Private Prisons: A Sensible Solution
Eric Montague, Policy Analysis
, August, 2001The prison system in Washington state is being severely stretched by overcrowding, threatening the safety of the staff, the inmates and the surrounding communities. State run facilities average 141% of design capacity, housing over 4,800 more prisoners than originally planned. At the local level, city and county jails throughout the state are at 110% of design capacity.
Private Prisons: A Sensible Solution
Eric Montague, Policy Analyst
, August, 2001The prison system in Washington state is being severely stretched by overcrowding, threatening the safety of the staff, the inmates and the surrounding communities. State run facilities average 141% of design capacity, housing more than 4,800 more prisoners than originally planned. At the local level, city and county jails throughout the state are at 110% of design capacity.
New Study Finds Private Prisons Increase Quality and Reduce Cost
Seattle -- A new study by the Washington Policy Center found that the prison system in Washington state is being severely stretched by overcrowding, threatening the safety of the staff, the inmates and the surrounding communities. State run facilities average 141% of design capacity, housing over 4,800 more prisoners than originally planned. At the local level, city and county jails throughout the state are at 110% of design capacity.
Private Prisons: A Sensible Solution
Eric Montague, Policy Analyst
, August, 2001The prison system in Washington state is being severely stretched by overcrowding, threatening the safety of the staff, the inmates and the surrounding communities. Without new prisons, law enforcement officials will be forced to make difficult decisions about which dangerous criminals should be incarcerated and which should be allowed back onto the street. Unfortunately, because of tight budgets and other pressing needs, building enough government run prisons to safely hold the increasing inmate population is not financially feasible.
The Three-Strikes Law Works
John Carlson, WPC Board Member
, March, 2001The Seattle Post-Intelligencer recently ran a long article criticizing Washington's "Three Strikes, You're Out" law because African Americans are a much smaller percentage of the state population than the proportion of those who "strike out." George Bridges, a University of Washington sociologist, called the data "very disturbing" and claimed "that minorities, particularly blacks, are overrepresented."
License Suspended? Or Driving Suspended?
Mike McKay, McKay Chdwell, PLLC
, January, 1998Cindy Horton, a family practice doctor living in Wenatchee, was returning from a family Easter gathering when it happened. Somewhat queasy due to her pregnancy, she was lying on the back seat while her husband drove. Suddenly he shouted in alarm and an instant later a tremendous impact forced their vehicle off the road. As it rolled down an embankment, Dr. Horton was thrown out, ending up pinned beneath the vehicle at the edge of the river. Though fearful the car might slide in and drag her under, rescuers had to wait 45 minutes for a tow truck before freeing her. Fortunately, Dr. Horton survived her injuries and gave birth to a healthy baby.
Juvenile Justice Reform: HB 3900 and Beyond
Dave LaCourse, Jr., Adjunct Fellow, Washington Institute
, January, 1998Washington State developed its first juvenile justice system in 1913. Under the law, courts had wide latitude in dealing with juvenile offenders because there were no statewide sentencing standards. Sentencing was based more on the welfare of the child than the concepts of guilt or innocence.
Hard Time For Armed Crime: The Most Significant Criminal Justice Measure of the 1990's
After the success of "Three Strikes, You're Out," which targeted career criminals, efforts to reform Washington's criminal justice system turned to the violent crimes which have the greatest risk of physical injury to victims. The result was "Hard Time for Armed Crime," enacted by the legislature in 1995. A recent report by the Washington Institute Foundation summarized the new law and noted areas for additional review.
Three Strikes You're Out: A Refrom that Worked
In 1991 research by the Washington Institute for Policy Studies led to the "Three Strikes You're Out" initiative, which was passed by Washington voters in November 1993, with a 76% voter approval.
Now, a recent study has demonstrated the effectiveness of "Three Strikes, You're Out"
Hard Time for Armed Crime: A Review
R. David LaCourse, Jr.
, January, 1997Hard Time for Armed Crime was enacted to close loopholes and increase sentences for armed criminals. Before Hard Time, few armed felons were eligible for a deadly weapon enhancement1 under Washington State law. In addition, the maximum enhancement was only two years and there was no distinction between firearms and other deadly weapons nor first time versus repeat armed convictions.
Hard Time dramatically increased sentences for violent armed criminals around the state. The following three examples illustrate the effect of the law.