ACLU - American Civil Liberties Union of Washington - All Feeds

Mayor to police chief: Do what feds requested

sdavies — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 18:19:19 +0000

In a welcome development, Mayor McGinn has embraced the Dept. of Justice recommendations for addressing the Seattle Police Department’s excessive use of force. The ACLU and other civil rights and community groups look forward to working with City officials and the DOJ to bring about much-needed changes.

Support the ACLU’s Agenda in the 2012 Legislature

sdavies — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:34:44 +0000

The legislature’s focus this year is on a huge budget deficit that will force program cuts on top of those already made in 2011. This will make it more challenging to advance some of our policy priorities, though the drive to extend civil marriage to lesbian and gay couples enters the session as already a high-profile story. The budget crisis also will require our vigilance in watching for budget deals that include bad policies on civil liberties issues.

This is the 60-day “short” session of our state’s biennial legislative cycle, so there is less time for considering and refining proposals. Of course, with the severity of the budget problems, an extended special session is a definite possibility. And some decisions will be made with eyes on the elections coming up next fall.

For 2012, the ACLU-WA’s legislative program is focused on four big priorities – gaining marriage equality for same-sex couples, legalizing and regulating marijuana, replacing the death penalty, and safeguarding rights amid proposals addressing gangs.

MARRIAGE EQUALITY

Bill: HB 2516/SB 6239

Sponsors: Rep. Pederson, Sen. Murray

Position: Support

Status: Had hearings on Jan. 23 in House Judiciary Committee and Senate Government Operations Committee. SB 6239 passed the Senate on Feb 1 and now goes to the House. Will have hearing in House Judiciary Committee on Monday, Feb. 6 at 8 a.m.

The freedom to marry the person you love is fundamental to a democratic society. It is a matter of basic fairness that all loving, committed couples should be able to marry legally, regardless of sexual orientation.

With public attitudes toward lesbians and gays shifting dramatically in recent years, there is a major push to extend access to civil marriage to same-sex couples this session. The campaign is being led by Washington United for Marriage, a broad coalition of civil rights groups, faith-based organizations, unions, and business associations formed last fall. The ACLU-WA is heavily involved in the effort and has a seat on its governing committee.

The drive for marriage equality received a boost in early January from a heart-felt endorsement by Gov. Chris Gregoire. While acknowledging that coming to support legal marriage for all couples had been a “personal journey,” she pointed out that same-sex couples face the same hurdles as others seeking to build strong families. “How can we tell some children that their parents’ love is less equal than that of others?” she asked.

The state legislature has been on its own journey toward full acceptance of lesbian and gay relationships. In 2007 it passed a domestic partnership law which provided hospital visitation rights, the ability to authorize autopsies and organ donations, and inheritance rights when there is no will. In 2009, the legislature passed and voters statewide later upheld a bill that expanded those rights to include all the rights and responsibilities that heterosexual couples have – "everything-but-marriage.” But couples still need the recognition for their relationships that civil marriage confers.

Washington should join New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Iowa, and the District of Columbia in treating same-sex couples equally.

MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION

Initiative 502

Position: Support

Status: Will have a hearing in Senate Government Operations Committee and the House State Government & Tribal Affairs Committee on Thursday, February 9 at 8:00 a.m.

Since the year 2000, over 100,000 adults have been arrested for marijuana possession in Washington state. In addition to criminalizing peaceful drug users, current laws have violated civil liberties in many ways – eroding protections against intrusive searches and seizures, costing productive people opportunities at scholarships and employment, having disproportionate impacts on communities of color.

It’s time for a new approach to marijuana policy in Washington state. Large segments of the public recognize that the “lock’em up” mentality of the War on Drugs has failed and that we should focus law enforcement resources on serious crimes rather than marijuana users. They are open to creating a tightly regulated system that generates tax revenue for our state and local governments.

The ACLU-WA strongly supports New Approach Washington’s Initiative 502 to legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana for adults. The initiative would authorize the Washington State Liquor Control Board to regulate the production and distribution of marijuana for sale to adults 21 and over through private state-licensed stores. A new marijuana excise tax would be earmarked for prevention, research, education, and health care. Laws prohibiting driving under the influence would be amended to include maximum thresholds for THC blood concentration.

