Criminal Justice

in committee · Washington · House Jan 26, 2026

HB 2656: Creating a detention facility registry.

HB 2656 creates a public registry for all detention facilities in Washington, requiring them to report specific details like location, capacity, daily occupancy, and contact information. It applies to facilities holding people against their will for legal reasons (e.g., pre-trial, sentencing), excluding juvenile facilities, licensed child care agencies, mental health hospitals, and home detention settings. Facilities must register annually starting January 1, 2027, with failure to comply risking civil penalties up to $1,000 per day. The registry aims to increase transparency about detention conditions while establishing enforcement procedures for non-compliance.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates public registry for detention facility transparency, enhancing oversight and accountability in corrections, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Sentencing

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in committee · Washington · Senate Feb 6, 2026

SB 6062: Modifying provisions related to individuals found to have committed criminal offenses when under the age of 18.

SB 6062 modifies Washington's juvenile sentencing laws to reduce reliance on confinement for youth under 18, particularly addressing racial disparities where Black, Latino, and Indigenous youth are overrepresented in juvenile justice systems. The bill replaces the state's 1978 sentencing grid with individualized options, creating new alternatives to jail (like community supervision) for most offenses, while maintaining mandatory confinement only for specific serious violent, sex, or firearm-related offenses. It specifically targets robbery cases - which make up one-third of youth in juvenile prison - and limits mandatory confinement terms to address overcrowding and health impacts of long stays. The law aims to give courts more flexibility to prioritize rehabilitation and equity, without changing the legal standards for the most serious offenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReduces juvenile confinement, addresses racial disparities, and replaces sentencing grid with community alternatives - core criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Juvenile Justice Sentencing

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in committee · Washington · Senate Feb 26, 2026

SB 6249: Concerning department of corrections supervision of individuals convicted of stalking.

SB 6249 requires Washington's Department of Corrections to supervise individuals convicted of stalking (RCW 9A.46.110) who are sentenced to community custody. This expands existing supervision requirements to include stalking offenders, who were previously not automatically covered under these specific provisions. The bill explicitly adds stalking to the list of offenses mandating department supervision, alongside existing categories like sex offenses and certain domestic violence convictions. This change applies to all stalking convictions regardless of risk assessment, ensuring these individuals receive structured post-sentence supervision. The legislation does not alter supervision standards for other offense types but clarifies that stalking offenders must be supervised under the same framework as other high-risk cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill explicitly expands mandatory supervision to stalking offenders, strengthening oversight and aligning with recidivism reduction goals in criminal justice.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Domestic Violence

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passed both · Washington · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 2510: Concerning the supervision of individuals sentenced to community custody.

HB 2510 requires Washington's Department of Corrections to supervise specific individuals placed on community custody, directly affecting people convicted of certain sex offenses, repeat domestic violence offenses, or high-risk violent crimes. The bill mandates supervision for those convicted of sexual misconduct with minors, communication with minors for immoral purposes, domestic violence felonies with prior offenses, and individuals classified as high-risk to reoffend. It also specifies that supervision applies regardless of risk level for certain cases, such as failure-to-register violations, vehicular homicide, or stalking convictions. The supervision period cannot exceed the legally defined community custody term, with possible reductions for compliance. This bill updates existing statutes to clarify who must be supervised under community custody.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates enhanced supervision for high-risk offenders including sex offenses and domestic violence, strengthening correctional oversight.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Domestic Violence Probation & Parole

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in committee · Washington · House Feb 6, 2026

HB 2648: Concerning state and local law enforcement interactions with federal immigration enforcement officials.

HB 2648 requires Washington state and local peace officers to activate body and dash cameras when encountering individuals suspected of conducting federal immigration enforcement. Officers must immediately report such encounters to their agency and document the interaction, including verifying the person's identity if safe to do so. The bill protects officers from liability in civil or criminal cases if they follow these procedures in good faith while acting within their job duties. It directly affects all on-duty Washington peace officers during interactions with federal immigration officials.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates body cameras and documentation for immigration-related law enforcement encounters, enhancing officer accountability and transparency in criminal justice interactions.85% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationRequires documentation/reporting of federal immigration interactions, limiting local cooperation with federal enforcement - a support indicator for immigrant protections.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 19, 2026

HB 2576: Concerning the address confidentiality program.

