Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 1, 2002
Contact: Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Flanked by King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng and Dr. Barry Logan, director of the Washington State Patrol’s Forensic Laboratory Services Bureau, the governor signed into law Second Substitute House Bill No. 2338 and Substitute House Bill No. 2468 during an afternoon ceremony at a crime laboratory in Seattle.
The governor noted that both bills “represent a strategy to more wisely invest our limited public funds in the best tools for the job of making our communities safer.”
The governor first signed SSHB 2338, sponsored by state Rep. Ruth Kagi, to reduce prison sentences for nonviolent drug and property offenders.
“Second Substitute House Bill 2338 changes the way we sentence low-level drug offenders, reducing the prison time for first-time heroin and cocaine offenders, and investing the savings into expanded treatment,” Locke said. “This will strengthen drug court programs across the state, helping addicts change their lives and become productive citizens.”
Locke said the bill will strengthen the partnership between state and local governments by shifting 75 percent of the savings to counties for drug courts and court-supervised treatment programs, and 25 percent of state funds to the Department of Corrections for treating nonviolent, addicted offenders through the criminal justice system.
“In two years, this bill will establish a new sentencing grid for drug crimes, with more flexibility for judges, but also longer sentences for those who sell to children or use weapons while committing a drug crime,” the governor said.
“For nonviolent offenders, treatment works,” Locke said. “Investing in treatment will enable us to free up more prison cells for the violent offenders who belong in prison.”
Locke thanked Maleng for proposing the legislation, and expressed his gratitude to state Department of Corrections Director Joe Lehman, state Department of Social and Health Services’ Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Director Ken Stark, Kitsap County Prosecutor Russ Hauge and the state Sentencing Guidelines Commission for helping to get the bill passed.
The governor also thanked state Reps. Ruth Kagi, Al O’Brien and Ida Ballasiotes and state Sens. Jeanine Long and Adam Kline for their work in assembling strong bipartisan majorities that led to the bill’s passage.
Locke then signed SHB 2468, a bill that he originally requested. The legislation will expand the state’s DNA databank by requiring more convicted felons to provide samples. It also will speed up police investigations and lead to more convictions of violent offenders.
“Substitute House Bill 2468 will help us arrest and convict more violent criminals and sex offenders,” Locke said. “Instead of collecting DNA samples from 3,000 convicted criminals every year, we’ll collect from more than 25,000. This will enable police to solve more violent and sex crimes by linking evidence to suspects. It also will help police work more effectively by excluding innocent people earlier in the investigations. That’s a win-win for everyone.”
The governor thanked Washington State Patrol Chief Ronal Serpas and his Forensic Laboratory Services Bureau Director Dr. Barry Logan for their help in developing the bill.
Locke also thanked state Rep. Mark Miloscia for being a “champion of DNA identification technology during all his time in the Legislature.”
In addition, the governor lauded state Reps. Al O’Brien, Alex Wood and Ida Ballasiotes and state Sens. Jeri Costa, Jim Hargrove and Jeanine Long for their the leadership on the important issue.
“I am proud to sign these bills to make our state a better, safer place to live, work and raise a family by being smarter in how we solve and reduce crimes,” Locke said.
Related Links:
- Washington State Legislature
- Bill Information
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 1, 2002
Contact: Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Gov. Locke signs legislation to make communities safer
SEATTLE – Gov. Gary Locke today signed two bills designed to make Washington communities safer from violence and to institute smarter approaches to crime solving and punishment.Flanked by King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng and Dr. Barry Logan, director of the Washington State Patrol’s Forensic Laboratory Services Bureau, the governor signed into law Second Substitute House Bill No. 2338 and Substitute House Bill No. 2468 during an afternoon ceremony at a crime laboratory in Seattle.
The governor noted that both bills “represent a strategy to more wisely invest our limited public funds in the best tools for the job of making our communities safer.”
The governor first signed SSHB 2338, sponsored by state Rep. Ruth Kagi, to reduce prison sentences for nonviolent drug and property offenders.
“Second Substitute House Bill 2338 changes the way we sentence low-level drug offenders, reducing the prison time for first-time heroin and cocaine offenders, and investing the savings into expanded treatment,” Locke said. “This will strengthen drug court programs across the state, helping addicts change their lives and become productive citizens.”
Locke said the bill will strengthen the partnership between state and local governments by shifting 75 percent of the savings to counties for drug courts and court-supervised treatment programs, and 25 percent of state funds to the Department of Corrections for treating nonviolent, addicted offenders through the criminal justice system.
“In two years, this bill will establish a new sentencing grid for drug crimes, with more flexibility for judges, but also longer sentences for those who sell to children or use weapons while committing a drug crime,” the governor said.
“For nonviolent offenders, treatment works,” Locke said. “Investing in treatment will enable us to free up more prison cells for the violent offenders who belong in prison.”
Locke thanked Maleng for proposing the legislation, and expressed his gratitude to state Department of Corrections Director Joe Lehman, state Department of Social and Health Services’ Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Director Ken Stark, Kitsap County Prosecutor Russ Hauge and the state Sentencing Guidelines Commission for helping to get the bill passed.
The governor also thanked state Reps. Ruth Kagi, Al O’Brien and Ida Ballasiotes and state Sens. Jeanine Long and Adam Kline for their work in assembling strong bipartisan majorities that led to the bill’s passage.
Locke then signed SHB 2468, a bill that he originally requested. The legislation will expand the state’s DNA databank by requiring more convicted felons to provide samples. It also will speed up police investigations and lead to more convictions of violent offenders.
“Substitute House Bill 2468 will help us arrest and convict more violent criminals and sex offenders,” Locke said. “Instead of collecting DNA samples from 3,000 convicted criminals every year, we’ll collect from more than 25,000. This will enable police to solve more violent and sex crimes by linking evidence to suspects. It also will help police work more effectively by excluding innocent people earlier in the investigations. That’s a win-win for everyone.”
The governor thanked Washington State Patrol Chief Ronal Serpas and his Forensic Laboratory Services Bureau Director Dr. Barry Logan for their help in developing the bill.
Locke also thanked state Rep. Mark Miloscia for being a “champion of DNA identification technology during all his time in the Legislature.”
In addition, the governor lauded state Reps. Al O’Brien, Alex Wood and Ida Ballasiotes and state Sens. Jeri Costa, Jim Hargrove and Jeanine Long for their the leadership on the important issue.
“I am proud to sign these bills to make our state a better, safer place to live, work and raise a family by being smarter in how we solve and reduce crimes,” Locke said.
Related Links:
- Washington State Legislature
- Bill Information
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