATA SHOWS US THEY ARE
CLOSE TO GUN VIOLENCE, BUT HAVE
NOT YET PERPETRATED OR BECOME
VICTIMS OF HARM. ON THIS POINT,
WE ARE MAKING PARTICULAR INROADS
IN THE CITY OF KENT WHERE WE ARE
PARTNERING WITH KENT POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND TWO LOCAL
NONPROFITS TO OFFER WRAPAROUND
SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS CLOSE TO
GUN VIOLENCE WHO HAVE NOT YET
COMMITTED CRIMES OR BECOME
VICTIMS OF CRIME. I ALSO HAVE A
DEDICATED DEPUTY PROSECUTING
ATTORNEY WHO COORDINATES ON GUN
VIOLENCE POLICY AND CASE
REFERRALS TO THE PROSECUTING
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. COMPARED
WITH 2023 AND 2024, THERE WAS A
29 DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF
FATAL SHOOTING VICTIMS IN KING
COUNTY. A 13% DECREASE IN THE
NUMBER OF NONFATAL SHOOTING
VICTIMS , AND A 6% INCREASE IN
THE OVERALL NUMBER OF SHOTS
FIRED INCIDENTS. THE LATEST
SLIDESHOW ACTUALLY SUSTAINED
DECREASE IN GUN VIOLENCE. IN Q1
2025 THE DATA IS THE STRONGEST
EVIDENCE YET THAT KING COUNTY IS
EXPERIENCING A SUSTAINED
DECREASE IN GUN VIOLENCE THAT
BEGAN IN 2024 COMPARED TO ANY
OTHER FIRST-QUARTER IN THE PAST
FIVE YEARS. Q1 OF 2025 SHOWED
THAT HOMICIDES WERE DOWN , AND
INJURIES DUE TO FIREARMS,
REACHED ALL NEW LOW POINTS.
YEAR-OVER-YEAR, THE FIRST
QUARTER OF 2025 SOUGHT A 35%
DROP IN HOMICIDE FIRE VICTIMS, A
36% DROP IN NONFATAL SHOOTING
VICTIMS, AND A 32% DROP IN TOTAL
SHOTS FIRED INCIDENTS. IN SOUTH
KING COUNTY, THE OVERALL NUMBERS
WERE ACTUALLY BETTER . IN KENT
IN SOUTH KING COUNTY WE SAW GUN
VIOLENCE REDUCE WITH 50% FEWER
SHOTS FIRED INCIDENTS IN Q1 OF
2025 COMPARED WITH Q1 OF 2024.
AGAIN, AS I REPEATED AT THE
START OF THIS PRESENTATION, WE
ARE MAKING PROGRESS. WE ARE NOT
DECLARING VICTORY. WE MUST
INCREASE OUR EFFORTS TO INCREASE
SAFETY IN SEATTLE AND KING
COUNTY. NOT ALL OF THE REDUCTION
IN GUN VIOLENCE IS FELT EQUALLY.
IN 2024, WE NOTICED THAT 394
SHOOTING VICTIMS , 82% WERE
MALE, 26 BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18
AND 22, AND 76% WERE PEOPLE OF
COLOR. YOUTH GUN VIOLENCE
REMAINS HIGH , AND THE NUMBER OF
SHOOTING VICTIMS IN 2024 --
LET'S SEE. THE NUMBER OF
SHOOTING VICTIMS BETWEEN ZERO
AND 17 REPRESENTED 15% OF TOTAL
SHOOTING VICTIMS COMPARED TO 9%.
LET'S SEE. WHEN I THINK ABOUT
THE OVERALL HEALTH OF OUR
HOLISTIC CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM
AND THE THINGS WE ARE DOING, WE
CAN'T JUST LOOK TO CRIME STATS.
WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK TO WHAT THE
PRIORITIES ARE, IN THE AREAS
THAT SUPPORT VICTIMS OF CRIME.
AS WE KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN A
SHARP DECREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF
FUNDS DEDICATED TO CRIME
VICTIMS. WE DAILY IN THE
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
WORK TO SUPPORT CRIME VICTIMS AS
THEY NAVIGATE THE LEGAL SYSTEMS.
OUR ADVOCATES WORK EACH DAY TO
HELP CRIME VICTIMS SURVIVORS
UNDERSTAND THE COMPLEXITIES OF
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, THE
RIGHTS OF THE VICTIM, AND THE
RESOURCES THEY MAY HAVE ACCESS
TO TO ADDRESS THE ADVERSE
IMPACTS OF VICTIMIZATION. ARE
DEPUTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS AND
LEGAL SERVICE PROFESSIONALS
FIGHT FOR JUSTICE ON BEHALF OF
VICTIMS EACH DAY IN COURT, AND
OUR ENTIRE PROSECUTING
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TEAM WORKS
DILIGENTLY TO ENFORCE VICTIM
RIGHTS. I RECENTLY HIRED A NEW
DIRECTOR OF VICTIM SERVICES WHO
WILL HELP ENHANCE THE
COORDINATION OF THE SERVICES
THAT WE OFFER AS A SYSTEM, AND
TO WORK WITH VICTIMS WHO ARE
EXPERIENCING CONTACT WITH
CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM AS
VICTIMS. IN THE YEAR OF
ACROSS-THE-BOARD CONSTRAINTS, I
MADE FUNDING FOR CRIME VICTIMS
AND CRIME VICTIMS SURVIVORS MY
TOP PRIORITY. ON FEBRUARY 3 I
TESTIFIED IN SUPPORT OF SENATE
BILL 5362 AND HOUSE BILL 1487,
WHICH WOULD HAVE STABILIZED
STATEWIDE FUNDING FOR CRIME
SURVIVORS THAT ARE ADMINISTRATED
THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF
COMMERCE'S OFFICE OF CRIME
VICTIM ADVOCACY. THESE FUNDS
HAVE DECREASED BY 90% SINCE
2017, AND WHILE I HAVE URGED THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO FULFILL
THEIR OBLIGATION TO CRIME
VICTIMS, WE HAVE NOT SEEN A LOT
OF ACTION ON THAT FRONT. IT IS
IMPERATIVE UPON HER STATE TO
STEP IN AND FILL THE GAP. WHILE
THE BILLS I TESTIFIED FOR DO NOT
BECOME LAW, I AM GOING TO
CONTINUE THESE EFFORTS IN FUTURE
SESSIONS . AMONG MY OTHER
LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES THAT THE
BECOME LAW, WE DID CLOSE A
LOOPHOLE GAP IN THE HATE CRIME
STATUTE WHERE WE CAN NOW HOLD
PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR HATE
CRIMES WHEN THERE ARE ACTIONS
MOTIVATED IN WHOLE, OR IN PART,
BY BIAS . WE HAVE SEEN THROUGH
OUR TRIAL WORK THAT JURIES HAVE
BECOME -- WERE CONFUSED BY THE
PREVIOUS STATUTE. THIS IMPORTANT
CHANGE HELPS US HOLD THOSE WHO
PERPETRATE HATE AND HARM PEOPLE
ACCOUNTABLE. ONE THING I AM
ENGAGED IN AS A STATEWIDE
LISTENING TOUR TO GET TO THE
HEART OF THE CHANGES THAT ARE
NECESSARY IN OUR STATEWIDE
VOLUNTARY TREATMENT IN COURT.
THIS IS A DISCIPLINARY TEAM
WHERE WE HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT,
PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE,
DIRECT SERVICE PROVIDERS, PUBLIC
DEFENSE, PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS
AT THE TABLE. WE HAVE COMPLETED
OUR LISTENING SESSION IN
SPOKANE, AND ALSO IN WHATCOM
COUNTY. WERE NOW MOVING TO THE
COLUMBIA BASIN AS WE CONTINUE TO
PREPARE THOSE THEMES THAT ARE
EMERGING FROM THE LISTENING
SESSIONS. WE WILL BE SHARING
THOSE MORE PUBLICLY AND WITH
STATE LAWMAKERS. I'M HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT
HAVE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE
PRESENTATION. I JUST WANTED TO
NOTE TOO, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH HAS JOINED US IN
PERSON. THANK YOU. AS ALWAYS,
WELL FIRST, THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR THE BRIEFING. I WILL ASK
QUESTIONS, BUT IT WAS GOOD TO MY
VICE CHAIR FIRST, VICE CHAIR
SAKA.
>> HELLO, COUNCILMEMBER.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, AND
THANK YOU PROSECUTING ATTORNEY
FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND TAKING
THE TIME TO SHARE OUT SOME OF
THIS IMPORTANT DATA AND THE WORK
GOING ON AT THE COUNTY LEVEL TO
ADDRESS OUR SHARED PRIORITIES
AND CONCERNS. REALLY APPRECIATE
ALL THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE
. IT IS CLEAR THAT THE DATA IS
TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
I WOULD AGREE WITH YOUR
ASSESSMENT THAT, YOU KNOW, IT IS
THE RESULT OF A LOT OF
COLLABORATION AT THE VARIOUS
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY 'S
OFFICES, JUDICIAL PARTNERS , AND
IMPORTANTLY, FRIENDLY AMENDMENT
IS THAT, BECAUSE ALL THIS , AS
CHAIR KENDALL NOTED EARLIER LAST
WEEK, ALL OF THESE POSITIVE
TRENDS DIDN'T HAPPEN BY
HAPPENSTANCE, IT IS ALSO, I
THINK, A DIRECT RESULT OF SOME
INTENTIONAL POLICY CHOICES AND
DECISIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE AT
ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. I CAN
REALLY SPEAK TO WHAT WE HAVE
DONE HERE IN SEATTLE, PASSING AT
LEAST 20 -- I FORGOT THE TOTAL
TALLY AT THIS POINT, MR. CHAIR
-- BUT THE TOTAL TALLY OF PUBLIC
SAFETY INVESTMENTS AND PIECES OF
LEGISLATION WE HAVE PAST HERE .
WE HAVE DONE THINGS TO BOOST OUR
FIRE DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING OUR
PARAMEDICS AND HIRING AND
RECRUITMENT OF THOSE .
SUPPORTING OUR SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND HELPING TO
INCREASE AND EXPEDITE AND
STREAMLINE THE HIRING PROCESS,
MAKING SURE THEY HAVE THE TOOLS
AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO BE
SUCCESSFUL, BECAUSE WE CAN'T
JUST HANG OUR HATS ON POLICE AND
FIRE ALONE. IN THE CITY, WE HAVE
EXPANDED SIGNIFICANTLY OUR NEW
CARE DEPARTMENT, A FIRST OF ITS
KIND ALTERNATIVE CIVILIAN LED
RESPONSE TO REALLY ADDRESS SOME
OF THOSE HIGH ACUITY INCIDENTS
THAT REALLY JUST DON'T REQUIRE
POLICE, OR IN SOME CASES, FIRE.
THAT WITH THE TECHNOLOGY BILLS
TO HELP SUPPLEMENT AND AUGMENT
EVERYONE , ALL THE WORK OF OUR
THREE PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT
HERE WITHIN THE CITY. IT IS
REALLY NOT JUST ONE THING IN MY
VIEW, IT IS AN AMALGAM OF THINGS
AND ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER.
BUT AS WE -- YOU APTLY NOTED,
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY , THERE'S
PLENTY MORE WORK TO DO. IT
DOESN'T MEAN WE ARE CRIME FREE.
FAR FROM A MOMENT WHERE WE CAN
SLAP EACH OTHER HIGH FIVES AND
PAT EACH OTHER ON THE BACK AND
SAY , BECAUSE CRIME STILL
EXISTS. BUT YOUR POINT, IT DOES
PROVIDE A GLIMMER OF HOPE YOU'RE
CURIOUS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND --
A LOT OF THE ENCOURAGING TRENDS
AND DATA SHARED ABOUT CRIME ,
MOST OF IT SEEMS TO INVOLVE
ADULTS . YOU MENTIONED AT THE
END OF THE PRESENTATION THAT ,
WITH RESPECT TO JUVENILES,
SHOOTINGS , PARTICULARLY
SHOOTING VICTIMS , DOUBLES,
ESSENTIALLY, SINCE 2019. WHERE
ARE WE AT -- SO THAT REMAINS A
HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF US
TO BETTER GET A HOLD OF THAT AND
ADDRESS THAT. WHERE ARE WE AT
WITH -- AT A HIGH LEVEL AT
LEAST, WITH CRIME DATA
PERTAINING TO JUVENILES OUTSIDE
OF THE GUN VIOLENCE CONTEXT?
>> SURE. AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL, I
THINK EVERY SINGLE JUVENILE GUN
VIOLENCE CASE IS CONCERNING TO
ALL OF US. IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR
JUVENILES TO CARRY FIREARMS, AND
WHEN THEY DO, WE SHOULD ALL BE
CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. WITH
REGARD TO OVERARCHING JUVENILE
CRIME, AND THE JUVENILE JUSTICE
SYSTEM, WE HAVE NOT REACHED
PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS. WE ARE
CLOSE TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS SO
FAR IN 2025. WE HAVE 500 CASES
FILED , AND THOSE, OF COURSE,
ARE DRIVEN BY POLICE REFERRALS.
WE ARE BELOW 2019 LEVELS, BUT
WHAT IS CONCERNING IS THAT THE
RATIO THAT THE NUMBER OF YOUNG
PEOPLE WHOSE FIRST BRUSH WITH
THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM IS A
SERIOUS VIOLENT CRIME OR
HOMICIDE, THAT RATIO , THAT
NUMBER HAS INCREASED. BUT
OVERARCHING JUVENILE CRIME, THE
OVERALL TOTAL NUMBERS, HAVE NOT
REACHED PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS YET.
>> GOT IT. THANK YOU. WITH
RESPECT TO THE JUVENILE GUN
VIOLENCE CHALLENGE , ONGOING
THAT WE FACE, IT'S GETTING
WORSE. IN MY VIEW, I THINK WE
NEED THE BEST RESPONSE IS
PREVENTION. I THINK WE NEED MORE
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AND MENTAL
HEALTH OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR
YOUTH , AND TO CONTINUE TO
INVEST IN THOSE THINGS AT ALL
LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, CITY,
COUNTY, STATE, FEDERAL. AND
ALSO, I DO PERSONALLY SEE A
NONTRIVIAL TIE AND CORRELATION
BETWEEN , YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE
VIOLENCE WE ARE SEEING NOW IN
JUVENILES TO A PROTRACTED SCHOOL
CLOSURE PERIOD DURING COVID .
WHEN SCHOOLS WERE OPENING UP
AROUND THE STATE AND COUNTRY, WE
MADE THE BEST DECISIONS WE COULD
HERE IN SEATTLE. BUT IT STILL
REQUIRED AN ORDER FROM THE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON TO GET SCHOOLS BACK
FOUR DAYS A WEEK FOR TWO HOURS A
DAY IN PERSON. IN MY VIEW, PART
OF THAT IS -- PART OF WHAT WE
ARE FACING NOW IS A DIRECT
CONSEQUENCE OF THAT. I HAVE A
QUESTION ABOUT --
>> CAN I TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF
THINGS THAT ARE PROMISING
PRACTICES ? IN THE KING COUNTY
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
WE HAVE LAUNCHED A SAFER SCHOOLS
INITIATIVE WHERE WE AND THE
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
ART A DIRECT LIAISON BETWEEN
SCHOOL OFFICIALS AND JUVENILE
COURT STAFF. WE ARE SHARING
NOTES ON AN INDIVIDUAL'S SAFE
RETURN TO SCHOOL. A LOT OF
PEOPLE WHO ENTER THE CRIMINAL
SYSTEM, EVEN WHEN THEIR CASES
ARE ADJUDICATED, RETURNED TO
SCHOOL. WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
RETURN IS AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE,
AND THAT WE ARE SHARING
INFORMATION ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE
IN A WAY THAT IS HELPFUL AND
DESIGNED TO INCREASE PROTECTIVE
FACTORS. UNDER OUR STATE LAW, IT
CURRENTLY TAKES FIVE
ADJUDICATIONS BEFORE A YOUNG
PERSON CAUGHT UNLAWFULLY
CARRYING A FIREARM FACES
SANCTIONS GREATER THAN 30 DAYS .