I-502 is sponsored by prominent individuals in civic life and the public health and legal communities, and it has attracted broad-based support. Backers include former U.S. Attorneys John McKay and Kate Pflaumer, Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes, and Charles Mandigo, former head of the Seattle FBI Office. The state’s two largest newspapers, the Seattle Times and Spokane’s Spokesman-Review, have endorsed the measure.

New Approach Washington gathered more than 350,000 signatures on petitions for I-502. Once the measure has been certified by the Secretary of State, lawmakers have three options: adopt it, reject it or refuse to act (in which case it goes on the November ballot), or propose an alternative measure on the same subject (in which case both versions go on the November ballot). More information is available at www.NewApproachWA.org.

SAFE AND JUST ALTERNATIVES

Bill: HB 2468/SB 6283

Sponsors: Rep. Carlyle, Sen. Regala

Position: Support

Status: Had a hearing on Jan. 25 in Senate Judiciary Committee

Momentum is building across the country to reconsider use of the death penalty. There is a growing recognition that the capital punishment system is broken beyond repair. The death penalty is costly and ineffective – it neither deters crime nor does it offer swift and certain justice for victims' families.

Led by the ACLU-WA and the Washington Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, the Safe and Just Alternatives Campaign seeks to replace the death penalty with a sentence of lifetime incarceration without the possibility of parole. On January 25^th the campaign mobilized supporters for a Lobby Day in Olympia to tell legislators that lifetime behind bars is a sensible and cost-effective alternative to the death penalty. For a list of endorsers and more information about the campaign, see www.sjawa.org.

Maintaining the death penalty is particularly untenable given Washington's current fiscal crisis. Capital cases are far more expensive than cases seeking life imprisonment without possibility of parole. For a single death penalty trial in Washington, taxpayers pay nearly $800,000 in additional costs beyond what is spent on a non-death penalty trial for aggravated murder.

Rather than spending money on the death penalty, our state could use those resources towards proven strategies for fighting crime and making the criminal justice system more responsive to the needs of crime victims and communities.

PROACTIVE RESPONSES TO GANGS

Multiple Bills

Position: Opposed to bills lacking adequate protection for due process

The concerns posed by gangs need carefully crafted, effective responses. The ACLU supports proactive measures that keep at-risk young people out of gangs, not injunctions and other measures that criminalize youth, fail to respect due process rights, and do not make communities safer.

Studies show that what works is to arrest and charge leaders who are committing violent acts. But we cannot simply arrest our way out of gang problems. We need to provide susceptible youth with alternatives that keep them away from gangs.

Last year the Attorney General promoted omnibus legislation providing for civil injunctions against youth without protection for due process. The measure would have strengthened gangs by cutting off vulnerable youth from family members, jobs, and schools, and would have promoted racial profiling. Staunch opposition from more than 60 civil rights, social justice, and minority community organizations around the state stalled the bill.

This session finds a new strategy emerging, with multiple bills being considered and the AG working quietly behind the scenes. But the ACLU-WA and its allies continue to oppose legislation which focuses on suppression tactics instead of prevention and intervention, and which fails to protect individual due process adequately. This is “assembly-line justice” likely to sweep up vulnerable youth and send them to prison, where they will be schooled by real criminals.

OTHER ISSUES

The ACLU-WA will be weighing in on many other issues that impact civil liberties. On the proactive side, we will be supporting bills promoting abortion funding, sealing criminal and juvenile records, and criminal law reform around driving with license suspended in the third degree. On the defensive side, we will seek to block bills requiring DNA to be taken from those arrested but not convicted, barring driver’s licenses for undocumented individuals, and establishing suspicionless checkpoints for motorists.

Many other bills will emerge as the session progresses. Our website will be updated to reflect the progress of our priority issues, plus information on other legislation on which the ACLU is working.

