Inslee Outlines Clemency Plan For Certain Drug Convictions

Seattle WA

16 August, 2021

4:48 PM

Description

OLYMPIA, WA — Washington has rolled out a new path to clemency for an estimated 1,200 people under Department of Corrections supervision, whose convictions were solely for drug possession. Gov. Jay Inslee's announcement Monday follows a decision handed down by the Washington State Supreme Court in February, which struck down Washington's simple drug possession statute as unconstitutional. "I am committed to doing what I can to try and remedy the situation and assist the courts who are doing what they can to get through this backlog of cases," Inslee said Monday. "I want to thank the Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC) and State Office of Public Defense (OPD) for stepping up to help me provide clemency relief to eligible petitioners." In April, the governor issued commutations to 18 people who were in DOC custody on drug convictions. On Monday, the governor's office said Inslee was ready to issue "unconditional commutations" for all eligible people who remain under active community supervision on invalidated convictions and eliminate any "related legal financial obligations." Inslee cited the ongoing pandemic as one of the factors that have delayed more commutations since the February court ruling. "COVID has created countless challenges in our criminal justice system, and February's Blake decision compounded those challenges," he said. "Though the State Supreme Court has invalidated the drug possession convictions of thousands of individuals, many of these individuals have not been able to get into court to have their convictions vacated and dismissed, even six months after the Supreme Court's decision." Under the new program, the Department of Corrections will utilize community correction officers to notify people eligible for clemency and expedite petitions through the Office of Public Defense. The governor's office estimated more than 100 commutations were granted since the first completed petitions arrived.