I DID WORK WITH OUR LEGISLATURE
IN AN ATTEMPT TO CHANGE THAT
LAW. THOSE EFFORTS WERE
UNSUCCESSFUL. THAT BEING SAID,
WITHIN EXISTING RESOURCES, WHICH
ARE SCARCE IN MY OFFICE, WE'RE
LAUNCHING A PILOT PROJECT TO SEE
IF WE CAN SEEK JUVENILE EXTREME
RISK PROTECTION ORDERS IN
APPROPRIATE CASES WHERE
JUVENILES ARE CAUGHT CARRYING
FIREARMS. THOSE JUVENILE OR A
CIVIL ACTION . THE RECORDS ARE
SEALED , AND THEY ARE SERVED ON
FAMILIES AND PARENTS IN HOPES
THAT WE CAN REMOVE JUVENILES
ACCESS TO FIREARMS. THOSE ARE A
COUPLE OF THINGS WE ARE DOING TO
COMBAT JUVENILE GUN VIOLENCE.
>> THANK YOU. MY NEXT QUESTION,
JUST CURIOUS, AND TRAINED BY
SOME OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT
TODAY. REFERENCED ALL OF IT SO
FAR WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE,
AND I WILL DO IT NOW. CRIME IS
TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
. FAR FROM A MISSION
ACCOMPLISHED MOMENT, BUT YOU
KNOW, AT LEAST SOME OF THE CRIME
THAT HAPPENS THROUGHOUT THE
CITY, THROUGHOUT A REGION, DOES
GO UNREPORTED . AND SO, JUST
CURIOUS, IN YOUR VIEW, ROUGHLY
HOW MUCH CRIME GOES UNREPORTED
ACROSS THE COUNTY ? AND IN YOUR
ASSESSMENT, HOW DOES THAT
COMPARE DESHA CERTAIN AMOUNT OF
CRIME HAS ALWAYS GONE
UNREPORTED, BUT IN YOUR
ASSESSMENT, HOW DOES THAT
COMPARE TO -- LIKE,
HISTORICALLY?
>> I HAVE NO WAY OF MEASURING
UNREPORTED CRIME IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE OR KING COUNTY. WHAT I
DO COUNT AND KEEP TRACK OF OUR
LAW ENFORCEMENT REFERRALS. WHEN
PEOPLE ARE AFRAID, WHEN THEY
BELIEVE OF CRIME IS BEEN
COMMITTED, THEY CONTACT LAW
ENFORCEMENT IN THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON, WE CANNOT FILE CASES
WITHOUT A SIGNATURE FROM A
POLICE OFFICER, INVESTIGATOR,
HONOR CERTIFICATION OF
DETERMINATION OF PROBABLE CAUSE.
WE PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE
CASES THAT POLICE BRING TO US .
WE REVIEW EVERY POLICE REFERRALS
INDIVIDUALLY ON A CASE-BY-CASE
BASIS WITH THE EYE OF CHARGING
THE CRIME THAT IS APPROPRIATE IN
LIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE THE
INVESTIGATION PRESENTED. IN
TERMS OF CASES THAT ARE NOT
REPORTED, I HAVE NO WAY OF
MEASURING THAT.
>> FAIR ENOUGH. THANK YOU. FINAL
QUESTION. IN YOUR VIEW, HOW CAN
THE CITY, OUR CITY, OR CITIES
ACROSS THE COUNTY, BE BETTER
PARTNERS TO ADDRESS SOME OF OUR
SHARED CHALLENGES AND CONCERNS
PERTAINING TO CRIME?
>> I BELIEVE, HONESTLY, THE
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE KING
COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE IN SEATTLE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS NEVER
BEEN STRONGER. IT REALLY MAKES A
DIFFERENCE. IT HAS A POSITIVE
IMPACT WHEN WE ARE SHARING
INFORMATION, NOT JUST ON THE
FOLKS WHO ARE ROUTINELY CAUSING
HARM IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO
THE FOLKS WHO ARE CYCLING IN
BETWEEN SOME OF OUR TREATMENT
OPTIONS . IT IS IMPORTANT TO
TRADE NOTES ON ADDRESSING ROOT
CAUSES, BECAUSE OF SOMEONE YOU
HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE , WE IN THE
KING COUNTY PROSECUTING
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE DON'T WANT
TO GO BACK TO OPTION A. WE WOULD
LIKE TO TRY SOMETHING NEW AND
OFFERED, LIKE, AN OPTION B. I
THINK ALSO THE INCREASE IN LAW
ENFORCEMENT HAS BEEN REALLY
HELPFUL. AS I SAID, YOU KNOW, WE
CANNOT FILE CASES WITHOUT THE
PARTNERSHIP AND IMPORTANT WORK
OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS
. WHEN WE LOOK TO SERIOUS
VIOLENT CRIMES, SEXUAL ASSAULT,
GUN VIOLENCE, I THINK WE CAN ALL
AGREE THAT WE NEED POLICE TO
RESPOND TO THOSE IMPORTANT 911
CALLS TO THOSE CRIME SCENES TO
DO THE IMPORTANT WORK AND
IMPORTANT INVESTIGATIONS
NECESSARY SO WE, IN THE
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY'S OFFICE,
CAN REVIEW THOSE REFERRALS AND
FILE APPROPRIATE CHARGES FOR
NECESSARY ACCOUNTABILITY. I
THINK, ALSO, THE WORK WE ARE
DOING TO ADDRESS ROOT CAUSES.
THE FACT THAT WE HAVE LEAD .
THAT WE BELIEVE WE CAN HOLD
PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE, BUT ALSO GET
TO THE ROOT CAUSE OF SUBSTANCE
USE DISORDER AND MENTAL HEALTH
DISORDER. THOSE TWO THINGS
COMBINED HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT
ON OUR COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU. I WILL JUST CLOSE
BY THANKING YOU AGAIN ,
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY MANION, FOR
BEING HERE TODAY, AND ALL OF OUR
PARTNERS AT THE COUNTY
GOVERNMENT LEVEL . APPRECIATE
YOUR WORK AND PARTNERSHIP IN
ADDRESSING THESE SHARED
CHALLENGES. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS, MR. CHAIRMAN.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR. I
WANTED TO KNOW TOO, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON HAS JOINED US.
AS ALWAYS, THIS COMMITTEE ALWAYS
WELCOMES NON-COMMITTEE MEMBERS
TO JOIN US. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA
HAS ALSO JOINED US. WELCOME,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. I'M
LOOKING AT MY SCREENS, BY THE
WAY, FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW
AND SEEING IF THERE ANY HANDS
RAISED FOR ANY QUESTIONS NOW.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANKS,
ALWAYS, FOR LETTING ME ATTEND
YOUR MEETING. I FEEL LIKE AN
HONORARY MEMBER. [ LAUGHTER ]
THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE. I REALLY WANT TO
UNDERSCORE SOMETHING YOU SAID
ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND
KING COUNTY PROSECUTOR AND THE
PARTNERS AT SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND OTHER FOLKS AT
THE CITY. I COULD NOT AGREE MORE
THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT
RELATIONSHIP , AND I WANT TO SAY
THAT I, FOR ONE, HAVE BEEN GREAT
-- VERY GRATEFUL TO YOUR TEAM
FOR THE CONSTANT FLOW OF
INFORMATION ABOUT THINGS
HAPPENING RELATED TO NORTH
PRECINCT, WHICH IS THE PRECINCT
THAT SERVES AS THE DISTRICT I AM
IN. HAVE CHATTED AS WELL. I FEEL
REALLY -- I JUST REALLY WANTED
TO THANK YOU FOR THAT . ALSO, TO
UNDERSCORE THE IMPORTANCE OF
THAT. BECAUSE WITHOUT THE
PARTNERSHIPS, AND WITHOUT THE
INFORMATION, IT DOES MAKE IT
HARDER TO LOOK AT POLICY
CONSIDERATIONS AND HOW TO
APPROACH THE WORK BETTER AND HOW
TO DO BETTER FOR OUR RESIDENTS
IN GENERAL, AND HOW TO KNOW THE
BEST SOLUTIONS TO SOME OF THESE
VERY DIFFICULT PROBLEMS ,
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
THE USE PIECE . AS YOU ALL KNOW,
BECAUSE YOU'VE ONLY HEARD ME
PROBABLY SAY IT 100 TIMES IN THE
YEAR AND A HALF I BEEN HERE, MY
KIDS HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY GUN
VIOLENCE IN THE SCHOOLS. THAT IS
SOMETHING I REALLY CARE DEEPLY
ABOUT. I WILL BE REACHING OUT TO
YOUR OFFICE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
THE SAFER SCHOOLS INITIATIVE,
BECAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING WE
SHOULD BE IN CLOSE CONTACT, I
BELIEVE, ABOUT. AND JUST KNOW
THE INFORMATION SO WE ARE ABLE
TO COMMUNICATE IT TO OUR
CONSTITUENTS AS WELL. NOT A
QUESTION, BUT MORE A COMMENT
ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE
RELATIONSHIPS . SO THE PUBLIC
KNOWS, WE ARE IN CONSTANT
COMMUNICATION. IT IS NOT JUST
TODAY , IT IS NOT JUST THE
PRESENTATION, AND HOW IMPORTANT
IT IS, AND HAS BEEN, TO THE
DISTRICT I REPRESENT TO HAVE
THAT POINT OF CONTACT. THE LAST
THING I WILL COMMENT, YOUR FOLKS
HAVE BEEN REALLY GREAT ABOUT
COMMUNICATING WITH FOLKS IN MY
DISTRICT , WITH THE CONSTITUENTS
I REPRESENT. THAT HAS BEEN
REALLY IMPORTANT AND CRITICAL
JUST SO THAT THE PUBLIC KNOWS
THEY CAN TALK TO YOUR OFFICE
DIRECTLY AND GET THE INFORMATION
THEY ARE SEEKING ABOUT THE
THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE
DISTRICTS . THAT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT TOO. I WANTED TO THANK
YOU FOR THAT AND UNDERSCORE,
AGAIN, THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT. I
LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED
RELATIONSHIP, AND TO LEARNING
MORE. I WILL REACH OUT ON THE
SAFER SCHOOLS PILOT. THANK YOU,
AGAIN, FOR BEING HERE AND FOR
ALL YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE DOING
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY.
THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT
FEEDBACK. THANK YOU FOR THOSE
COMMENTS. IT IS EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT TO ME THAT THE KING
COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE SHARE THE DATA BEHIND OUR
WORK, AND THAT RIHANNA --
RATIONALE BEHIND DECISION-MAKER.
I'VE BEEN REMISS IN INTRODUCING
DAVID BAKER, THE DIRECTOR OF
DATA ANALYTICS IN THE KING
COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE. HE IS THE MAGIC BEHIND
OUR PUBLIC FACING DATA
DASHBOARD. WE WERE THE FIRST IN
THE STATE AND AMONG A SELECT FEW
IN THE UNITED STATES THAT HAS A
PUBLIC FACING DASHBOARD. EVERY
MONTH, WE ALSO PUSH OUT A REPORT
THAT SHARES WITH LEADERS AND ALL
OF KING COUNTY THE CASES WE HAVE
FILED INVOLVING GUN VIOLENCE,
AND WE COMMUNICATE WITH EACH
COUNCIL DISTRICT WITH REGARD TO
CRIMES COMING OUT OF EACH
SPECIFIC PRECINCT AND DISTRICT.
IF YOU'RE NOT RECEIVING THOSE
UPDATES FROM US, PLEASE LET ME
KNOW. WE TRY TO PUSH THOSE OUT
PROACTIVELY.
>> CAN WE GIVE A LITTLE SHOUT
OUT TO CASEY FROM YOUR OFFICE? A
REALLY GREAT PARTNER IN ALL OF
THIS. HE REGULARLY REACHES OUT
TO GIVE US UPDATES ON ARRESTS
HAPPENING IN THE DISTRICT TO ME,
AND TO CONSTITUENTS, LIKE I
SAID, DIRECTLY. HE ALWAYS
ATTENDS THE NORTH PRECINCT
COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING. I
MEAN, ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING.
>> HE IS FANTASTIC. HE IS
BELOVED.
>> YES . I THINK ALL COUNCIL
MEMBERS KNOW HIM AND HIS
INVOLVEMENT. IT ALMOST FEELS
LIKE HE WORKS FOR THE SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL.
>> CASEY AND I CHAT ALL THE
TIME. HE KNOWS HOW TO REACH ME
ANY HOUR OF THE DAY OR NIGHT.
>> DON'T WORRY, WE WON'T POACH
HIM. THANK YOU. I WAS MAKING
SOME NOTES TO MYSELF TO KIND OF
FOLLOW UP WITH THE VICE CHAIR
WAS A WITH TECHNOLOGY. WE HAVE
PUBLIC, BUT I LIKE WEAVING IN
PUBLIC COMMENT WHEN WE CAN. THE
TECHNOLOGY PIECE BUT I KNOW
DIFFERENT PIECES. YOU NOTED,
LIKE, THE AUTO THEFT . IN THE
PAST YEAR, WE HAVE PUT AN
AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE READERS.
WE HAVE BEEN BRINGING IN
TECHNOLOGY. WHAT MR. BILL WAS
TALKING ABOUT. CCTV AND THE
REAL-TIME CRIME CENTER. WE JUST
SAW AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THAT PLAYS
OUT WITH THE PISTOL WHIP AND
FIRED SHOTS , SHOTS FIRED, IN
AURORA IN DISTRICT 5. CAN YOU
SPEAK -- I SEE INTRINSICALLY
SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF THESE
TECHNOLOGY PIECES, BUT CAN YOU
SPEAK TO, WHEN YOU GET THE DATA
SET, THE VIDEO AND DIFFERENT
PIECES THAT COME FROM TECHNOLOGY
AND HOW THAT AIDS ABILITY TO
PROSECUTE THESE CRIMES AND TO
GET A BETTER SUCCESS RATE.
>> IT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF
THE GREAT POLICE WORK WE SEE IN
CITY OF SEATTLE, AND ALSO ALL
PARTS OF KING COUNTY WHEN POLICE
GO OUT AND GATHER VIDEO EVIDENCE
AND PRESENT THAT TO US. IT
ALLOWS US TO SEE A CRIME SCENE
MORE FULLY. IT ALLOWS OUR DEPUTY
PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS , WHEN
REVIEWING A CASE OR REFERRAL, TO
GO FRAME BY FRAME TO ANALYZE
EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT
SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THE
APPROPRIATE FILING DECISION.
>> EXCELLENT. ONE AREA OF
INTEREST. IT IS INTERESTING FOR
ME AT THE CITY LEVEL HERE ON THE
COUNCIL AND PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE, BUT ALSO , YOU KNOW,
THE CHALLENGES THE COUNTY FACES,
AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS IN
OLYMPIA, WHAT HAPPENS AT THE
STATE. YOU MENTIONED DIFFERENT
PARTS OF YOUR BRIEFING ABOUT THE
STATE AND HOW IT IMPACTS OR
DOESN'T IMPACT , LIKE YOUR
POINT ABOUT LEGISLATION .
SPEAKING OF LEGISLATION, ONE BIG
PIECE WAS THE BLAKE SIX. THAT
REALLY SHIFTED IN TERMS OF THE
DRUG FELONIES . BASICALLY WENT
FROM FELONIES TO MISDEMEANORS. I
WOULD ARGUE THAT OUR FIX WAS
PROBLEMATIC. BUT OVERALL, HOW DO
YOU SEE THE TRANSITION? FROM THE
STATE PERSPECTIVE, I DON'T
THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF PIECES
PUT IN PLAY. WE DIDN'T GET
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, FOR
EXAMPLE. THERE ARE LITTLE PIECES
THAT GO INTO, LIKE, YOU KNOW,
ADDITIONAL FELONIES, THE IMPACTS
OF PRESSING FORWARD ON A CASE ,
DRUG DEALING VERSUS -- YOU
MENTIONED DIVERSION FOR THOSE
THAT ARE SOLELY WITH SUBSTANCE
USE. CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE
TRANSITION THAT THE BLAKE FIX
BROUGHT TO US AS A COUNTY AND
CITY, AND HOW THE ENTER PLAYS
AND SOME OF THE FACTORS PEOPLE
DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW ABOUT IN
TERMS OF DECISIONS, PROSECUTING
DECISIONS OR THE PARTNERSHIP
WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
, YOU KNOW, THE MISDEMEANOR? HOW
DOES THAT WORK FROM YOUR
PERSPECTIVE?
>> IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT
WHEN OUR STATE LAWMAKERS CHANGED
DRUG POSSESSION TO A MISDEMEANOR
CRIME, I DON'T BELIEVE ANY
JURISDICTION IN OUR STATE
RECEIVED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.