Former Student Gains Major Settlement after Enduring Years of Harassment

honig — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:14:25 +0000

A former student who endured severe and persistent harassment throughout junior high and high school has gained a major settlement from the Aberdeen School District, the ACLU of Washington announced today. The ACLU has represented Russell Dickerson III in a lawsuit saying that school district officials were aware of the harassment but failed to take steps reasonably calculated to end it. Under terms of the settlement, Dickerson will receive $100,000 from the district. Additionally, the ACLU will receive $35,000 in legal fees.

“Public school officials must be held accountable when they fail to meet their responsibility to act decisively when a student is subjected to harassment by his peers. This settlement sends a message to school districts statewide to take strong action as soon as they learn that a student is being bullied,” said Sarah Dunne, ACLU-WA legal director.

“I learned from my parents that you should never give up. You should fight for your rights – you don’t just walk away,” said Dickerson.

Russell Dickerson III, now 20, is an African-American resident of Aberdeen. For six years, from 2003 when he entered junior high until 2009 when he graduated high school, other students harassed Dickerson on the basis of his race, sex, and perceived sexual orientation.

At Miller Junior High, Dickerson was called names by other students and found notes in his backpack and taped to his back calling him “stupid nigger” and “dog.” Students tripped him in the hallways and threw food at him in the cafeteria. In one incident, three students pushed him to the floor in the hallway and smashed a raw egg on his head; only one of the students was disciplined.

At Aberdeen High School, the harassment escalated, with Dickerson subjected to a continuing barrage of viciously derogatory insults about his race, physical appearance, and suspected sexual orientation. Dickerson suffered physical harassment, with other students pinching and fondling his chest, spitting on his head, and throwing objects at him. Although an assistant principal discouraged Dickerson from reporting misconduct by the student’s peers, the student and his parents repeatedly reported incidents of harassment to district administrators, both verbally and in writing. Yet the district failed to take adequate steps to end the harassment.

In 2007 students in the district created a website mocking Dickerson and his perceived sexual orientation, and posted threatening racist comments on it. Students discussed the website at school. Grays Harbor Superior Court issued a no contact order between Dickerson and one of his harassers who had threatened on the website to lynch him, yet Dickerson became the target of retaliatory harassment after reporting the website to school authorities.

The school district’s failure to act created a hostile educational environment for the student. His academic progress was hindered, he was isolated at school, he felt discouraged from using his locker, and he avoided extra-curricular activities that put him in contact with his peers. Further, the student suffered extreme emotional distress, including an inability to concentrate on studies, serious depression, despair, and anxiety.

Filed in December 2010 in U.S. District Court in Tacoma, the lawsuit said that the deliberate indifference to ongoing harassment by the school district, which receives federal funds, violated federal law – Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The district’s negligent inaction also violated the Washington Law Against Discrimination.

ACLU-WA cooperating attorneys Michael Scott, Joseph Sakay, and Alexander Wu of Hillis Clark Martin & Peterson P.S. and ACLU-WA staff attorneys Sarah Dunne and Rose Spidell represented Dickerson.

Historic Vote in Senate Advances Marriage Equality Bill

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:21:14 +0000

With a 28-21 vote, the Washington Senate has approved legislation to provide access to civil marriage for all loving, committed couples – regardless of sexual orientation. Now, on to the House!

Information Technology Manager (Full-time)