HB 2576 amends Washington State's address confidentiality program to help victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, trafficking, and harassment (including election officials, criminal justice workers, and healthcare providers facing threats) keep their real home addresses private. It allows eligible individuals to use a substitute address designated by the Secretary of State instead of their actual address for all official purposes. State agencies must then accept this substitute address for correspondence and public records, preventing disclosure of the participant’s actual location to potential assailants. The bill updates definitions and eligibility criteria to expand protections while ensuring participants can safely access services like property ownership without public address disclosure.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects victims' safety by enabling address confidentiality, reducing retaliation risks for those interacting with criminal justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Violent Crime

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 15, 2026

HB 2506: Requiring certain persons to be in full compliance with sex offender and kidnapping offender registration requirements.

HB 2506 modifies Washington's sex offender registration rules by allowing certain individuals to stop registering after meeting specific conditions. It sets a 10-year community compliance period (without new crimes or registration violations) for most class C felony offenders, a 15-year period for more serious offenses, and a 3-year period for juvenile offenders. County sheriffs must verify full compliance before removing names from registries, and courts can grant relief petitions under these terms. This directly affects people previously required to register under Washington law for sex or kidnapping offenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeModifies sex offender registration to allow removal after compliance periods, reducing long-term restrictions for compliant individuals - aligns with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice

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in committee · Washington · House Feb 6, 2026

HB 2430: Concerning the crime victim penalty assessment.

HB 2430 increases Washington's crime victim penalty assessment to $1,000 for felony/gross misdemeanor convictions and $500 for misdemeanors, while creating a waiver for indigent defendants. It allows courts to impose additional surcharges (up to $50,000) on defendants with "substantial financial resources" (household income over 200% of area median income) based on offense severity. The collected funds must be deposited into a county fund exclusively supporting comprehensive victim services, including testimony assistance and restitution help, with strict requirements for program eligibility and administration. This affects all convicted adults (except specific motor vehicle crimes), counties managing the funds, and local victim support programs. The bill also requires cities to contribute a portion of non-parking revenue to this fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates new assessments/surcharges to fund victim services, directing revenue to essential public programs without burdening low-income defendants.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill increases victim penalty assessments to fund comprehensive victim services, directly advancing victim support within criminal justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights

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in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 6021: Reducing introduction of contraband into Green Hill school.

SB 6021 requires the Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families to implement a body scanner program at Green Hill school (a state juvenile rehabilitation facility) to detect contraband like drugs and cell phones. The program mandates scanners capable of finding hidden items under clothing, with gender-responsive policies for screenings of employees, visitors, contractors, and inmates, while prioritizing radiation safety and alternative searches for vulnerable individuals. It also requires substance use disorder assessments and treatment for inmates with detected contraband, and annual reporting on scan results, contraband types, and treatment referrals. The bill directs the department to use existing funding and equipment, with no new costs specified, to comply with these requirements.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances security at juvenile correctional facility to reduce contraband, supporting rehabilitation and safety within criminal justice system.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 22, 2026

HB 2614: Legalizing the home cultivation of cannabis by persons who are 21 years of age and older.

HB 2614 legalizes home cultivation of cannabis for Washington residents aged 21 or older, permitting up to six plants per person on their premises with a maximum of 15 plants total per housing unit. It sets specific possession limits (e.g., no more than half an ounce of useable cannabis) and requires cultivation to remain non-visible from public view to avoid penalties. Violations like exceeding plant limits or visible cultivation would result in civil penalties, not criminal charges. The bill does not affect medical cannabis programs or commercial cannabis businesses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeShifts penalties for cannabis cultivation from criminal to civil, reducing criminal justice involvement and aligning with reform goals of decriminalization.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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