NOT AT THE FELONY LEVEL. THAT
WOULD MAKE SENSE. BUT I HAVE NOT
HEARD OF ANY MUNICIPALITY THAT
RECEIVED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.
AND KING COUNTY, WE HAVE
MISDEMEANOR JURISDICTION ONLY IN
THE UNINCORPORATED PARTS OF KING
COUNTY AND ALONG THE I-5
CORRIDOR. WE DON'T SEE THE
LEVEL OF DRUG POSSESSION CASES
THAT ANY MUNICIPALITY SEES. LIKE
I SAID, I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY
RESOURCES THAT WERE PASSED FROM
THE STATE LAWMAKERS TO ANY
MINNESOTA HOLIDAY.
>> SPEAKING OF I-LETTER FIVE,
HIGHER-LEVEL PIECES .
>> DRUG DEALING AND DRUG
TRAFFICKING ARE FELONY CRIMES.
WE FILE THOSE CHARGES IN THE
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
WE ROUTINELY WORK WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT WHO DO A REALLY GOOD
JOB OF SEIZING HUNDREDS OF
POUNDS OF FENTANYL AND MORE
PILLS WE CAN POSSIBLY KEEP TRACK
OF, UNLAWFUL GUNS AND CASH. I
BELIEVE I HAVE SHARED WITH THIS
COUNCIL AND OTHERS THE PICTURE
OF THE DRUG DETECTION K-9
SITTING IN FRONT OF A TABLE THAT
IS PILED WITH FENTANYL POWDER,
PILLS, CASH, DRUGS , AND THE DOG
IS SMILING BECAUSE IT IS MY
UNDERSTANDING THAT, FOR A JOB
WELL DONE, THE DOG GET THE
HOTDOG. THOSE A VERY COMPELLING
PHOTOS. THAT HAPPENS ROUTINELY
IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE REGULARLY
FILE THOSE CASES.
>> THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT UPPER
LEVEL STUFF. THERE ARE ELEMENTS
OF SEATTLE PD WORKING AT THE
TRAFFICKING, THE DEALING.
WHETHER THERE IS A VIOLENT PIECE
TO IT , OR EVEN WHEN THERE IS
NOT, BECAUSE THE IMPACT ON THE
NEIGHBORHOODS IS SUCH -- I MEAN,
WE CAN GO THROUGH ALL OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS, AND EVEN IF
THERE'S NOT A VIOLENT PIECE,
WHAT IS HAPPENING, LIKE IN
BELLTOWN, THIRD AND BLANCHARD OR
DOWNTOWN IN THE CID, THE
CHALLENGE IS SO HARD . THIS IS
DEFINITELY AN AREA WHERE, AS I
WAS TALK ABOUT, KEEPING THE
PRESS ON, PRESSING. MY ASK IS TO
KEEP THE PRESS ON THIS AREA TOO.
EVEN IN TERMS OF THE BLAKE FIX
CASES, BUT ON THE FELONY
TRAFFICKING, THE DEALING SIDE,
THAT WE KEEP THE PRESS ON. THIS
COMBINATION IS WHAT IS GOING TO
START MAKING THE DIFFERENCE ON
OUR STREETS.
>> RIGHT. I THINK THAT SPEAKS TO
THE PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE BEEN
CHATTING WITH, AND ALSO DRUG
DEALING AS A FELONY CRIME. WE
TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY AND FILE
THOSE CASES. YES.
>> ONE THING WE PASSED --
ACTUALLY, WE HAD AN AUDIT ON
ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME. THAT WAS
PART OF YOUR BRIEFING. THAT HAS
ALSO BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR A
CITY. OBVIOUSLY, VIOLENT CRIME
IS KEY. BY THE WAY, IT IS EASIER
TO GET THE TRUE DATASETS, BUT
PROPERTY CRIME IS REALLY A
CHALLENGE FOR US . THERE IS THE
RETAIL CRIME, AND THE MORE
BROADER PROPERTY CRIME. ANYTHING
ALONG THOSE LINES YOU CAN SPEAK
TO? YOU HAD THE FLIGHT ABOUT THE
RETAIL CRIME, BUT IN TERMS OF
THE BROADER PROPERTY?
>> I WILL EMAIL COUNCIL SPECIFIC
NUMBERS. I HAVE A DEDICATED
RETAIL CRIMES PROSECUTOR IN MY
OFFICE THAT WORKS WITH, YOU
KNOW, RETAILER -- RETAIL IS
DIRECTLY, THEY WORK DIRECTLY
WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. BY HAVING
A DEDICATED RETAIL CRIME
PROSECUTOR, THE NUMBER OF CASES
FILED WENT UP DRAMATICALLY. I
WILL SHARE THOSE NUMBERS BUT I
JUST DON'T HAVE THEM OFF THE
TOP OF MY HEAD . DEDICATED
RESOURCES MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
HAVING TRAINED LAW ENFORCEMENT
MAKES A DIFFERENCE. THE
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND RETAIL
ORGANIZATIONS IS KEY. BUT AGAIN,
WE NEED POLICE OFFICERS TO SIGN
THAT CERTIFICATION OF
DETERMINATION OF PROBABLE CAUSE.
THEIR PARTNERSHIP IS VITAL TO
THESE EFFORTS.
>> JUST QUICKLY FINISHING UP TO
PIGGYBACK ON THAT. ONE OF THE
THINGS I NOTED IN YOUR BRIEFING
FELONY REFERRALS DOWN , SEATTLE
AND KING COUNTY BROADLY IS 25.3.
ONE COULD ARGUE SINCE WE ARE
DOWN SO MANY OFFICERS, YOU ARE
NOT ABLE TO GET THESE FELONY
REFERRALS. I THINK -- WE JUST
PAST CALENDAR YEAR FOR THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND
BRING IN THE OFFICERS ONLINE,
BRINGING THE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS
AIDED BY TECHNOLOGY , YOU KNOW,
THE FELONY REFERRALS WILL MORE
ACCURATELY RELAY TO FELONIES
BEING COMMITTED, AS OPPOSED TO
BEING IMPACTED BY THE SHORTAGE
OF OFFICERS. IT IS INTERESTING
TO SEE THE BRIEFING AND HAVE
THESE PIECES. THAT WE HAVE TO
CONTINUE TO WATCH THAT NUMBER.
IT HAS BEEN IMPORTANT FOR
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ADD
OFFICERS TO THEIR RANKS. I THINK
WE ALL AGREE ON THAT. THAT HAS
BEEN ENCOURAGING. THE ADDITION
OF OFFICERS AND DECREASE OF
REFERRALS, THAT IS KIND OF LIKE
WHAT WE ARE REALLY HOPING FOR.
CONTINUING TO WATCH THESE
NUMBERS. WE WILL CONTINUE TO
REFLECT ON THE STATE OF PUBLIC
SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
ABSOLUTELY. I WAS HAPPY TO SHARE
INFORMATION.
>> USUALLY I GO LAST, BUT I AM
GOING TO GO TO COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. BUT TO CLOSE, FOR
ME, I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU
FOR HAVING A SLIDE ON YOUR WORK
RELATED TO THE INVOLUNTARY
TREATMENT ACT LISTENING FOR. I
THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT. I
THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE
LIKE YOURSELF TO SAY IT. I HAVE
BEEN SAYING INVOLUNTARY
COMMITMENT . THE SAD FACT OF
LIFE IS THAT WE ARE AT THIS
POINT NOW WITH ALL THE
INVESTMENTS WE ARE DOING THAT WE
ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE THERE
ARE SOME INDIVIDUALS WERE JUST
NOT COMPETENT TO MAKE DECISIONS.
BECAUSE OF PREVIOUS ABUSES, THE
PENDULUM CAME TOO FAR. WE NEED
TO FIND A CENTER. WHAT IS
HAPPENING IS THAT PEOPLE ARE
BEING HURT BECAUSE THEY REMAIN
ON THE STREET. INVOLUNTARY
COMMIT TREATMENT ACT PIECE IS
REALLY IMPORTANT. SERVICE
PROVIDERS WILL SAY THIS QUIETLY
TO ME. BUT THEY DON'T SAY IT
PUBLICLY. I THINK IS REALLY
IMPORTANT TO SHOW LEADERSHIP
FROM THE COUNTY LEVEL AND FROM
THE CITY LEVEL. I JUST WANTED TO
SAY THANK YOU FOR
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WHEN I
LAUNCH THE STATEWIDE LISTENING
TOUR, IT IS WORK THAT IS
UNFUNDED . IT IS WORK I AM
CONVENING WITH A
MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM AND GROUP
OF FOLKS VOLUNTEERING THEIR TIME
. BUT THERE WASN'T A SINGLE
PERSON WHO SAID THINGS WERE
PERFECT, LEAVE AS IS. THERE
WASN'T A SINGLE PERSON HE TRIED
TO TAKE THIS PROJECT AWAY FROM
ME. SO I KINDA THOUGHT I WAS
ONTO SOMETHING. BUT THE WORK IS
IMPORTANT. I THINK WE CAN ALL
AGREE THAT WHEN FOLKS ARE FACED
WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES,
AND THEY ARE BROUGHT TO A
TREATMENT ASSESSMENT FOR GRAVELY
DISABLED, THE RIGHT OUTCOME
SHOULD BE HOW WE GET THAT PERSON
HELP IN THE REESE -- LEAST
RESTRICTIVE MEANS POSSIBLE
BEFORE THE BECOME VICTIMS OR
PERPETRATORS OF HARD. I THINK
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE ALL
COLLECTIVELY WORKING FOR BUT
HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT
EARLY AND UPFRONT WILL BENEFIT
ALL OF US AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR
THE KIDS WHO HAVE JOINED US
USUALLY THEY COME INSIDE, BUT
THEY STAYED IN THE ANTECHAMBER.
ON A REGULAR BASIS, WE HAVE
SCHOOLCHILDREN COME INTO
CHAMBERS. COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR KETTLE. A
GREAT SEGUE TO MY NEXT QUESTION.
OKAY. DO I SAY THE FULL THING?
KING COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY
MANION?
>> YOU CAN JUST CALL ME LEESA.
>> I ALWAYS WANT TO BE PROPER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE AND ALL THE WORK YOU
DO . JUST ECHOING WHAT
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA SAID. THE
COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR OFFICE,
JUST THE TRANSPARENCY HAS BEEN
GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT. ONE OF THE
POINTS I WANTED TO MAKE, AND NOT
NECESSARILY A QUESTION, JUST A
LITTLE ALARMING IS ON PAGE 17
WHEN YOU ALL BROKE DOWN THE
STATS. THANK YOU, MR. BLAKE?
OKAY. YOU GAVE ME THE SIDE
EYEBROW. BAKER. I'M SORRY. I
KNEW IT WAS A B. MY BAD. YOU
GAVE ME THE SIDE EYEBROW TOO.
THE CAMERA DID NOT GET THAT. I
WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT. THE
ONE THING I THINK IS ALARMING ,
AND YOU ALL POINTED OUT THAT OUT
OF THE 394 SHOOTING VICTIMS, 26%
WERE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND
24, AND THEN THE YOUTH PARK, 15%
ARE BETWEEN ZERO AND 17. IF YOU
ADD THOSE UP, THAT MEANS THAT
41% OF GUN VIOLENCE VICTIMS ARE
UNDER THE AGE OF 24 , IF I AM
ADDING CORRECTLY. USUALLY WHEN
SOMEONE COMES TO YOUR OFFICE, OR
THEY GET TO THAT POINT, OR YOU
ALL ARE PROSECUTING FOLKS,
WHATEVER THAT IS, I KNOW THAT WE
AS A SOCIETY HAVE FAILED IN
GENERAL. WHENEVER I SEE IT COULD
SHOT OR SOMETHING, I AM LIKE, WE
HAVE FAILED AS A SOCIETY. WHAT
ARE WE DOING? THE QUESTION I
HAVE FOR YOU ALL, BECAUSE YOU
ARE AT THE END OF THE PROCESS,
NOT THE BEGINNING WHEN WE ARE
TRYING TO DETER PEOPLE. WHEN
THEY GET TO YOU, IT'S LIKE,
OKAY, WHAT CAN WE DO BETTER?
FROM YOUR EXPERT OPINION FOR THE
VICTIMS YOU HAVE SEEN COME
THROUGH YOUR OFFICE, OR YOU ALL
EXAMINE, OR THE SHOOTERS OR ANY
OF THE CRIME -- I THINK
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA ASKED WHAT WE
CAN DO BETTER AS A CITY. WHAT
CAN WE DO BETTER FOR OUR KIDS
THAT YOU THINK THE PROGRAMS THAT
ARE WORKING, THE INVESTMENTS WE
NEED TO MAKE? WE HAVE A LEVY
COMING UP. I THINK WE JUST NEED
TO BE MAKING MORE INVESTMENTS IN
OUR KIDS AND GO WILDLY CRAZY AT
THE MONEY WE ARE THROWING AT
THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE
THE PROGRESSIVE OUTCOMES WHERE
WE CAN DETER KIDS SO THEY CAN
FEEL SAFE . I ALWAYS SAY, WHEN
WE KEEP OUR BABIES SAFE, WE KEEP
OUR COMMUNITY SAFER IF OUR KIDS
ARE SAFE, EVERYONE ELSE IS SAFE.
THAT IS WHAT I THINK WE NEED TO
FOCUS MORE ON. FROM YOUR EXPERT
OPINIONS, WHAT PROGRAMS DO YOU
THINK ARE WORKING THAT YOU HAVE
SEEN FROM YOUR EXPERT OPINION
THAT ARE POSITIVE?
>> I AM REALLY ENCOURAGED BY THE
NUMBERS WE ARE SEEING IN KENT. I
THINK A 50% DECREASE IN OVERALL
NUMBER OF SHOTS FIRED IS
IMPRESSIVE. THE ORGANIZATIONS OF
THE KENT POLICE DEPARTMENT AND
THE KING COUNTY PROSECUTING
OFFICER WORKING WITH OUR LATINO
CIVIC VIOLENCE AND PROJECT BE
FREE, A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
INTERRUPTION ORGANIZATION.
INTERRUPTING VIOLENCE,
IDENTIFYING THE INDIVIDUALS WHO
ARE CLOSE TO GUN VIOLENCE WHO
HAVE NOT YET BECOME PERPETRATORS
OR VICTIMS OF HARM, OFFERING
HOLISTIC INTERVENTIONS TO THE
ENTIRE FAMILY HAS MADE A
DIFFERENCE. I AM ENCOURAGED BY
THAT WORK . I THINK THAT WE CAN,
AS A KING COUNTY REGION,
IDENTIFY OTHER PARTNERS WHO DO
THAT WORK WELL. I THINK THE
RENEWED FOCUS FROM THE KING
COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE TO SOLVE NONFATAL
SHOOTINGS WILL HELP REMOVE
FIREARMS FROM HER COMMUNITY.
THERE ARE CERTAIN FIREARMS , WE
KNOW FROM ANALYSIS, THAT SHOW UP
AT A LOT OF DIFFERENT SHOOTINGS.
WE CAN BRING ACCOUNTABILITY TO
FOLKS WERE CAUSING MOST HARM IN
OUR COMMUNITY, BUT IF WE CAN GET
CERTAIN GUNS OUT OF CIRCULATION
AND CERTAIN SHOOTERS OUT OF
CIRCULATION , AND IMPROVES
PUBLIC SAFETY FOR ALL OF US.
>> THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU, LEESA, FOR
HIGHLIGHTING THE FAMILY PIECE
BUT I THINK OFTEN TIMES WE
FORGET, WE ARE SO FOCUS ON KIDS,
WE DON'T THINK ABOUT THE FAMILY
COMPONENT. THAT COMPONENT, HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS AND THE
PARENTS' SUCCESS, HOW IMPORTANT
IT IS FOR THE KIDS. THANK YOU
FOR EVERYTHING AND FOR BEING
HERE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I
APOLOGIZE FOR JOINING LATE.