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:48:33 +0000

The ACLU of Washington is a non-profit public interest organization devoted to protecting civil rights and civil liberties. Its staff of 30 employees and numerous volunteers work in a fast-paced, friendly and professional office. We are seeking an Information Technology Manager for our two-person Information Technology unit. Reporting to the Director of Technology, the Information Technology Manager will be responsible for network and systems administration, technology planning, and help desk support.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Administer, maintain, and troubleshoot a Windows and Linux-based computing environment serving approximately 50 users. Technologies in use include Active Directory, Exchange, SQL, Backup Exec, and Hyper-V.
Administer and maintain the security of the network, and support a Check Point VPN for remote users.
Coordinate purchase and installation of hardware and software. Assist in formulating plans and budget for future technology endeavors and acquisitions.
Provide internal technology consulting for ACLU of WA departments.
Provide help desk support and user instruction. Write instructional materials and run small-group training sessions.
Work with IT staff to maintain inventory of equipment and software licenses.
Serve as primary point of contact with outside vendors and contractors.
Help maintain a positive, respectful, welcoming, and professional work environment for employees and volunteers. Perform other related tasks as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Either 2 or 4-year degree in Information Technology, Computer Science or related field; or work experience in technical support and systems administration; Professional certification, such as A+ or Microsoft Professional certification strongly preferred.
Experience with Windows Server, Exchange, MS SQL, and Backup Exec administration required.
Experience with UTM, router, switch, and VPN configuration and maintenance required. Familiarity with security and monitoring tools such as SofaWare, Nessus, Splunk, and Nagios preferred.
Experience with workstation hardware & software configuration, maintenance and troubleshooting.
Experience with OpenSuse, MySQL, and Apache preferred. Knowledge of HTML and PHP a plus.
Good problem solving and communication skills. Ability to provide user support to individuals with a wide range of technical facility. Experience supporting Microsoft Office.
Proven ability to handle projects, manage details, and follow-through independently.
A confident and professional presentation. A history of reliability, conscientiousness, and timeliness.
A commitment to diversity; a personal approach that values the individual and respects differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, ability and socio-economic circumstance;
Strong support of the ACLU and a general familiarity with civil rights and civil liberties issues.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

Salary is based on experience and qualifications. Benefits include three weeks of vacation to start, medical and disability insurance, matching 401(k) plan and bus pass.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

To apply, email a letter of application, and resume to Jobs@aclu-wa.org and include in the subject line of the email: your last name and Information Technology Manager. In your letter, please indicate where you learned of the posting. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, which will not be before January 20, 2012.

The ACLU is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and encourages qualified individuals of every race, creed, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity to apply.

The ACLU of Washington comprises two separate corporate entities, the ACLU of Washington and the ACLU of Washington Foundation. The ACLU of Washington and the ACLU of Washington Foundation share the same mission, office space, and employees. This job posting refers collectively to the two organizations under the name “ACLU of Washington.”

Intake Counselor Internships

robick — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 22:23:19 +0000

Intake Counselor internships are available in the legal department of the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington Foundation. A six month commitment is required, with a minimum of 12 hours each week.

Interns review and investigate complaints alleging violations of civil liberties and assist callers on the ACLU Intake and Referral Line. They address a broad spectrum of issues, including free speech, student discipline, police practices, criminal law, and jail and prison conditions.

Intake Counselor interns learn interview and investigation skills, explore a variety of civil liberties and constitutional law issues, and become familiar with the work of a wide range of government agencies and community organizations. The Intake Counselor internship provides excellent experience for individuals contemplating careers in public service, law, or public policy.

Applicants should have an interest in civil liberties, good interpersonal and analytical skills, and excellent writing skills. Spanish language proficiency is a plus. To apply, please submit a cover letter, résumé, list of three references, and a writing sample of approximately five pages in length to: legal@aclu-wa.org or to 901 Fifth Ave. #630, Seattle, WA 98164.

Legal Internships/Externships

robick — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 22:40:18 +0000

Open to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year law students

The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington (ACLU-WA) is pleased to offer unpaid summer and school-year intern/externships to interested law school students. A minimum commitment of 12 hours per week is required during the school year. Summer positions are full-time and last a minimum of seven weeks.

At the ACLU, law students gain exposure to a broad range of civil liberties and civil rights issues and an opportunity to improve legal writing and research skills. Students work closely with staff attorneys conducting legal research, writing legal memoranda and drafting correspondence to government agencies in response to documented complaints of civil liberties and civil rights violations. Students also assist ACLU attorneys in the development of cases for litigation, preparation of cases for trial and submission of amicus curiae briefs in courts of appeal.

Educational benefits include obtaining hands-on experience in applying constitutional theories and case law to legal problems, and learning how to conduct factual investigation of complaints. Students become familiar with administrative regulations and agency protocols, while developing a practical understanding of constitutional law. Academic credit can be arranged.

