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Keep Washington first in
public safety
By Rep. Dan
Kristiansen
One of the most basic and
essential functions of government is the protection and safety of the
citizens it serves. Without good public safety laws that are enforced,
the other duties of government, such as providing education, ensuring
freedom of elections, and upholding individual rights, cannot properly
stand.
I'm proud Washington
is a state of "firsts" when it comes to public safety. We were the first
state in the nation to adopt a sex offender registration law. We
were the first to implement a "Three Strikes" law that puts violent criminals
away for life without parole after committing their third serious
felony. We were the first to take a no-tolerance policy approach by
passing a "Two Strikes" law that sends repeat sex
offenders to prison for life after two convictions.
These and other public safety laws
have served Washington well. Our communities are safer because of it.
Since our crime
rates have remained relatively low, there's been a disturbing trend the
past few years in
Olympia to cut corners and try to save money in the budget by increasing
early release of prisoners, including convicted felons. The public would
still remain safe, supporters say, because treatment programs and additional community supervision
would be provided for those released early.
Now that lawmakers are
facing a record state budget deficit of $8 billion, I'm very concerned public safety
could take a backseat in the priorities of the new budget. For example, one proposal
advancing through the Legislature would eliminate more than 200
community corrections officers. So we release
criminals after they have served only 50 percent of their time -- and
then we eliminate community corrections officers who are providing
supervision? Do you feel any safer knowing this?
The governor's proposed
budget would reduce correctional officers within our state prison
system, including the Monroe Correctional Complex. This is dangerous. With every correctional officer
position we eliminate, more
control is given to the prison population. We cannot send criminals to prison
without ensuring our prisoners are secure and correctional officers are
safe.
Another proposal is also
very disturbing. Current law allows voting rights of released felons to
be restored only if they have completed court requirements and fully
paid their restitution. House Bill 1517 would remove the
requirement that felons pay their court-ordered restitution before their
voting rights are restored. I disagree with the approach because it
places the interests of criminals higher than those of the victims.
We cannot let the pendulum
swing toward such hug-a-thug programs while victims remain forgotten.
If we want to ensure our
communities remain safe, public safety must be kept a priority in the
state budget and in policy. That means making felons serve their full
sentences. It means providing necessary supervision once they are
released. It means holding offenders accountable for their crimes, and
sending a clear message there will be swift and certain consequences for
their criminal acts.
Let's not balance the
state budget on the backs of crime victims. Instead, let's work for
truth and accountability in the sentencing, confinement and supervision
of offenders. Finally, let's recommit toward putting the interests of
victims and families BEFORE felons. That's how Washington can proudly
remain first in public safety.
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EDITOR'S NOTE:
State Rep. Dan Kristiansen, R-Snohomish,
represents the 39th Legislative District, and also serves as chairman of
the Washington House Republican Caucus. He can be contacted at (360)
786-7967 or from his Web site at:
www.houserepublicans.wa.gov/Kristiansen.
For more information, contact:
John
Sattgast, Senior Information Officer: (360) 786-7257
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