SPEAKING OF -- I WILL GET TO
THAT IN THE MOMENT. IN JULY
2024, OUR CITY AUDITOR PRODUCED
A REPORT ON THE CONCENTRATION OF
AREAS WHERE CRIME AND OVERDOSES
ARE CONCENTRATED. BASICALLY,
MAPPING THAT OUT AND LOOKING AT
WHAT -- AND PRODUCE, I DON'T
REMEMBER IF IT WAS NINE OR SO
RECOMMENDATIONS. ONE OF THEM WAS
INVESTIGATING OVERDOSES AS
HOMICIDES. A WHILE BACK, IT WAS
IN MY FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE IN
2022, CASEY PUT ME IN TOUCH WITH
TWO MEMBERS OF CITIES IN KING
COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENTS WHERE
THEY WERE, IN FACT, I BELIEVE IT
WAS REDMOND AND BELLEVUE. I
COULD BE WRONG. BUT IN ANY CASE,
TWO CITIES WERE THAT WAS COMMON
PRACTICE. AT THAT POINT, IF YOU
REMEMBER, 2022, WERE STILL ON
THE MASSIVE EXODUS OF OFFICERS.
WAS NOT EVEN POSSIBLE TO
CONTEMPLATE THE WORK THAT MIGHT
ADD TO THE JOB. MY POINT IS, MY
QUESTION, AND WE CAN TAKE IT OFF
LINE, HAS -- HAVE ANY OF THE
CITIES DOING THIS TAKEN
ADVANTAGE OF THE RESOURCES THAT
ARE PROVIDED BY, I THINK IT IS
THE REGIONAL DRUGS OUR OFFICE? I
UNDERSTAND THEY HAVE TRAINING
AVAILABLE FOR POLICE DEPARTMENTS
THAT WANT TO DO THAT AS WELL AND
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN THE
CHECKLIST OF THINGS TO LOOK AT
THE SCENE OF THE OVERDOSE TO SEE
IF THAT IS AN APPROPRIATE AVENUE
OF INVESTIGATION. MAY BE
OFF-LINE WE CAN TALK .
>> HAPPY TO CHECK IN WITH MY
HOMICIDE PROSECUTORS. I WILL SAY
THAT, MOST OFTEN, IN THE REALM
OF HOMICIDE, IT IS NOT OFTEN
THAT WE SEE AN OVERDOSE . WHEN
THAT HAPPENS, IT TENDS TO BE THE
CHILD IS THE VICTIM, THE CHILD
HAS DIED IN AN ACCIDENTAL
OVERDOSE. THOSE ARE CASES WE
SEE. BUT HAPPY TO CHAT WITH YOU
OFF-LINE PER CAPITA SHARE
INFORMATION WE MAY HAVE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THE FINAL QUESTION GOES TO
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. JUST
QUICKLY, WOULD YOU MIND TALKING
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CHILDREN
INVOLVED WITH GUN VIOLENCE ? IS
THERE A TREND , OR IS IT SORT OF
AD HOC ACROSS-THE-BOARD WHO WAS
INVOLVED? FOR INSTANCE, ARE
THESE KIDS WHO HAVE PARENTS
INVOLVED WITH GUN VIOLENCE, AND
THEN, YOU KNOW, THERE IS
SOMETHING THERE? OR IS IT GANG
RELATED ? DO WE KNOW?
>> I DON'T HAVE THAT LEVEL OF
DETAIL. I DON'T KNOW. BUT I
WILL SAY, OVERALL, WE KNOW WHEN
WE KEEP KIDS IN SCHOOL, IT
INCREASES PROTECTIVE FACTORS .
ENGAGEMENT WITH EDUCATION AT
EVERY LEVEL IS HELPFUL. IT
REDUCES YOUNG PEOPLE'S
INVOLVEMENT IN THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM AT EVERY STAGE.
IS INCREASING SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE
CRIME PREVENTION STRATEGIES WE,
AS A COMMUNITY, CAN TAKE
COLLECTIVELY.
>> AND ALSO, EARLY EDUCATION,
WHICH IS WHY WE WENT SO BOLD
WITH PRESCHOOL AND CHILDCARE AT
THE CITY, IN GENERAL. WE FOCUS
ON THAT, BECAUSE WE KNOW EARLY
EDUCATION, THAT CHILD HAS BETTER
OUTCOMES LONG-TERM. I JUST
WONDERED, LATELY, WITH THE KIDS
, SINCE THERE SEEMS TO BE AN
UPTICK OF KIDS WITH GUN
VIOLENCE, OR ASSOCIATED WITH GUN
VIOLENCE, IS THERE SOME THINGS
WE HAVE IDENTIFIED WHERE WE CAN
TARGET SOME APPROACHES TO TRY TO
MANAGE FOR THAT?
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY EASILY
IDENTIFIED TRAITS. WE ARE ALWAYS
LOOKING AT THESE ISSUES. ALWAYS
HAPPY TO SHARE INFORMATION AS WE
DISCOVER IT.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. TO
CONCLUDE ON THAT POINT, I'M SURE
OTHERS ARE HAPPY TO WORK WITH
YOU. THE OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL
AFFAIRS RELATIONS ON GETTING
FIXES. LEGISLATIVE FIXES IN
OLYMPIA. I CAN SEE US PARTNERING
WITH YOU, WITH MY COUNTERPART,
WITH MY COMMITTEE COUNTERPART AS
WELL, AND OTHERS TO PARTNER TO
GET THESE FIXES IN OLYMPIA TO
HELP US LIVING FOR. TO CLOSE,
THANK YOU MR. BAKER FOR SHOWING
UP, AND FOR PROSECUTING ATTORNEY
LEESA MANION. REALLY APPRECIATE
YOU AND KICKING US OFF ON WHAT
IS ESSENTIALLY KING COUNTY DAY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE
SECOND ITEM OF BUSINESS. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM 2
INTO THE RECORD?
>> KING COUNTY SECURITY --
SUPERIOR COURT OVERVIEW OF 2025
UPDATES?
>> I WANT TO WELCOME PRESIDING
JUDGE TO THE TABLE. THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR JOINING US AT THE TABLE
TODAY AND FOLLOWING OUR KING
COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY.
WELCOME.
>> GOOD MORNING . THANK YOU,
CHAIR KETTLE FOR INVITING THE
KING COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT TO
PRESENT. A MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I AM THE PRESIDING
JUDGE OF KING COUNTY SUPERIOR
COURT. I'M JUST GOING TO COVER
A LITTLE BIT OF OVERVIEW OF WHAT
OUR COURT DOES. I WILL TRY TO
KEEP IT AT A HIGHER LEVEL. AND
THEN, I WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS OR MAYBE FOLLOW UP
ON SOME OF THE QUESTIONS YOU
ALREADY ASKED. AS YOU KNOW, THE
FOUNDATION OF OUR CIVIL SOCIETY
IS THE RULE OF LAW. FOR US, AT
THE COURT, THE BOTTOM LINE IS
MAKING OUR COURTS ACCESSIBLE TO
EVERYONE. IT IS THAT UNSPOKEN
PART OF OUR FABRIC OF OUR
SOCIETY THAT THE RULE OF LAW
ALLOWS US TO FUNCTION CIVILLY.
AT THE COURTS WE OFTEN SEE
PEOPLE WHEN THEY HAVE A
DISAGREEMENT OR ARE NEEDING
ASSISTANCE TO PROTECT THEIR
PERSON OR PROPERTY OR IN AN
EMOTIONAL CRISIS. THAT COME TO
US WITH TRUST THAT WE WILL BE
FAIR, NEUTRAL AND CONSIDER ALL
SIDES OF THE ISSUE AND FOLLOW
THE LAW BEFORE MAKING A
DECISION. THIS IS THE ESSENCE OF
THE RULE OF LAW . WE AS AN
INSTITUTION CREATE FAITH IN OUR
SOCIETY . WHEN JURORS COME TO
OUR COURT TO SERVE, I OFTEN TELL
THEM IT IS THE SECOND MOST
IMPORTANT SERVICE THEY WILL
PERFORM AS CITIZENS OF OUR
COUNTY. THE FIRST BEING VOTING.
THEY COME, ESSENTIALLY,
VOLUNTEERING THEIR TIME TO MAKE
A DECISION BASED ON THE EVIDENCE
AND THE LAW WHEN A DISPUTE IS
INVOLVED. I HAVE THIS POWERPOINT
PRESENTATION THAT I PUT TOGETHER
WITH SOME GRAPHS BUT I TOLD MY
DAUGHTER THE OTHER DAY THAT I
WAS PUTTING THIS TOGETHER ,
FEELING VERY PROUD OF MY WORK OF
GETTING THE DATA TOGETHER,
CREATING SPREADSHEETS AND THE
LIKE , AND SHE SAID, GREAT DAD,
NOW YOU'RE A BEGINNER PLUS 1
AND USING EXCEL. FORGIVE ME FOR
MY PLUS ONE PRESENTATION HERE.
SO WHAT DO WE DO? LAST YEAR WE
HAD ABOUT ALMOST 60,000 CASES
FILED IN OUR COURT. THAT IS
ABOUT 10% MORE THAN 2023. YOU
CAN SEE THE BREAKDOWN HERE OF
THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CASES WE
DO. OFTEN, PEOPLE TALK ABOUT OUR
COURT AS A CRIMINAL JUSTICE
COURT, WHICH IN SOME RESPECTS,
WE ARE, BUT MORE BROADLY AND
ACCURATELY, WE ARE A LEGAL
SYSTEM THAT IS, 90% NONCRIMINAL,
10% CRIMINAL, 70% OF WORK IN
CIVIL , GUARDIANSHIPS AND FAMILY
LAW. WE REALLY ARE A JUSTICE
SYSTEM. AND HERE IS A GRAPH THAT
TALKS ABOUT OUR CRIMINAL PENDING
CASES . AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAD A
SPIKE IN 2020 AND 2021 THAT WAS
REALLY PART OF THE COVID
PANDEMIC THAT WE ALL
EXPERIENCED. WITH THE SUPPORT OF
OUR EXECUTIVE AND COUNTY
COUNCIL, WE APPLIED SOME OF THE
FUNDS TO WORK ON THAT BACKLOG.
NOW WE HAVE REDUCED THE BACKLOG
SUBSTANTIALLY. WE ARE ABOUT 10%
HIGHER IN CASES PENDING THEN IN
2019 , BUT 4100 CASES PENDING
NOW VERSUS 3500 BEFORE THE
PANDEMIC. HERE IS A BIG REVIEW
OF THE CASES PENDING. YOU CAN
SEE THE SPIKE IN 2020 VERSUS
2024. THAT WORK TOWARDS CHIPPING
AWAY AT THE BACKLOG WAS IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR FRIENDS AT
THE PAO, AND EVERYONE HAD TO
CHIP IN TO GET THAT WORK DONE.
WE STILL HAVE A HIGH NUMBER OF
SERIOUS CASES PENDING . AS OF
TODAY, WE HAVE OVER 200 HOMICIDE
CASES PENDING . BEFORE THE
PANDEMIC, WE HAD ABOUT 100 CASES
, HOMICIDE CASES PENDING. WHAT
WE DO SEE IS OUR FILING NUMBERS
ARE REPRESENTED RIGHT HERE. IN
THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2025 THE
PERCENTAGE OF HOMICIDES HAS
DROPPED FROM 2.2% TO ABOUT 1.7%.
WE ARE SEEING A REDUCTION THERE
AS WELL. ABOUT 40% OF OUR CASES
PENDING IN OUR COURT ARE VIOLENT
CRIMES, HOMICIDES, SEX CRIMES,
ROBBERY AND ASSAULT. YOU CAN SEE
THE BREAKDOWN BY PERCENTAGES OF
THE CASES THAT ARE FILED IN OUR
COURT. I WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT
ACCESS . AS PART OF RESOLVING
DISPUTES, OUR COURTS MUST BE
OPEN AND ACCESSIBLE. DURING THE
PANDEMIC, WE WERE ONE OF THE FEW
ENTITIES THAT DID NOT SHUT DOWN
. REALLY, NATIONWIDE. WE
CONTINUED TO CONDUCT TRIALS. AT
FIRST, IT WAS ALL REMOTE, BUT
OUR STAFF ARE COMING, THE JUDGES
WERE COMING INTO COURT EVERY DAY
HERE AT THE DOWNTOWN COURTHOUSE
AND IN KENT AS WELL. SLOWLY WE
STARTED BRINGING BACK LAWYERS
AND JURORS. AS YOU CAN SEE HERE,
THIS PAST YEAR WE HAD ABOUT
360,000 PEOPLE ENTER THE
COURTHOUSE. ABOUT 1400 PER DAY.
AND ABOUT 450,000 ARTICLES
SCREENED IN THE X-RAY. I
HIGHLIGHT THAT 1400 PER DAY
BECAUSE IT IS REDUCED. WE USED
TO HAVE ABOUT 3000 TO 4000
PEOPLE COME IN A DAY. BUT WE
CHANGED SOME OF OUR PRACTICES.
WE DON'T CALL IN ALL THE JURORS
FOR EVERY CASE. WE DO A KIND OF
REMOTE SELECTION SO PEOPLE ARE
COMING INTO OUR COURT THROUGH
ZOOM , ANSWERING THE INITIAL
STAGES OF QUESTIONS, AND IF THEY
ARE SELECTED FOR THE JURY, THEY
COME INTO THE COURTHOUSE. THEY
HEAR THE EVIDENCE IN HERE THE
TRIAL. BUT BECAUSE OF THIS,
THERE HAS BEEN WORRY ABOUT
COMING TO THE COURTHOUSE . WE
HAVE HAD KIND OF TRACKING THE
DIFFERENT INCIDENCES AROUND THE
COURTHOUSE . AS YOU CAN SEE
HERE, THERE HAS BEEN 125
DISTURBANCES, A COUPLE OF BOMB
THREATS, SOME VIOLATIONS. WHAT
THAT REALLY IMPLICATES IS THE
SAFETY AROUND OUR COURTHOUSE
IMPLICATES OUR ABILITY TO
ATTRACT JURORS TO COME AND
SERVE. WE ONLY PAY $10 PER DAY.
AND SO, REALLY, IT DOESN'T EVEN
PAY FOR PARKING. WE ARE REALLY
IN DEBT TO THEIR GOODWILL, THEIR
SERVICE TO COME TO OUR COURT. WE
WANT TO BE THAT FORUM WHERE
PEOPLE CAN RESOLVE DISPUTES ,
BUT A PART OF THAT IS HAVING
JURORS AND BEING ABLE TO COME
AND SERVE. YOU CAN SEE HERE ON
THE NEXT SLIDE IT TALKS ABOUT
COURTROOM ALARMS AND SO FORTH.
THE OTHER HIGHLIGHT I WANTED TO
MENTION TO YOU IS OUR PROTECTION
ESCORTS. WE HAVE ALMOST 1500. WE
HAVE BEEN REQUESTED BY STAFF AND
JURORS TO HAVE ESCORTS TO GET TO
PUBLIC TRANSIT STATIONS, WHETHER
IT IS A BUS STOP OR LIGHT RAIL
OR WALKING TO THEIR CAR IF THEY
ARE PARKED NEARBY. THANKS TO THE
COUNTY COUNCIL, THE EXECUTIVE,
AND THE WORK OF THE CITY COUNCIL
AND THE MAYOR, WE WERE ABLE TO
OFFER SOME OF THESE SERVICES .
AND THEN, THERE HAS BEEN AN
INCREASE IN EMPHASIS AROUND THE
COURTHOUSE IN THE KING COUNTY
CAMPUS IN SEATTLE CAMPUS THE
CITY HALL PARK HAS IMPROVED
TREMENDOUSLY. WE ARE VERY
THANKFUL THAT THOSE RESOURCES
WERE APPLIED TO THIS AREA TO
MAKE OUR COURTS ACCESSIBLE. I
THINK, AGAIN, IT IS CRITICAL FOR
OUR CIVIL SOCIETY TO FUNCTION TO
HAVE COURTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE
TO RESOLVE DISPUTES AND JURORS
TO BE ABLE TO COME IN TO HEAR
THOSE DISPUTES. WE JUST
ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP INVESTING
IN THOSE RESOURCES TO KEEP THIS
CAMPUS SAFE FOR EVERYONE TO COME
. WITHOUT IT, PEOPLE WHO CANNOT
ACCESS THE COURT BECOME , I
THINK, DISSATISFIED WITH HOW
GOVERNMENT IS WORKING ON THEIR
BEHALF. AND THEN, THAT IS WHEN
CIVIL DISORDER INCREASES. WHEN
PEOPLE CAN COME -- WHATEVER
THEIR DISPUTE, IF IT IS A FAMILY
LAW MATTER, SEEKING A CIVIL
PROTECTION ORDER FOR SOME
PROTECTION , A CRIMINAL MATTER,
THAT THEY BE ABLE TO COME TO OUR
COURT, HAVE THEIR VOICE HEARD
AND RESOLVED THE CASE IN A CIVIL
LEGAL WAY. THAT IS KIND OF A
TESTAMENT TO OUR CIVIL SOCIETY.