Prerequisites include academic standing as a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd year law student during the duration of the externship/internship time period, an interest in civil liberties and civil rights, good interpersonal and analytical skills, and the ability to write in a clear and concise manner.

How to Respond:

Interested students should submit a cover letter, résumé and legal writing sample for a Spring 2012 Externship by November 30, 2011 and for a Summer 2012 Internship by December 31, 2011 to:

Legal Director
ACLU of Washington
901 Fifth Avenue, Suite 630
Seattle, WA, 98164

legalprogramassistant@aclu-wa.org

Women, people of color, LGTB people, and people with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.

Policy Advocacy Internship Program

sdavies — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 16:13:25 +0000

Subject Area : Civil liberties law and policy including: free speech, free exercise of religion, campaign finance, criminal justice, death penalty, drug policy, racial justice, discrimination, privacy, reproductive choice and LGBT rights.

BACKGROUND

The ACLU is the nation’s premier organization dedicated to defending and expanding all civil liberties and civil rights in America. We work with our members and volunteers in the courts, legislature and media to conserve America's original civic values - the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

The ACLU of Washington is located in downtown Seattle and has over 20,000 members across the state. Our Policy Advocacy Group is supervised by our Deputy Director and includes our Legislative and Field Departments as well as our Technology and Liberty, Drug Policy and Education Equity Programs. We promote and protect civil liberties by working with elected officials and government agencies on the state and local level. We achieve our goals through lobbying and policy advocacy as well as educating our members and other activists about our issues and encouraging them to take action in support of our goals.

INTERN DUTIES

An intern with the Policy Advocacy Group will work under the supervision of the Deputy Director and will assist the Legislative Director or other senior staff to draft and promote proactive legislation, research legal and policy challenges to legislation introduced by others, create educational materials and assist in the preparation of testimony or other advocacy documents.

DESIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

The intern will use his or her research skills to develop an in-depth understanding of civil liberties issues, policy advocacy, the legislative process and the art of messaging. Excellent writing and communications skills required. Applicants should have strong interests in civil liberties, constitutional law and policy advocacy. Candidates must have completed at least one year of law school.

AREAS OF INTEREST

The intern will work with many departments within the ACLU-WA in order to achieve our legislative goals. These include education, technology and privacy, and drug policy.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

To apply, email resume, cover letter and writing sample to volunteerjobs@aclu-wa.org and include in the subject line of the email: your last name and PAG Internship. In your letter, please indicate where you learned of the posting.

The ACLU is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and encourages qualified individuals of every race, creed, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity to apply.

Join the ACLU of Washington's Volunteer Reception Team!

robick — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 22:41:54 +0000

The ACLU of Washington is a nonprofit organization devoted to defending and extending civil rights and civil liberties. Its staff and numerous volunteers, works in a fast-paced, friendly, and professional office. The Volunteer Receptionist can choose a regular schedule working a minimum of 1 shift per week, either mornings or afternoons, 9a – 1p or 1p – 5p. The Volunteer Receptionist reports to the Legal Intake Assistant and Reception Lead.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Serve as front desk receptionist, field incoming phone calls and direct them to the appropriate staff. Greet and direct visitors, including people seeking help, committee members, allies, and sales people. Provide general information about the ACLU. Calmly respond to people who are seeking ACLU’s help.
Retrieve and distribute mail; receive and sign for deliveries.
Handle typing, copying, data-entry, collating mailing materials and other assignments from the Special Assistant.
Assist in research, using the Internet and other resources.
Ensure that the front door and the phones are open and/or closed according to schedule.
Keep the In/Out Board updated, and post the daily conference room schedule.
Help facilitate smooth running of the office. Insure the neat appearance and organization of the reception, kitchen and supply room.
Help maintain a positive, respectful, welcoming, and professional work environment for employees, interns and other volunteers.

