***Thanks to People Power Washington for the action idea***
HB 1445 ATTORNEY GENERAL CIVIL RIGHTS PATTERNS AND PRACTICES
This bill would give the Attorney General’s office the ability to investigate and sue departments for systemic discriminatory practices that deprive individuals of their rights under the Washington Constitution and to make systemic changes to police departments.
Black, Indigenous, people of color deserve fair and equitable treatment by police and police agencies. This bill seeks to address long standing practices that violate civil rights, or where there are ingrained problems that undermine the effectiveness, community trust, and strength of a department.
Action 1
Email House Speaker Laurie Jenkins in one click: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/stop-police-civil-rights-abuses-2
HB 1579 INDEPENDENT PROSECUTOR
County Prosecutors work closely with law enforcement and rely on law enforcement for gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and providing defense to law enforcement. Prosecutors, exercising prosecutorial discretion, often fail to file criminal charges even when unarmed citizens are killed at the hands of law enforcement
HB 1579 would establish an independent prosecutor under the executive free of the inherent conflict of interest of a county prosecutor.
Action 2
Email Chair Ormsby and Vice Chairs of the House Appropriations in one click: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/independent-prosecutor
HB 2027 POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY STANDARDS
Although 95% of all law enforcement is subject to the same background checks, training, and certification requirements – through a loophole in existing law there are some who are exempt. These changes will help ensure that all persons with law enforcement authority are subject to the same standards for accountability.
Action 3
Email House Community Safety, Justice, and Re-entry Chair Rep. Goodman in one click: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/police-accountability-standards-2
BACKGROUND
A paper on county prosecutors favoring law enforcement: https://www.bu.edu/bulawreview/files/2020/05/05-TRIVEDI-VAN-CLEVE.pdf