AND SO, I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE
EFFORTS YOU HAVE DONE TO MAKE
THE SURROUNDING CAMPUS SAFER. I
HOPE YOU WILL CONTINUE TO
INVEST. WE HAVE INCIDENCES THAT
HAPPENED JUST ACROSS THE STREET
FROM THE COURTHOUSE , THIRD IN
JAMES, FOURTH AND JAMES. THERE
IS A LOT OF COORDINATION THAT
HAS TO HAPPEN FOR THE RESPONSES
TO BE EFFECTIVE. IT INVOLVES THE
SHERIFF, SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, METRO TRANSIT
SECURITY. SO WE APPRECIATE WHEN
THOSE PARTNERS ARE COORDINATING
AND WORKING TOGETHER TO REALLY
ADDRESS SOME OF THESE SAFETY
ISSUES. WITH THAT, I WILL PAUSE
BUT I DID WANT TO JUST ADD THAT
I THINK THERE WERE SOME
QUESTIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
JUVENILE YOUTH AND HOW WE
APPROACH THAT. I THINK ONE OF
THE THINGS WE HAVE BEEN THINKING
ABOUT AS WELL AT THE COURT
LEVEL, AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE
REALLY BELIEVE IS THAT THERE
NEEDS TO BE A CONTINUUM OF
INTERVENTIONS FROM THE VERY
BEGINNING, EARLY ON TRUANCY , AS
PROSECUTOR MANION DISCUSS.
SOMETIMES THERE AT RISK YOUTH
PETITIONS AND THIS SORT OF THING
WHERE IT IS NOT REALLY COURT
INVOLVEMENT, BUT PEOPLE COME TO
THE COURT LOOKING FOR
ASSISTANCE. WE HAVE SOME
SERVICES THAT ARE OFFERED , BUT
THEY ARE FINANCIALLY CHALLENGED
RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE STATE
WITHDREW SOME FUNDING. WE THINK
THAT EARLY INTERVENTION AND
INTERVENTIONS THROUGHOUT THE
PROCESS, WHETHER IT IS AT A
MISDEMEANOR LEVEL OR FELONY
LEVEL, REFERRING THEM TO
COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO HELP THEM
PROVIDE STABILITY, STRUCTURE ,
IS A WAY TO TRY TO REDUCE SOME
OF THE YOUTH INCIDENTS AS WE SEE
HERE CURRENTLY. WITH THAT, I
WILL PAUSE AND ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDING JUDGE .
I WANT TO MAKE A COMMITMENT THAT
WE ARE WORKING THE PUBLIC SAFETY
CHALLENGES, THE PUBLIC SAFETY
POSTURE THROUGHOUT THE CITY, BUT
TO INCLUDE DOWNTOWN, AND
SPECIFICALLY, IN THE AREA IN AND
AROUND THE KING COUNTY
COURTHOUSE. THAT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT. THAT IS A
RESPONSIBILITY WE HAVE. I THINK
WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS, BUT WE
ARE NOT THERE. I WILL MAKE A
SEPARATE COMMITMENT TOO. I'M
WORKING ON WHAT I CALL THE PIT I
DON'T THINK THAT HELPS EITHER.
WITH THAT, VICE CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND
PRESIDING JUDGE SHAH, YOUR
HONOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WELCOME . WE ARE REALLY EXCITED
TO HAVE YOU HERE . SAME WITH ALL
OF OUR PARTNERS AT THE COUNTY
LEVEL. THANK YOU, AGAIN, FOR
BEING HERE TODAY AND SHARING
THIS KIND OF INITIAL OVERVIEW
PRESENTATION. I GENERALLY AGREE
WITH YOUR DAUGHTER ABOUT THE
PROFICIENCY HERE. BUT THE
SUBSTANCE IS WHAT MATTERS MOST.
FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, IT WAS
VERY HELPFUL. THANK YOU, THANK
YOU. PLEASE GIVE MY WARMEST
REGARDS TO YOUR COLLEAGUES AT
THE BENCH , INCLUDING A FEW OF
MY CLOSE MENTORS AND PEOPLE WHO
HAVE GUIDED AND HELPED MENTOR ME
SINCE I WAS A BABY LAWYER. NIGHT
MA NONPRACTICING ATTORNEY, OF
COURSE BUT HERE I AM. INCLUDING
JUDGE LEROY McCULLOUGH, YOUR
COLLEAGUE. REALLY APPRECIATE THE
WORK YOU ALL DO . YOU PLAY A
VITAL ROLE IN OUR BROADER
CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM. JUSTICE
SYSTEM. I KNOW, AS I
NONPRACTICING LAWYER, FIRSTHAND
THE POWER AND IMPACT OF THIS
WORK. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, IT
REALLY DOES TAKE ALL OF US . AND
SO, REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL
FOR BEING HERE. I WILL SAY, WITH
RESPECT TO THE KING COUNTY
REGIONAL JUSTICE CENTER IN KENT,
I HAVE THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE
DAY OF REPRESENTING DISTRICT 1
IN SEATTLE THAT BASICALLY IS THE
SOUTHWEST PORTION OF THE CITY.
YOU KNOW, I GREW UP DURING MY
HIGH SCHOOL YEARS, MIDDLE SCHOOL
YEARS, IN KENT, IN THE VALLEY.
64th AND JAMES IN SOME LOW
INCOME APARTMENTS A FEW BLOCKS
AWAY FROM THE JUVENILE JUSTICE
CENTER WHERE, SADLY, SOME OF MY
CHILDHOOD FRIENDS , HIGH SCHOOL
FRIENDS, WOULD EVENTUALLY BE
HOUSED . HECK, SOME OF THEM, I
BELIEVE, WERE SENTENCED FOR
THEIR CRIMES BY JUDGES FOR NOW
MY MENTORS . AND SO, YOU KNOW,
THOSE EXPERIENCES, POWERED BY
THOSE EXPERIENCES, THAT IS WHAT
HELPS MOTIVATE ME NOW FROM A
POLICY STANDPOINT TO ADDRESS
SOME OF THE JUVENILE ISSUES YOU
TALKED ABOUT, PROSECUTING
ATTORNEY MANION TALKED ABOUT. IN
ANY EVENT, I REALLY DO
APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU ALL DO.
JUST ONE QUESTION. JUST IN THE
INTEREST OF TIME. WHAT DO YOU
THINK, YOUR HONOR, THE CITY OF
SEATTLE CAN DO -- AND I WILL ASK
THE SAME THING TO OUR FINAL
PRESENTERS AS WELL -- WHAT DO
YOU THINK THE CITY OF SEATTLE
CAN DO, AND OTHER CITIES, TO
BETTER SUPPORT YOUR WORK IN THE
KING COUNTY COURT SYSTEM, AND
ALSO JUST BE BETTER PARTNERS TO
MAKE SURE WE CAN ALL MORE
EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS OUR SHARED
CHALLENGES AND CONCERNS? WHAT
MORE CAN SEATTLE DO , AND OTHER
CITIES ACROSS KING COUNTY, DO?
>> APPRECIATE THE QUESTION, VICE
CHAIR SAKA. JUDGE McCULLOUGH IS
A DEER MENTOR TO MANY OF US. HE
STARTED A YOUTH FORUM PROGRAM
DOWN IN RENTON. THAT HAS BEEN
GOING FOR 30 YEARS. HE
VOLUNTEERS HIS TIME ON
SATURDAYS. HE BRINGS IN A BUNCH
OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO GIVE
YOUTH A VISION OF WHAT IT MEANS
TO BE IN THIS COMMUNITY. HE
BRINGS IN ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE.
DOCTORS, LAWYERS , LAW
ENFORCEMENT, PROSECUTORS, PUBLIC
DEFENDERS, JUDGES . JUST TO GIVE
THAT VIEW OF WHAT LIFE COULD BE
LIKE FOR A YOUNG PERSON. THAT IS
A GREAT PROGRAM THAT OUR COURT
HAS INVESTED IN, AND HE
PERSONALLY HAS BEEN INVOLVED
WITH. I THINK YOUR QUESTION, I
REALLY APPRECIATE IT. I THINK WE
ALL HAVE A PART TO PLAY IN
TRYING TO INCREASE CIVIL
SOCIETY. WE HAVE THAT PART TO
PLAY BOTH IN POLICIES WE ENACT,
BUT ALSO IN THE WORDS AND
RHETORIC WE USE. AND REALLY
TALKING ABOUT HOW, YOU KNOW, THE
COURTS ARE THE PLACE , A FORUM
FOR RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES.
SOMETIMES WE DISAGREE WITH
COURTS . WE DISAGREE WITH THEIR
DECISION, BUT TO RECOGNIZE THAT
IT IS PART OF THE SYSTEM THAT
MAKES US UNDERSTAND HOW TO GET
BEYOND DISPUTES. WHATEVER THE
DISPUTE IS, EVENTUALLY THERE IS
GOING TO BE A DECISION. YOU HAVE
TO MOVE ON WITH YOUR LIFE AND
STILL LIVE THE REST OF YOUR
LIFE. WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT
OUR SOCIETY, THE WAY OUR
GOVERNMENT WORKS, IS INTENDED TO
HELP PEOPLE. IT IS INTENDED TO
BE FOR THE GOOD. I THINK WE ALL
CAN PLAY A PART IN THAT BY THE
POLICIES WE USE , PARTNERING AND
COORDINATING, BUT ALSO OUR
RHETORIC AND WORDS. BEING
OPTIMISTIC THAT THIS IS A PLACE,
A PROCESS, THAT WORKS THAT WE
CAN DO BETTER. WE ARE NOT
PERFECT, BUT THAT WE CAN DO
BETTER.
>> THANK YOU. REALLY APPRECIATE
YOUR RESPONSE, PRESIDING JUDGE
SHAH. WITH RESPECT TO THE USE
AND LAW FORM THAT JUDGE
McCULLOUGH FOUNDED, I HAD THE
PLEASURE OF PARTICIPATING IN
THAT FOR A FEW YEARS IN TEACHING
THINGS LIKE SOCIAL MEDIA LAW AND
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW TO
YOUTH. I THINK IT IS CURRENTLY,
TO YOUR POINT, IN RENTON, BUT IT
STARTED, AT LEAST WHEN I WAS
MORE INVOLVED, IT STARTED AT
FIRST AME CHURCH. SUCH A GREAT
AND HIGHLY IMPACTFUL ANNUAL
EVENT . IN ANY EVENT, THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE. MORE
IMPORTANTLY, FOR ALL YOU DO AND
YOUR STRONG PARTNERSHIP AND
COLLABORATION . REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU, YOUR HONOR.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JUDGE
SHAH, FOR COMING TODAY. I'M
HONORED TO HAVE YOUR PRESENCE
HERE. LET'S JUST SAY THAT. I'M
TRYING TO DECIPHER OR READ INTO
YOUR PRESENTATION WHAT I SHOULD
REALLY BE TAKING AWAY. I NOTICED
THAT OUT OF EIGHT PAGES, YOU
SPEND THREE TALKING ABOUT
EXTERNAL CONDITIONS AND THE
CONDITIONS OF THE COURTHOUSE,
THE PHYSICAL CONDITIONS OF THE
COURTHOUSE ITSELF. YOU MENTIONED
, SORT OF IN PASSING, 100
HOMICIDE CASES PENDING, AND THEN
WE CONTINUED DISCUSSING
CONDITIONS. MY CONSTITUENTS, THE
SORT OF THINGS THEY ARE
INTERESTED IN IS WHY DO PEOPLE
WHO HAVE COMMITTED VIOLENT CRIME
, BEEN CONVICTED, WHY ARE THEY
OUT SO SOON? YOU KNOW, THOSE
SORTS OF THINGS. WHY DO JUDGES
MAKE DECISIONS THEY DO. YOUR
EMPHASIS ON THE EXTERNAL
CONDITIONS MAKES ME WONDER, AND
TELL ME IF THIS IS CORRECT, THAT
IT IS OUR MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC
SAFETY IN THE CITY AROUND THE
COURTHOUSE THAT DETERMINES YOUR
ABILITY, OR THE ABILITY OF THE
COURT, TO HAVE ENOUGH JURORS TO
TRY CASES AND ALL THE OTHER
PEOPLE THAT WORK ON THE INSIDE.
IS THAT REALLY A PROBLEM WITH
THE OUT OF JUSTICE? THE FACT
THAT YOU DON'T HAVE A WORKING
COURTHOUSE BECAUSE HER PUBLIC
SAFETY SYSTEM IS NOT ADEQUATE,
AND YOU CAN'T GET THE PEOPLE
INSIDE?
>> I WOULDN'T CHARACTERIZE IT
AS THAT. I THINK I WOULD
CHARACTERIZE IT AS CHALLENGING.
AS YOU RECALL, IN 2020 AND 2021,
THERE WAS A LOT OF DISORDER
RIGHT NEXT TO THE COURTHOUSE.
THAT DISORDER LED TO, YOU KNOW,
SOME VIOLENT OFFENSES OCCURRING
RIGHT NEXT TO THE COURTHOUSE,
WHICH GOT A LITTLE MEDIA
ATTENTION. AND THEN, WE HEARD A
LOT OF LAWYERS AND JURORS REALLY
CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY
AROUND THE COURTHOUSE. THE
COURTHOUSE, AGAIN, THESE ARE THE
WAYS GOVERNMENTS WORK TOGETHER.
KING COUNTY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE COURTHOUSE AND THAT BLOCK OF
THE COURTHOUSE. THEY ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR KIND OF THIRD
AVENUE, THE ENTRANCE TO THIRD
AVENUE, BUT IF YOU GO ACROSS THE
STREET , IT IS THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. YOU GO TO THE CORNER OF
THIRD AND JAMES, THAT CORNER IS
PART OF THE COURTHOUSE BLOCK.
YOU GO ACROSS THE STREET WHERE
THE PICK, AS COUNCILMEMBER
KESSEL TALKS ABOUT, THAT CORNER
IS RESPONSIBILITY OF CITY OF
SEATTLE. THAT IS THE TENSION
SOMETIMES THAT THE CITY OF
SEATTLE GET INTO. WHO SHOULD
RESPOND FIRST, OR HOW -- WHO IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR PATROLLING THAT
AREA. AND THEN THERE IS THE
METRO BUS STOPS AND LIGHT RAIL
STATION. WE HAVE HAD SOME, YOU
KNOW, THE PIONEER SQUARE LIGHT
RAIL STATIONS ACROSS THE STREET
FROM THE COURTHOUSE. THERE HAS
BEEN SOME DISORDER IN THAT AREA
, AND SOME PEOPLE IT SAID THAT
IS METRO'S RESPONSIBILITY TO
TAKE CARE OF THAT. THERE IS THAT
COORDINATION THAT HAS TO OCCUR,
BECAUSE THE BLOCKS ARE, YOU
KNOW, IT IS 10 FEET OR 20 FEET
AWAY FROM EACH OTHER. AND SO, WE
JUST NEED TO BE GOOD ABOUT HOW
WE APPLY OUR RESOURCES IN A
COORDINATED WAY SO WE ARE NOT
OVERLAPPING, BECAUSE WE HAVE
LIMITED RESOURCES FOR SURE, BUT
AT THE SAME TIME, THAT THERE ARE
NOT GAPS IN THAT COVERAGE. I
THINK THAT IS REALLY THE POINT I
WOULD LIKE TO MAKE. MAKING SURE
THAT WE ALL ARE COORDINATED. YOU
ALL HAVE INFLUENCE AND HOW THE
CITY OF SEATTLE WORKS AND RUNS.
THE COUNTY COUNCIL HAS INFLUENCE
ON HOW THE COUNTY RUNS. SO I
MAKE THE SAME PITCH TO THE
COUNTY COUNCIL. I ENCOURAGE THEM
TO COORDINATE WITH THE CITY OF
SEATTLE PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE,
NOT ONLY OUR BLOCK, OUR SECURITY
ENTRANCES ARE COVERED, BUT ALSO
THE VICINITY OF THE COURTHOUSE.
