Plans to pay for more jail beds to house misdemeanor offenders are being denounced by Seattle City Councilmember Tammy Morales.
Due to booking restrictions at the King County Jail , Seattle is taking steps to pay for more jail beds at the South Correctional Facility in Des Moines. Councilmember Tammy Morales opposes the plan.
Seattle's Mayor Bruce Harrell proposed legislation last week to begin using the South Correctional Facility in Des Moines to more consistently book individuals who have committed misdemeanor criminal offenses. The bill could be voted on as early as Wednesday in the Council’s Public Safety Committee and potentially go to a final vote before the full Council as early as Aug. 6.
Seattle has an ongoing contract with the King County Correctional Facility downtown, but City Attorney Ann Davison and Interim Police Chief Sue Rahr said capacity issues limit how many low-level offenders end up being booked. The jail will hold people who have been arrested for assault, drunken driving, firearms cases, sex crimes and domestic violence. However, people arrested for theft, property destruction, harassment and animal cruelty are not typically held.
Morales’ newsletter repeats the same criticism that King County Executive Dow Constantine’s office made regarding Davison at the City Attorney’s Office. In a memo, Constantine said the jail does make exceptions to booking restrictions when there is a compelling reason but Davison’s office has been ineffective at making those arguments in court.
Jail Beds Misdemeanor Offenders Mayor Bruce Harrell Councilmember Tammy Morales King County Jail Public Safety
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