I've just read SB 5419 sponsored by Senators Patterson, Long, Kline, Hargrove, Winsley and Kohl-Welles, and find it an excellent vehicle for accomplishing what we're after in prison reduction and drug treatment.

In addition to providing for mandatory treatment as the first resort in nonviolent drug possession cases as in the California proposition, the bill reduces other drug offenses from level VIII to VI and eliminates triple scoring for drug offenses. It also dedicates all DOC fiscal savings realized as a result of the bill to drug treatment programs for nonviolent drug offenders at the state and local level under DSHS.

The bill, which has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, provides for incarceration for those unamenable to treatment, makes ineligible certain offenders with prior sex and violent offenses, and contains other responsible safeguards.

I recommend that we encourage introduction and bipartisan sponsorship of a house version of this bill as well as the addition of further bipartisan senate sponsors, as the best hope for substantial criminal justice reform this session.

I would be glad to talk with you further about these issues, and appreciate the attention and energy you are devoting to them. 

Best wishes,

Daniel N. Clark
Friends Committee on Washington State Public Policy
PO Box 1222
Walla Walla WA 99362
Tel. 509-522-0399, Fax 522-0414
[email protected]