AS YOU MIGHT REMEMBER , IN 1994,
1995, EXCUSE ME, WE HAD A
SHOOTING IN THE COURTHOUSE. IT
WAS A TRAGIC LOSS OF LIFE. FOR
THE PREVIOUS 10 YEARS OR SO, THE
COURT, THE JUDGES, WERE ASKING
FOR BETTER SECURITY FOR PEOPLE
COMING INTO THE COURTHOUSE. YOU
KNOW, THERE JUST WASN'T
FUNDING, A LOT OF POLICY
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IT. AFTER
THE SHOOTING OCCURRED,
OVERNIGHT, WE GOT MAGNETOMETERS
PUT IN TO MAKE SURE NO ONE COMES
IN THE COURTHOUSE WITH A GUN.
THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, A HUGE
RELIEF TO OUR STAFF, TO OUR
JURORS, TO ALL THE LITIGANTS TO
COME TO THE COURTHOUSE. WE ARE
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO TRY TO
HAVE A COORDINATED RESPONSE ,
NOT JUST IN THE COURTHOUSE, BUT
WITHIN THE VICINITY OF THE
COURTHOUSE.
>> I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT.
THE CONDITIONS YOU EMPHASIZED
JUST NOW IN YOUR RESPONSE WERE
FIRM 2021, BUT I THINK THEY'RE
GETTING A LITTLE BIT -- WELL, I
WOULD ATTEST THEY ARE GETTING
BETTER, BUT IS IT AS RELEVANT
NOW AS IT WAS BACK THEN? AND
HAVE YOU SPOKEN WITH ANYBODY AT
THE CITY ABOUT THIS?
>> YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, IT
HAS GOTTEN TREMENDOUSLY BETTER.
I THINK THAT HAS BEEN PART OF
THE APPLICATION OF RESOURCES
THAT THIS COUNCIL, THE MAYOR,
AND THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND
EXECUTIVE HAVE DONE THE LAST
COUPLE OF YEARS. THAT INCREASE
IN RESOURCES HAS MADE THIS AREA
IMPROVED, FOR SURE. I THINK THAT
IS SOMETHING TO , A POSITIVE TO
EMPHASIZE. WE STILL GET THE
OCCASIONAL , YOU KNOW, LAST
NIGHT THERE WAS AN INCIDENT THAT
OCCURRED RIGHT ON THIRD AND
JAMES. A MONTH AGO THERE WAS A
SHOOTING ACROSS THE STREET. WE
STILL HAVE CONCERNS, BUT IT IS
MUCH BETTER, FOR SURE. IN TERMS
OF COORDINATING WITH THE CITY,
WE HAVE TALKED TO THE COUNTY
COUNCIL AND COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE HAVE PEOPLE
WORKING ON REGIONAL SAFETY
ISSUES . THEY HAVE BEEN TALKING
WITH THE CITY PARTNERS AS WELL.
I THINK SOME OF US ON THE
SECURITY COMMITTEE, JUDGE
ROBERTSON, WHO IS HERE WITH ME,
SHE IS THE CHAIR OF THE SECURITY
COMMITTEE. THEY'RE GOING TO
MEET WITH SOME CITY OFFICIALS TO
TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER
ISSUES THAT WE SEE.
>> FINALLY, CAN YOU PLEASE GIVE
ME THOSE FIGURES AGAIN? WAS IT
100 OR 200 HOMICIDE CASES
PENDING?
>> CURRENTLY, IT IS 207, I THINK
, PENDING. BEFORE THE PANDEMIC,
IT WAS 100. 2019, IT WAS 100
PENDING, AND TODAY, 2025, IT IS
ABOUT 200 PLUS PENDING. BUT I
WOULD'VE THOUGHT IT WOULD HAVE
GOTTEN BETTER.
>> HOMICIDES, IT'S INTERESTING.
ONCE THEY OCCUR, THEY TAKE A
LONG TIME TO INVESTIGATE BY THE
STATE AND BY THE DEFENSE. THEY
CAN'T GO TO TRIAL IN 30 DAYS OR
60 DAYS. IT TAKES TIME FOR THEM
TO DEVELOP THEIR INFORMATION.
OFTEN, THEY RESOLVE THEIR CASES.
IF THE CASE GETS RESOLVED, IT
LEAVES OFF OF OUR DOCKET. IN
ORDER TO RESOLVE, IT TAKES A
LONG TIME FOR THEM TO EVALUATE
ALL THE EVIDENCE AND POSITIONS.
ALSO, SOMETIMES IT TAKES THAT
MUCH TIME TO GO TO TRIAL. AND
SO, ON AVERAGE, OUR HOMICIDE
CASES TAKE ABOUT TWO YEARS TO GO
TO TRIAL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
. TO CLOSE, I HAVEN'T ASKED
ABOUT BUDGET CUTS OR THE
POTENTIAL FOR BUDGET CUTS, BUT
YOUR POINT ABOUT, HEY, YOU HAVE
BEEN ASKING FOR UPGRADES, AND IT
TAKES A TRAGIC SITUATION. WE
NEED TO AVOID THAT. ALONG THOSE
LINES, PUBLIC SAFETY JOB ONE IS
THE OPERATION OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
THIS IS A PIECE A WORK -- I WORK
IN THIS FISCALLY CHALLENGED
ENVIRONMENT. I LOOK TO THE COURT
AND THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE TOO. I MAKE A PLUG THAT
WE KEEP THESE AT A GOOD PLACE.
THESE ARE PART OF THE
DISCUSSIONS THAT WE HAVE HAD.
ONE OF THE THEMES, AND BY THE
WAY, THANK YOU FOR THE
BACKGROUND AND HIGHLIGHTING.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN'T HIDE
FROM. IT IS WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT
HERE. WE WILL WORK IT. KIND OF
THE POINT, EVEN THE FOLLOW-UP,
IT SHOWS THAT WE ARE NOT DONE
YET. DESPITE THE PROGRESS, THERE
IS DEFINITELY MORE TO DO. WE
WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. ONE OF
THE THINGS TIED TO THAT, A LOT
OF TIMES ALL OF US WERE CASES.
WE WORK HER OWN CASES IN A WAY.
THESE ISSUES, THE CHALLENGES ON
THE DISTRICT AND OUR STREETS.
ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE
HAVE IS A LOT OF TIMES IT IS THE
SAME INDIVIDUALS. IS NOT LIKE
100 THINGS HAPPEN DONE BY 100
PEOPLE. THERE ARE 100 THINGS
THAT HAPPEN IN 10 PEOPLE THAT DO
THEM. WE HAVE THESE REPEATS. AND
THEN, IT IS LIKE THE CASE WE DID
, YOU KNOW, THE CITY DID IN
TERMS OF LEVERAGING REAL-TIME
CRIME CENTER RECENTLY. THAT
PERSON, NO DOUBT, PROBABLY
WOULD'VE COMMITTED WAR CRIMES
EXCEPT FOR HE WAS ABLE TO GET
CAUGHT DUE TO THE HELP OF THE CT
TV SYSTEM. ALONG THOSE LINES,
AND SOME OF THIS IS LIKE, HEY,
WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO INVOLVING
THE STATE, WHETHER THROUGH THE
LEGISLATURE OR MAYBE A.J. BROWN
OF THE GOVERNOR IN TERMS OF HOW
WE CAN HELP YOU. FOR EXAMPLE, I
HAVE A CASE , I WON'T MENTION
ANY NAMES , AND TO LOOK IN
PLACE, RIGHT OFF DANNY AND FIFTH
IN THAT AREA. THERE IS AN
INDIVIDUAL WHO HAD COMMITTED
MURDER AND GONE TO PRISON AND
THEN WAS RELEASED , I DON'T
KNOW HOW MANY YEARS LATER, BUT
HE WAS RELEASED. HE HAS BEEN
COMING BACK TO THIS AREA IN
BELLTOWN , SOUTH LAKE UNION, YOU
KNOW, THE BORDER AREAS, AND YOU
KNOW, THREATENING PEOPLE.
ESSENTIALLY, WITH AN EDGE
WEAPON, A KNIFE, TO KILL PEOPLE.
HE HAS LOCKED A RESTAURANT IN
THE PEOPLE INSIDE WERE IN PRISON
FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. VERY
SERIOUS. HE WILL COME BACK ONTO
OUR STREETS. MY QUESTION IS,
WHAT REFORM DO WE NEED TO DO IN
THE SENSE OF, YOU KNOW, AND
CLEARLY THERE IS MENTAL HEALTH
CHALLENGES , WHAT DO WE NEED TO
DO IN TERMS OF ADVOCATING OR
LAWS THAT NEED TO BE CHANGED TO
HELP ASSIST THE JUDGES IN THESE
CASES WHEN YOU HAVE A CLEAR
BACKGROUND THAT IS PROBLEMATIC
AND TO AVOID FURTHER VIOLENCE ?
WHAT CAN WE DO IN THESE KIND OF
CIRCUMSTANCES FROM YOUR
PERSPECTIVE, OR WHAT CAN WE DO
TO HELP YOU OR WHAT WE CAN DO
TOGETHER IN TERMS OF ADVOCATING
WITH THE STATE?
>> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE,
AS JUDGES DO, IS TRY TO ABSORB
WHATEVER INFORMATION PRESENTED
TO US AND MAKE A DECISION BASED
ON THE INFORMATION PRESENTED.
YOUR EXAMPLE. SOMETIMES THAT
MIGHT BE GOING ON IN THE
BACKGROUND THE NUMBER OF TIMES A
PERSON HAS BEEN THERE. MAYBE
SOME OF THE HARASSING OR
THREATENING BEHAVIOR. BUT IT MAY
NOT GET SURFACED IN A COURT
PROCEEDING. IT MIGHT NOT BE TOLD
TO US THAT THIS IS GOING ON. AND
THERE MIGHT BE A VARIETY OF GOOD
REASONS FOR THAT. IT COULD BE
THAT THEY DON'T HAVE
VERIFICATION OF THAT. IT IS SORT
OF A RUMOR THING, OR THERE MIGHT
BE INCIDENT REPORTS OR OTHER
EVENTS THAT ARE DOCUMENTED, AND
THAT SOMEONE COULD SAY, YEAH, WE
HAVE GOOD INFORMATION THIS
HAPPENED. AND SO, IF THAT
INFORMATION IS VERIFIED AND CAN
BE PRESENTED IN COURT AS
RELIABLE, AND WE CAN ACT ON IT,
WE CAN FASHION A REMEDY THAT CAN
TRY TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES ,
BUT IT'S IMPORTANT, I THINK, TO
YOUR POINT TO GET THAT
INFORMATION, VERIFY IT, AND THEN
PRESENT IT TO THE COURT. THAT
WAY WE CAN EVALUATE IT AND MAKE
A DECISION BASED ON THAT
INFORMATION PRESENTED TO US. IT
IS HARD FOR US TO MAKE DECISIONS
BASED ON RUMOR OR SPECULATION ,
BECAUSE AS YOU MIGHT GUESS, WE
WANT TO MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON
EVIDENCE THAT IS , OR ARGUMENTS
THAT ARE VERIFIED. WHEN PEOPLE
DO THAT, WE TRY TO FASHION A
REMEDY THAT IS APPROPRIATE. IN
THAT CIRCUMSTANCE, I THINK
INFORMATION SHARING AND
VERIFICATION WOULD BE HELPFUL.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
JOINING US TODAY. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR DAUGHTER'S INPUT ON YOUR
PRESENTATION, WHICH WAS VERY
GOOD. I APPRECIATE THAT. ON
BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL, THE
COMMITTEE AND THE COUNCIL, YOU
CAN TELL HER THAT WE APPRECIATE
THE SUPPORT GIVEN TO HER FATHER.
AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I
APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK HER
SARCASM . THANK YOU FOR THE
COMMENTS.
>> I KNOW WE'RE SHORT ON TIME.
COLLEAGUES, IF WE CAN HAVE THIS
PRESENTATION, I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT. AND THEN, WE WILL GO
THROUGH IT, AND THEN A LIMIT OF
QUESTIONS SO WE CAN GET OUT IN
TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
CLERK?
>> KING COUNTY JAIL HEALTH
SERVICES OVERVIEW AND 2025
UPDATE
>> THIS IS THE THIRD ITEM OF
BUSINESS. THANK YOU FOR JOINING
US.
>> SORRY. I WILL MOVE IN A
SECOND.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING.
APPRECIATE IT. AND JOINING
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY, PRESIDING
JUDGE, AND NOW KING COUNTY JAIL.
THANK YOU. OVER TO YOU. PLEASE
INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR THE
RECORD AND START YOUR
PRESENTATION. NO QUESTIONS UNTIL
THE END.
>> AWESOME. CAN YOU HEAR ME
OKAY?
>> YES.
>> MY NAME IS DANOTRA McBRIDE,
DIVISION DIRECTOR FOR JAIL
HEALTH SERVICES. I WANTED TO
TAKE A MOMENT TO LET MY
COLLEAGUES INTRODUCE THEMSELVES.
>> DR. HEATHER FLYNN, ASSISTANT
MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR JAIL HEALTH
SERVICES.
>> CELIA JACKSON, DIRECTOR OF
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS IN THE
EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE FOR
>> I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE A LITTLE
BIT MORE ABOUT OUR DIVISION ,
AND TO ALSO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT
TO OUR MEDICAL DEFERRAL PROCESS
. I WILL TAKE QUESTIONS AT THE
END. I WILL JUMP RIGHT IN FOR
THE SAKE OF TIME.
>> OKAY.
>> THE AREAS WE ARE GOING TO
COVER THIS MORNING ARE JUST A
HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF JAIL
HEALTH SERVICES IN THE WORK WE
DO IN THE JAILS . ALSO, I WILL
GIVE A VERY HIGH SUMMARY OF OUR
DEFERRAL PROCESS . THEN WE WILL
GO INTO MORE DETAIL ABOUT THE
PROCESS, AND THE INSURANCE AND
RELATED DATA. WE ALSO HAVE
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION WE
WANTED TO SHARE AN ADDRESS
BEFORE WE TAKE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWER THEM AS BEST WE CAN. ALL
RIGHT. JAIL HEALTH SERVICES IS
ONE DIVISION WITHIN THE BROADER
PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT WITHIN
SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY. WE ARE
ONE OF SEVEN DIVISIONS. OUR
VISION IS HEALTH, WELL-BEING AND
RACIAL EQUITY EVERY DAY FOR
EVERYONE IN KING COUNTY. OUR
DIVISION IS THE RESPONSIBLE
HEALTH AUTHORITY FOR KING COUNTY
AND THE ADULT JAILS. THAT
INCLUDES THE KING COUNTY
CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IN
SEATTLE, AND THE REGIONAL
JUSTICE CENTER LOCATED IN KENT,
WASHINGTON. WE OPERATE 24 HOURS
A DAY 365 DAYS A YEAR. OUR
PRIMARY GOAL IS TO PROVIDE
HEALTH AND SAFETY FOR THOSE THAT
ARE BROUGHT TO OUR FACILITIES
AND WITHIN OUR CARE IN THOSE
FACILITIES. OUR MISSION IS TO
ASSESS AND STABILIZE SERIOUS
HEALTH PROBLEMS FOR THE DETAINED
POPULATION WITH A FOCUS ON
TRANSITION FROM JAIL. SOME OF
THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE OUR
MEDICAL CARE, DENTAL CARE,
MENTAL HEALTH CARE . A LOT OF
MEDICATION MANAGEMENT . WE HAVE
IN-HOUSE PHARMACIES AT EACH JAIL
FACILITY. WE ALSO PROVIDE SOCIAL
SERVICES AND OTHER ROUTINE CARE
. WE ALSO HAVE SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES LIKE HEALTH INFORMATION
MANAGEMENT, AND WITH A FOCUS ON
TRANSITION FROM JAIL, WE FOCUS
ON RELEASE PLANNING AND
CONNECTION WITH COMMUNITY
PROVIDERS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
ENTITIES. THERE IS A LINK HERE
ON THE SLIDE IF YOU'RE
INTERESTED LATER TO LOOK AT OUR
WEBPAGE AND FIND OUT MORE ABOUT
ALL THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE. ONE
THING I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT
BEFORE I MOVE ON IS THAT WE ALSO
ARE PARTICIPATING IN A JOINT
PROGRAM, THE DIVERSION PROGRAM,
WITH THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE. OUR GOAL IS TO FOCUS ON
THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THOSE
INCARCERATED, BUT WITH HOPES OF
SUPPORTING THEM UPON THEIR
TRANSITION IN HOPES THAT THEY
DON'T COME BACK TO THE JAILS.