QUALIFICATIONS

Excellent communication skills over the phone and in person.
A welcoming, confident, and professional working manner, including the ability to work effectively with a wide variety of people. Good judgment and discretion are required.
Computer proficiency with PCs, Microsoft Word, Outlook and the Internet preferred. Attention to detail is a must.
Ability to multi-task and work efficiently in a fast-paced environment, to work under pressure.
Understanding of and enthusiasm for civil liberties.
A commitment to diversity; a personal approach that values the individual and respects differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability and socio-economic circumstance.
A minimum 6-month commitment is preferred.
We are also interested in volunteers who will be available to pick up additional volunteer reception hours when needed.

REWARDS

Exposure to important, cutting-edge issues with a lively and skilled team of advocates at the nation’s premier civil liberties organization.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

To apply, email a resume and cover letter to Volunteerjobs@aclu-wa.org and include in the subject line of the email: your last name and Volunteer Receptionist. In your letter, please indicate where you learned of the posting. Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled.

The ACLU is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and encourages qualified individuals of every race, creed, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity to apply.

25th Anniversary of the United States v. Hirabayashi Coram Nobis Case: Its Meaning Then and Its Relevance Now

srobinson — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 23:57:21 +0000

February 11, 2012 - 8:30am - 5:00pm

Saturday, February 11, 2012

8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Campion Ballroom, Seattle University

4:00 p.m. Reception
2nd Floor Gallery, Sullivan Hall

The ACLU of Washington and the Fred T. Korematsu Center for Law and Equality are pleased to invite you to the upcoming conference commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Ninth Circuit opinion in the Hirabayashi v. United States coram nobis case.

The conference, to be held on Saturday, February 11, 2012, at Campion Ballroom on the Seattle University campus, will celebrate Mr. Hirabayashi's courage in resisting military orders that culminated in the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II; reflect on his 1943 Supreme Court case that upheld his convictions and the extraordinary work of his legal team in reopening of his case nearly 40 years later; and use his case as a springboard to move forward in the struggle for civil rights.

Admission for members of the general public is free. Admission for attorneys wishing CLE credits (5.25 credits) is $50.00. All participants must register. The conference schedule is now available.

For further information about the conference, please contact Junsen Ohno, Korematsu Center Administrator, (206) 398-4283, ohnoj@seattleu.edu.

This event is co-sponsored by ACLU-WA.

Safe and Just Policing: Toward a Police Culture Beyond the War on Drugs

srobinson — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:58:16 +0000

March 22, 2012 - 7:00pm - 10:00pm

Thursday, March 22 at 7:00pm
Downstairs at Town Hall, 1119 8th Ave, Seattle

Join the ACLU for a forum with former Seattle Chief of Police Norm Stamper.

A police officer for 34 years and chief of the Seattle Police Department from 1994-2000, Stamper is an advocate of fundamental reforms in policing, saying the wars on terror and drugs have spurred a regrettable “militarization” of police work. ACLU-WA executive director Kathleen Taylor says, “Stamper’s experiences have led him to valuable insights about curtailing police abuse and improving police-community relations”— especially relevant in the wake of the recent Department of Justice report on Seattle police.

A Q&A session and reception follow Stamper’s talk.

This event is FREE and open to the public. Donations kindly requested. For more information or to register in advance, visit action.aclu.org/policeculture.

Monthly: "Speaking of Freedom"

sdavies — Fri, 07 May 2010 22:00:26 +0000

TIME:8:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Civil Liberties on TV: Communications Director Doug Honig interviews guests on timely issues on the ACLU-WA's show on cable TV. Airs monthly on the Seattle Community Access Network (Comcast 77/Broadstripe 23); streaming live on the web at www.scantv.org. Later rebroadcast on cable systems in Clark, Cowlitz, Thurston, and Snohomish counties.

Protect the privacy of your DNA

snarayan — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:13:00 +0000

DNA contains a person's most private information. Proposed legislation would require mandatory collection of your DNA upon arrest, even if you are never charged or convicted. In America, our Constitution guarantees your right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Collecting DNA from the innocent will do nothing to make us safer. Tell your legislators that you oppose this unwarranted expansion of government power.