VERY HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW IS THAT
ANY INDIVIDUAL BROUGHT TO THE
JAILS RECEIVES A DEFERRAL
SCREENING . THAT SCREENING,
INITIAL SCREENING, IS PERFORMED
BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ADULT AND
JUVENILE DETENTION. WE CALL THEM
. THEY DO THE INITIAL SCREENING
TO JUST ASSESS WHETHER THERE IS
ANY CONCERNING ISSUES OR
PROBLEMS GOING ON WITH
INDIVIDUALS BROUGHT FOR BOOKING
INTO THE JAILS. ONCE THE
DEFERRAL SCREENING OCCURS, IF
THERE IS ANY HEALTH RELATED
CONCERNS OR ITEMS THAT NEED TO
BE FURTHER LOOKED INTO, A NURSE
IS CALL TO WHAT WE CALL THE
PRE-BOOK COUNTER, AND THEY
PERFORM AN ASSESSMENT BEFORE
SOMEONE IS PROCESSED AND BOOKED
INTO THE JAIL. IT IS THROUGH
THAT HEALTH ASSESSMENT PERFORMED
BY A REGISTERED NURSE THAT A
HEALTH DETERMINATION IS MADE
WHETHER WE CAN APPROPRIATELY AND
SAFELY BRING SOMEONE INTO THE
FACILITY , OR IF THEY NEED TO BE
DEFERRED OUT TO THE HOSPITAL FOR
ADDITIONAL CARE AND TREATMENT.
JUST TO EXPLAIN OUR PROCESS A
LITTLE BIT MORE DEEPLY. THERE IS
SOME INFLUENTIAL STANDARDS WE
FOLLOW AND HAVE TO ADHERE TO.
ONE ENTITY THAT IS IMPORTANT TO
MENTION IS THE NATIONAL
COMMISSION ON CORRECTIONAL
HEALTHCARE . THEY ARE OUR
ACCREDITING BODY WITHIN THE
JAILS . SO ESSENTIALLY, THERE IS
A SET OF 58 STANDARDS WE HAVE TO
MEET , AND WE ARE AUDITED OR
SURVEYED EVERY THREE YEARS TO
ENSURE WE ARE ADHERING TO THOSE
STANDARDS. WHEN -- ONE IMPORTANT
STANDARD THAT TOUCHES ON THIS
PROCESS IS THE RECEIVING
SCREENING STANDARD. THAT
STANDARD REQUIRES THAT WE DO
SOME LEVEL OF ASSESSMENT AND
BOOKING OR INTAKE PRIOR TO
SOMEONE BEING BROUGHT INTO THE
JAIL OR FACILITY TO ENSURE THAT
THEY ARE HEALTHY ENOUGH TO BE
HOUSED IN THE JAIL. AND SO, IF
THEY ARE NOT, IT REQUIRES US TO
SEND SOMEONE OUT TO THE HOSPITAL
AND RECEIVE A MEDICAL CLEARANCE
PRIOR TO THEM BEING BOOKED INTO
OUR FACILITY. ANOTHER STANDARD,
OR SET OF STANDARDS IMPORTANT TO
MENTION, IS THE PRISON TRAN60
SIX ELIMINATION ACT THAT HAS
ABOUT 50 STANDARDS WITHIN THAT
SET OF STANDARDS. THERE IS ONE
IN PARTICULAR, 115.2 1 ALLEGED
-- C, THAT REQUIRES US ALL
RELIGION ARE POTENTIAL VICTIMS
TO BE SCREENED OR RECEIVE
SERVICES FOR THAT CONCERN . AND
ALSO RECEIVED A FORENSIC MEDICAL
EXAMINATION. WE PARTNER WITH
HARBORVIEW MEDICAL CENTER TO
PROVIDE THAT LEVEL OF SERVICE
FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT COME
TO OUR FACILITIES. WE'RE GOING
TO DIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE INTO
THE PROCESS. HANDED OVER TO
DOCTOR MAX LINN.
>> THANK YOU. I WILL GIVE AN
OVERVIEW OF THE PRE-BOOK
CLINICAL ASSESSMENT PROCESS AND
PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT ON WHY THIS
PROCESS OCCURS. THIS SLIDE SHOWS
A SUMMARY OF THE PROCESS.
ESSENTIALLY, THE RECEIVING
OFFICER PERFORMS A SCREENING TO
IDENTIFY ANY SIGNIFICANT HEALTH
ISSUES . IF THAT SCREEN IS
NEGATIVE, THE PATIENT IS BOOKED.
WITH THE SCREENING IDENTIFIES
ANY POTENTIAL RED FLAGS, A NURSE
IS CALLED TO THE PRE-BOOK
ASSESSMENT AREA TO MAKE AN
ASSESSMENT OF THE PATIENT. TO
START THE PROCESS, THE RECEIVING
OFFICER PERFORMS A BASIC
SCREENING TO IDENTIFY ANY
POTENTIAL HEALTH FLAGS. THE FORM
YOU'RE LOOKING AT IS THE FORM
USED FOR THAT SCREENING. IT
PROMPTS THE OFFICER TO DOCUMENT
THEIR OBSERVATIONS, AND ALSO ASK
GENERAL MEDICAL QUESTIONS. WE DO
THIS BECAUSE , COMPARED TO THE
GENERAL POPULATION, PEOPLE WHO
ARE ENTERING JAILS ARE MORE
LIKELY TO HAVE EXPERIENCED
RECENT INJURY OR TRAUMA. THEY
ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE CHRONIC
MEDICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC ILLNESS,
AND THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO BE
AT RISK FOR SEVERE ALCOHOL AND
DRUG WITHDRAWAL. IN THIS
PROCESS, JAILHOUSE SERVICES HAVE
THE ROLE OF ASSESSING IF A
PATIENT CAN SAFELY BE
TRANSITIONED INTO THE JAIL FROM
A MEDICAL PERSPECTIVE. WE NEED
TO DETERMINE IF THEY HAVE
EMERGENT OR URGENT HEALTHCARE
ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED
PRIOR TO THAT TRANSITION. THIS
IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT,
BECAUSE THE FIRST 48 HOURS ARE
PROBABLY THE HIGHEST RISK FROM A
MEDICAL STANDPOINT AFTER SOMEONE
HAS ENTERED THE FACILITY. AS I
SAID, IF THE INDIVIDUAL DOES NOT
HAVE ANY POSITIVE FINDINGS ON
THIS SCREENING, THEY WILL BE
BOOKED INTO THE JAIL. IF THE
OFFICER IDENTIFIES A POSSIBLE
HEALTH RISK, THEY WILL ASK A
JAILHOUSE SERVICES NURSE TO COME
TO THE PRE-BOOK AREA TO ASSESS
THE PATIENT. THE NURSE WILL
INDEPENDENTLY ASSESS THAT
INDIVIDUAL. THEY WILL MEET WITH
THE PATIENT TO GET A FOCUSED
HISTORY, THEY WILL PERFORM AN
EXAMINATION, THEY MAY REVIEW
MEDICAL RECORDS. FOR REFERENCE,
OUR CLINICAL PRACTICE PROTOCOLS.
THEY ALSO HAVE AVAILABLE AND
ON-CALL MEDICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC
PROVIDER TO SPEAK WITH IF THEY
HAVE QUESTIONS. BASED ON THIS
ASSESSMENT, THE NURSE WILL
DETERMINE IF A PATIENT NEEDS
FURTHER MEDICAL EVALUATION AND
TREATMENT PRIOR TO BOOKING. IF
THEY DO, THEY WILL DOCUMENT THAT
CONCERN ON THE FORM, AND THE
FORM GOES WITH THE PATIENT TO
THE EMERGENCY ROOM. AND IF THEY
DON'T, THE PATIENT WILL GET
BOOKED. ON THIS SLIDE, YOU CAN
SEE A GENERAL LIST OF THE
REASONS THAT A PATIENT MAY BE
REFERRED FOR EVALUATION. THIS
HERE THAT'S APOLOGIES FOR THE
VERY SMALL PRINT. THIS IS A
CLINICAL TOOL THAT SUMMARIZES
OUR PRACTICE GUIDELINES
REGARDING REFERRAL. WE HAVE
SHARED THIS WITH EXTERNAL
PARTNERS. HAS BEEN REVIEWED BY
THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL TEAM. IT
GIVES YOU A SENSE OF SOME OF THE
CLINICAL SCENARIOS WE COMMONLY
ENCOUNTER IN OUR PRE-BOOKING
PROCESS. WE KNOW THAT THIS IS AN
AREA OF PRACTICE IMPACTS PATIENT
SAFETY, AS WELL AS RESOURCES OF
ARRESTING AGENCIES AND OUR OWN
DAJD PARTNERS. WE HAVE DONE
STUDIES TO ASSESS THE OUTCOMES
OF THIS PROCESS OVER TIME. I
WILL SHARE SOME OF THAT DATA
HERE. I WILL SHARE A CAVEAT THAT
ANALYSIS OF THIS DATA IS QUITE
CHALLENGING. PEOPLE WHO ARE
ASSESSED IN PRE-BOOKING ARE NOT
YET A PATIENT OF GENERAL HEALTH
SERVICES. THEY DON'T HAVE A
MEDICAL RECORD IN THE SYSTEM. TO
ANALYZE THIS DATA, THE MEDICAL
DIRECTOR HAD TO MANUALLY REVIEW
CASES FROM DAJD DOCUMENTATION
AND ATTEMPT TO LINK THOSE TO
MEDICAL RECORDS WHERE AVAILABLE.
YOU CAN IMAGINE QUITE
TIME-CONSUMING. EARLIER THIS
YEAR, A JAILHOUSE SERVICES DID
IMPLEMENT A PRE-BOOK MEDICAL
CLEARANCE FORM THAT I SHARED
EARLIER. THAT WILL ALLOW US TO
DO SOME MORE ONGOING MONITORING
OF THIS DATA, HOPEFULLY, IN A
MORE EFFICIENT WAY. ON THE NEXT
SLIDE HE WILL SEE AN ANALYSIS
THAT WAS DONE LOOKING BACK AT
2021 THROUGH 2022 BOOKINGS AND
PRE-BOOK ASSESSMENTS. HERE WE
ARE LOOKING AT THE NUMBER OF
HEALTH REFERRALS. REFERRALS TO
THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
RELATIVE TO THE TOTAL NUMBER OF
BOOKINGS OVER THE COURSE OF THE
YEAR. WE FOUND A DEFERRAL RATE
OF ABOUT 6% TO 7%, WHICH
AVERAGES ABOUT THREE DEFERRALS
PER DAY. IF YOU LOOK AT THE
BOTTOM GRAPH, I JUST WANT TO
POINT OUT HOW MUCH SIGNIFICANT
VARIABILITY THERE IS DAY TO DAY
AND WEEK TO WEEK. THERE MAY HAVE
SOME DAYS WITH NO REFERRALS AND
OTHERS WERE THERE MAYBE SEVEN IN
A SINGLE DAY. AFTER IMPLEMENTING
THE NEW PRE-BOOK CLEARANCE FORM
, WE HAVE STARTED TO DO
PRELIMINARY REVIEW OF DEFERRAL
DATES. THIS IS A VERY SMALL
SNAPSHOT FROM MAY LOOKING AT A
WEEK. BECAUSE OF THE SMALL
PERIOD OF TIME THAT THIS IS
REVIEWING, I WANT TO BE CLEAR
THAT THIS DATA HERE REALLY
CAN'T BE GENERALIZED OR TO BE
COMPARED TO EARLIER DATA FROM
2021 TO 2022. BUT WHEN WE LOOK
TO MOST RECENTLY , AND THIS
GIVEN ME, THE REFERRAL RATE WAS
ABOUT 7 1/2%. WE AVERAGE FOUR
HEALTH DEFERRALS PER DAY AT A 61
TOTAL BOOKINGS. THAT GAVE US A
DEFERRAL RATE OF ABOUT 7 1/2%.
ON AVERAGE, NURSES ARE ASKED TO
ASSESS 21 INDIVIDUALS IN
PRE-BOOKING PER DAY. FOR EVERY
FIVE PATIENTS THEY ASSESSED,
FOUR WERE SCREENED IN AND ONE
WAS DEFERRED. THIS DATA IS
PRETTY CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE
KNOW ABOUT THE BURDEN OF ACUTE
AND CHRONIC ILLNESS AMONGST
INDIVIDUALS BOOKED INTO THE
JAIL. IF WE LOOK ON THE NEXT
SLIDE, HERE YOU CAN SEE A BRIEF
SUMMARY OF THE REASONS FOR
HEALTH DEFERRAL. THIS WAS FROM
THE MORE COMPREHENSIVE STUDY
FROM 2021 TO 2022. NOT
SURPRISINGLY, YOU WILL SEE
THINGS SUCH AS BODILY INJURY AND
INFECTION PRETTY HIGH ON THE
LIST. SIMILARLY, THIS IS OUR
SMALL SLICE FROM 2025 WHERE WE
SEE SIMILAR REASONS FOR
DEFERRAL.
>> IN RELATION TO THE HEALTH
DEFERRAL PROCESS, THERE ARE SOME
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS THAT
OFTEN COME UP ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS PROCESS
AND WHY IT IS THE WAY IT IS. AND
SO, ONE QUESTION WE WANTED TO
ADDRESS TODAY IS WHETHER THERE
IS AN AUTOMATIC DEFERRAL AND/OR
MAGIC WORD SOMEONE CAN SAY TO
AUTOMATICALLY BE DEFERRED UP TO
THE HOSPITAL. I WOULD SAY THIS
QUESTION COMES MOST FREQUENTLY
UP WITH ARRESTING AGENCIES JUST
BECAUSE IT IS A BURDEN. I JUST
WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IF WE
IDENTIFY SOMEONE AS NEEDING
HOSPITAL OF HER CARE, IT IS ON
THE ARRESTING OFFICER AGENCY TO
TAKE THAT INDIVIDUAL TO THE
HOSPITAL FOR SCREENING AND
ASSESSMENT , AND FURTHER MEDICAL
CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR BOOKING.
SO I WANTED TO GIVE A CHANCE FOR
DOCTOR MAX LINN TO ANSWER THAT
FROM A CLINICAL PERSPECTIVE. I
WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS
IS PROBABLY OUR MOST FREQUENT
QUESTION WE ARE ASKED. IN THE
TWO SPECIFIC AREAS ARE OF
SOMEONE SAYS THEY ARE SEXUALLY
ASSAULTED, DOES THAT
AUTOMATICALLY DEFER THEM OUT ?
OR IF THEY SAY THEY HAVE
INGESTED DRUGS. WANT TO PASS IT
ON FOR RESPONSE.
>> ESSENTIALLY, NO. WE DON'T
HAVE MAGIC WORDS. I WILL SAY,
YOU KNOW, ANY PATIENT WHO
SCREENED POSITIVE IN THE
PRE-BOOKING AREA HAS A CLINICAL
VALUATION AND ASSESSMENT WITH A
NURSE. THEY'RE MAKING AN
INDEPENDENT DETERMINATION.
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ASSESSED AS
BEING POSSIBLY HAVING
EXPERIENCED SEXUAL ASSAULT
WITHIN THE PAST FIVE DAYS ARE
REFERRED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
THAT IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF BEING
OFFERED A SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE
EXAMINATION TO RECEIVE TIMELY
POST ASSAULT CARE. IT IS ALSO AN
OPPORTUNITY TO COLLECT FORENSIC
EVIDENCE IF THE INDIVIDUAL WOULD
LIKE TO DO SO. INDIVIDUALS WHO
ARE ASSESSED AS POSSIBLY HAVING
INGESTED DRUGS ARE AT RISK FOR
SERIOUS AND RAPIDLY PROGRESSING
MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS, AND THEY
ALSO ARE REFERRED TO THE
EMERGENCY ROOM FOR MONITORING
AND MEDICAL CLEARANCE.
>> I WANTED TO CONCLUDE AND
PIGGYBACK ON WHAT YOU WERE
SAYING, DOCTOR MAX LINN, THAT
ALL OF THESE DECISIONS ABOUT
DEFERRAL OR NOT ARE MADE BY
CLINICAL , FOLKS WITH CLINICAL
EXPERIENCE AND CLINICAL
TRAINING. THEY ARE REGISTERED
NURSES. I ALSO WANTED TO ADD
THAT ALL INDIVIDUALS AT JAIL
HEALTH SERVICES HAS WORKING IN
THE INTAKE AREA ARE THE MOST
SEASONED NURSES. THE REASON
BEHIND THAT DECISION IS THAT THE
INTAKE PROCESS , AND WHEN PEOPLE
FIRST COME INTO US, WE DON'T
HAVE A SAY IF IT COMES TO THE
JAIL. THAT DETERMINATION AND
ASSESSMENT THAT OCCURS AT THE
FRONT DOOR IS EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT. SO WE ENSURE THAT
NURSES THAT HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE
UNDERSTANDING OF OUR SERVICES
WITHIN THE JAILS, AND THAT THEY
HAVE THE EXPERIENCE TO DO THOSE
ASSESSMENTS ARE PLACED THERE AT
THAT POST IN PARTICULAR. NOW WE
WANT TO OPEN IT UP FOR ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
PRESENTATION. I APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU FOR THE EXECUTIVE
SIDE. I SHOULD KNOW I HAVE HAD
CONVERSATIONS WITH INTERIM KING
COUNTY EXECUTIVE. I APPRECIATE
HER SUPPORT FOR THIS BRIEFING,
AND FOR , IN CONJUNCTION WITH
THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY AND
PRESIDING JUDGE. I REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT SUPPORT. WE ARE
FINISHED PRETTY MUCH ON TIME.
RELATED DEPRESSION, WE WILL GO
OVER A LITTLE BIT. MY ASK IS FOR
COLLEAGUES TO BE VERY PRECISE
WITH HER QUESTION. NO LEAD UP. I
BASICALLY -- THERE ARE TWO
QUESTIONS FLOATING AROUND. I
WILL DEFER TO MY PRESIDING
JUDGE, TO MY PRESIDING VICE
CHAIR SAKA, TO START.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
DIRECTOR McBRIDE, DR. FLYNN AND
DIRECTOR JACKSON, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL
CARVING OUT THE TIME TO SHARE
YOUR INSIGHTS AND WISDOM ,
WALKING US THROUGH THE INTAKE
AND FLOW PROCESS , DIVING DEEP ,
A LITTLE BIT, APPROPRIATELY SO,
ON SOME OF THE DATA UNDERLYING
YOUR WORK. AND THEN, ALSO
ADDRESSING, DEMYSTIFYING A FEW
THINGS AND ADDRESSING FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS. VERY HELPFUL.
ONE QUESTION IS THE SAME THEME ,
HOW CAN SEATTLE , OR CITIES
ACROSS KING COUNTY, BE BETTER
PARTNERS FOR YOU ALL AND SUPPORT
THIS VITAL WORK OF MAINTAINING,
YOU KNOW, PROPERLY RESOURCED AND
EFFECTIVE HEALTH SERVICES IN OUR
JAILS? HOW CAN SEATTLE AND
CITIES LIKE SEATTLE BE BETTER
PARTNERS?
>> I WILL START US OFF AND GO TO
MY COLLEAGUES TO INTERJECT. I
THINK WE HAVE A GREAT
PARTNERSHIP AS IT EXISTS WITH
OUR SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY
JAIL. I JUST WANT TO NAME THAT.
WILL CONTINUE TO ADDRESS
PROBLEMS AND APPRECIATE THE
PARTNERSHIP WITH THIS COUNCIL,
AS WELL AS THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
AND ADDRESSING VERY REAL PUBLIC
SAFETY CONCERNS WE ARE
EXPERIENCING AS A COMMUNITY.
SOME HELPFUL PARTNERSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES, I THINK, COULD BE
ADVOCATING WITH US AT THE STATE
AND FEDERAL LEVEL TO PROVIDE
MORE JAIL BASED HEALTH FUNDING .
THIS TEAM OF FOLKS WORKS
INCREDIBLY HARD WITH NOT NEARLY
ENOUGH TO ELEVATE THE GOOD WORK
THEY DO. I THINK THAT IS A HUGE
OPPORTUNITY FOR CONTINUED
PARTNERSHIP. I THINK SOMETHING
WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT AT THE
COUNTY, AND I KNOW HERE AT THE
CITY AS WELL, IS INVESTING IN
THOSE UPSTREAM SOLUTIONS. WE
KNOW THAT WE ARE SEEING SOME
REALLY SICK PEOPLE IN OUR JAIL
THAT HAVE VERY LITTLE ACCESS TO
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORT,
SUBSTANCE USE SUPPORT, ACCESS TO
SCHOOL AND EDUCATION TO FURTHER
THEIR DEVELOPMENT. I THINK THAT
SOME OF THOSE SERVICES REALLY
IMPACT THE TRAJECTORY OF A
PERSON'S LIFE. AND SO, USING AN
OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE FOLKS IN OUR
CUSTODY TO HELP SUPPLY THOSE
THINGS AS THEY MOVE FORWARD.
LASTLY, WE CONTINUE TO WORK
TOWARDS A FULLY STAFFED
JAILHOUSE -- HEALTH PROGRAM. SO
ANY SUPPORT TO RETAIN, RECRUIT
HEALTHCARE WORKERS, WHETHER THAT
IS THROUGH INVESTMENT PIPELINES
OR PERHAPS TEMPORARY GRANTING, I
THINK, WE WOULD BE OPEN TO
CREATIVE SOLUTIONS. AGAIN, THESE
FOLKS DO INCREDIBLE WORK, AND
ABSOLUTELY NEED THAT SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT. I WOULD JUST
SAY THE ONLY OTHER THING I WOULD
OFFER IS , YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT
TO COMMEND YOU ALL FOR BRINGING
KING COUNTY TO THE TABLE AND
BEING OUR PARTNERS. I THINK WE
ARE ALL SEEING PROBLEMS THAT
EXIST FROM HER OWN UNIQUE ANGLE
AND PERSPECTIVE. AND SO, I JUST
WANT TO ASK FOR CONTINUED
PARTNERSHIP AND UNDERSTANDING
THOSE PROBLEMS AND ISSUES MORE
DEEPLY TOGETHER SO WE CAN COME
UP WITH SHARED SOLUTIONS AND
SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS THAT ARE
REALLY GOING TO WORK. I REALLY
APPRECIATE JUST BEING HERE AND
CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP.
>> EXCELLENT. THANK YOU, AGAIN.
GRATEFUL FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP
AND COLLABORATION AND ALL THE
EFFORT FOR BEING HERE. MR.
CHAIR, AT YOUR DISCRETION, I
THINK, AND ASSUMING THERE ARE
MINIMAL, I THINK WE SHOULD
INVITE THEM BACK ON AN ANNUAL
BASIS TO SHARE OUT THE GREAT
WORK AND REALLY HELP SHOW THE
COLLABORATION THAT GOES ON SO
OFTEN REGULARLY AND CONSISTENTLY
BEHIND THE SCENES. BUT IT ALSO
HELPS AMPLIFY AND UPLIFT THIS
WORK AT A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF
GOVERNMENT. IN ANY EVENT, THANK
YOU ALL AGAIN FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR. IN THE
INTEREST OF TIME, I WILL JUST
SAY , I JUST ASKED THE LAST
QUESTION. WANT ASKED THE FIRST
QUESTION, BUT I WILL STATE IT. A
CONCERN THAT IS OUT THERE IS HOW
WE ENSURE THAT , PARTICULARLY
THOSE WITH SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER, ADDICTION CHALLENGES,
THAT THEY COME IN , THAT THEY
ARE TREATED FOR THAT, AND
IMPORTANTLY, THAT THEY ARE , AS
THEY EXIT FROM THE JAIL, THEY
IMMEDIATELY GO INTO SOME TYPE OF
TREATMENT PROGRAM, SOME TYPE OF
SUPPORT , AS OPPOSED TO COMING
BACK OUT ONTO THE STREET, WHICH
THEN LEADS TO THE NEXT VISIT?
AND SO, THERE'S A QUESTION .
YOU CAN SPEAK TO IT REALLY QUICK
IF YOU LIKE. THAT'S A THEME
I'VE BEEN HEARING FROM PEOPLE
ON A REGULAR BASIS. HEY, WE HAVE
THESE INDIVIDUALS COMING IN
WITH, AS YOU NOTED, SUBSTANCE
USE DISORDER. WHAT CAN WE DO TO
ENSURE THAT THERE IS THIS REALLY
GOOD HAND OFF, WARM HANDOFF,
INTO -- SO THEY ARE NOT GOING
BACK OUT ONTO THE STREET?
>> THIS IS A GREAT QUESTION.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT. VERY
RELEVANT TO OUR REGION. WE KNOW
WHAT WORKS. WE HAVE A LOT OF
EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES THAT
TELL US THAT JAIL IS,
UNFORTUNATELY, A VERY TEMPORARY
SOLUTION TO THESE LONGER-TERM
SUSTAINED PROBLEMS WITH SOME OF
HER INDIVIDUALS IN CUSTODY. AND
SO, INVESTING IN THE THINGS WE
KNOW WORK , SCALING UP SERVICES
THAT ALREADY EXIST AND ARE
WORKING VERY WELL FOR THOSE
FOLKS, I THINK IN THIS REGION,
WE DELIVER SERVICES VERY WELL,
BUT SCALING THOSE TO THE SIZE OF
THE NEED IS AN IMPERATIVE NEXT
STEP IN OUR TACKLING THIS
ONGOING ISSUE TOGETHER.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT. I WILL
SAY, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER HAS
BEEN A PRIMARY FOCUS IN THE JAIL
HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAM. WE
INITIALLY LAUNCHED OUR PROGRAM
IN 2018, AND WE HAVE BEEN
SCALING UP AS BEST WE CAN SINCE
THEN WITH LIMITED RESOURCES. I
ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT
YOU'RE SAYING ON THE BACKEND OF
SOMEONE'S INCARCERATION. THAT
TRANSITION BACK INTO COMMUNITY
IS A CRITICAL TIME. AND SO, WE
HAVE ALSO INVESTED IN THAT AS
WELL THROUGH A COORDINATED
DISCHARGE PROCESS WHERE WE HAVE
COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS AND
FOLKS ABLE TO MEET PEOPLE
LITERALLY AS THEY ARE LEAVING
THE JAILS AND SIT DOWN WITH THEM
AND PROVIDE THEM WITH RESOURCES,
CONNECTIONS TO SERVICE
PROVIDERS, ET CETERA. I WILL SAY
WE ARE CONTINUING , DAY BY DAY,
TO WORK ON OUR COMMUNITY
CONNECTIONS AND MAKE THOSE CLEAR
CONNECTIONS BUT I JUST WANT TO
ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE RELEASE
PLANNING STARTS WHEN SOMEONE
STARTS IN THE JAIL. FIRST WHEN
THEY ARRIVE. WE ARE NOT WAITING
UNTIL THE BACKEND OF THEIR STAY.
WE ARE TRYING TO ASSESS THE
NEEDS EARLY AND OFTEN TO REALLY
IDENTIFY WHAT SERVICES ARE GOING
TO BE RELEVANT FOR THEM, WHAT
NEEDS THEY HAVE, AND HOW WE
REALLY TRANSITION THEM VERY
QUICKLY, AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE,
TO A COMMUNITY PROVIDER. WE ALSO
PROVIDE BRIDGE MEDICATION FOR
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER SO PEOPLE
HAVE THE MEDICATIONS THEY NEED
AS THEY TRANSITION INTO THE
COMMUNITY AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU. THE LAST QUESTION.
I ASKED THIS WITH A QUICK SET UP
AND I'VE BEEN TO KING COUNTY
JAIL. THANK YOU FOR THE TOUR. I
RECOGNIZE STAFFING CHALLENGES,
LIKE I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE
BEEN IMPROVING LIKE THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN, BUT
HOPEFULLY SO. I SEE THE RANGE OF
DIFFERENT PIECES. TO THE
QUESTION, IT WOULD DRIVE SOME OF
THESE -- I'M GOING TO ASK
STRAIGHT UP THAT I HAVE BEEN
HEARING FROM COLLEAGUES HERE IN
THE CITY. WHAT CAN WE DO
COLLABORATIVELY TOGETHER TO HOLD
PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE? WE HEAR THIS
IS A PROBLEM. WHAT CAN BE DONE
TOGETHER? AND HOW CAN WE BETTER
ENSURE THAT THOSE WHO COMMIT
CRIMES STAY OFF OUR STREETS AND
AREN'T ABLE TO GAME THE SYSTEM?
YOU HAVE SPOKEN TO THIS IN THE
SLIDES. I WANTED TO ASK THE
QUESTION. I ALSO WANTED TO KNOW,
HARBORVIEW IS HAVING ITS
CHALLENGES TOO. AND SO, MY
QUESTION TO THIS IS, YOU HAVE
ADDRESSED THIS IN THE BRIEFING,
BUT IF YOU CAN READDRESS IT, BUT
ALSO, CAN WE BRING THE DIFFERENT
PLAYERS TOGETHER? LIKE
HARBORVIEW. I THINK OF
TELEMEDICINE, REMOTE MEDICINE.
IS THERE OPPORTUNITIES TO FIND
SOME ANSWERS THAT ASSIST
HARBORVIEW, OR THAT ASSIST THE
JAIL OR WHATEVER JURISDICTION ,
LAW ENFORCEMENT PRINTING THOSE
INDIVIDUALS IN FOR A QUICK AND
SMOOTH TRANSITION AS POSSIBLE.
THAT IS THE LAST QUESTION FOR
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
ANOTHER GREAT QUESTION. WE WOULD
ABSOLUTELY BE WILLING TO
COLLABORATE TO DISCUSS WHAT
SHARED SOLUTIONS LOOK LIKE. BUT
I JUST WANT TO NAME THAT WE ALL
COLLECTIVELY AGREE WE WANT SAFE
COMMUNITIES, HEALTHY PEOPLE .
THESE JAIL DEFERRALS ARE NOT A
LOOPHOLE. I JUST WANT TO PLAINLY
STATE THAT. THERE ARE REAL
CONSEQUENCES OF NOT TAKING THESE
THINGS SERIOUSLY. FOR EXAMPLE,
IN WASHINGTON STATE, JUST 15% OF
SEXUAL ASSAULT ARE REPORTED. SO
ONLY 15% OF TOTAL SEXUAL
ASSAULTS THAT OCCUR ARE
REPORTED. WE TAKE EVERY CLAIM
SERIOUSLY . IT IS THE MOST
HUMANE AND JUST THING TO DO,
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT
THAT INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN ACCUSED
OF A CRIME . I WOULD ALSO LIKE
TO POINT OUT THAT FOLKS IN OUR
JAILS ARE STILL BEING
ADJUDICATED. THEY ARE NOT YET
DEEMED GUILTY BY THE COURT. I DO
HAVE QUESTIONS ON WHAT THE
ACCOUNTABILITY PIECE NEEDS TO
LOOK LIKE IN THAT FRAME . I JUST
WANT TO SAY THERE ARE REAL
CONSEQUENCES OF NOT TAKING
VICTIMS SERIOUSLY. I THINK WE
HAVE SEEN THAT PRETTY BROADLY.
>> THANK YOU. UNDERSTAND. ANY
LAST WORDS?
>> WE DO REGULARLY COLLABORATE
WITH OUR PARTNERS WITH DAJD AND
HARBORVIEW , PARTICULARLY THEIR
EMERGENCY ROOM AND SEXUAL
ASSAULT NURSE TEAM. THOSE ARE
CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE ONGOING .
WE ARE HAPPY TO CONTINUE TO
COLLABORATE ON THEM.
>> THANK YOU . REALLY APPRECIATE
IT. WITH THAT, WE HAVE REACHED
THE END OF TODAY'S MEETING
AGENDA. ANY BUSINESS TO COME
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE BEFORE WE
ADJOURN? I THINK NOT. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. WE END WITH THIS. BY
THE WAY, THANK YOU, EVERYONE
FROM KING COUNTY WHO
PARTICIPATED. AND PLEASE PASS MY
THANKS TO MS. BRADDOCK,
EXECUTIVE BRADDOCK. AGAIN, THANK
YOU . THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR SEATTLE TO
UNDERSTAND THAT THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM ISN'T JUST THE
CITY OF SEATTLE, IT IS KING
COUNTY, AND AS WE ARE LEARNING,
THE STATE IS HUGE AND THIS. WE
NEED TO BRING THEM IN AND ENGAGE
WITH THEM COLLABORATIVELY. AND
OF COURSE, THE FEDERAL PIECE. WE
WILL TALK ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. HAVE A GOOD
DAY. THAT'S OFFICIAL.