TAKE ACTION

Expanding the collection and indefinite storage of DNA would be a costly and ineffective approach to solving crimes. Moreover, it would tempt the government to use people's DNA for ever-expanding purposes. Contact your legislator today!

Washington State Marijuana Arrests Add Up

mcooke — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:55:39 +0000

Sometimes it is important to step back and take big picture view of how marijuana laws are enforced. Here is a graph of adult marijuana arrests in Washington state. Over a ten-year period, more than 100,000 arrests were made. Although the number of arrests each year fluxuates slightly, around 10,000 adults are arrested for marijuana crimes each year. The vast majority of these arrests were for low-level possession.

Graph compiled by ACLU of Washington. Data provided by Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs via records request.

At a time when public safety resources are running dangerously low, Washington's lawmakers should take a hard look at whether our marijuana laws are working or not. A single arrest can result in a lifetime of collateral consequences, making it harder to get a job and find a place to live.

Helping Youth Move Forward: Bill Would Keep Juvenile Records Confidential

vhernandez — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:46:31 +0000

Since the turn of the century, juvenile courts have been separate from adult courts. The goal of juvenile courts, as the Supreme Court recognized over 50 years ago, is to determine how to rehabilitate juveniles and “save [them] from a downward career.” To further these goals, juvenile court records have historically been shielded from public view. This system allows juveniles to enter adulthood without being publicly labeled as criminals. It has allowed juvenile offenders to go on to become Emmy Award-winning actors, attorneys, software executives, internationally acclaimed poets, and United States Senators.¹

In Washington, juvenile records were confidential until 1977, when the legislature passed a law making them public. Today, anyone can search for juvenile offenders on court websites, and reporting agencies purchase access to juvenile court records. As a result, Washington residents are routinely denied jobs, housing, and volunteer opportunities due to youthful transgressions. With juvenile arrest rates so high, thousands of young people are affected.

But that could change. Last week, Rep. Darneille and Sen. Harper introduced bills in the state House (HB 3603) and Senate (SB 6921) that would make juvenile records confidential in most cases. The records in cases where a juvenile has been charged with a serious violent crime will still be public, and judges will have the ability to make other records public. But otherwise, access to the records will be restricted to the court, the attorneys for the state and juvenile, and some juvenile justice or care agencies.

This legislation recognizes that Washington’s experiment with public juvenile records has failed. It will also bring us in line with 39 other states that restrict public access to juvenile court records in most or all cases.

You can get more information about SB 6291 and HB 3603 on the legislature’s web page (http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo).

¹ See Brief of Former Juvenile Offenders Charles S. Dutton, Former Sen. Alan K. Simpson, R. Dwayne Betts, Luis Rodriguez, Terry K. Ray, T.J. Parsell, and Ishmael Beah as Amici Curiae in the case of Graham v. Florida. The Supreme Court held in Graham that it is unconstitutional to sentence a juvenile to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Ending the Death Penalty: Washington Residents Speak Out in Olympia

srobinson — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:56:06 +0000

Yesterday in front of a packed hearing room in the state capital, the Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony from witnesses in support of SB 6283. This bill would eliminate the death penalty in favor of a new “ultimate penalty” in Washington state – life incarceration without the possibility of parole.

Over the course of the afternoon, seven witnesses came forward to support the legislation, including the bill’s prime sponsor, Senator Debbie Regala. Her testimony covered both her personal connection with the issue – the unsolved murder of her brother-in-law – and the policy issue – the financial burden of death penalty cases on state and local government. Whether or not these cases result in an actual death sentence or, even less likely, an execution, they cost nearly $800,000 more than non-death penalty cases.

“That’s money that could be used in so many more productive, positive ways in our state,” Regala said.

No witnesses appeared in opposition to the bill.

Testimonies focused on the unfairness of the death penalty, its unequal and biased application, and its inability to heal the pain of loss for victims’ families. Karil Klingbeil, sister to a victim of Mitchell Rupe, the man deemed “too fat to be hanged,” noted that his capital trial made Rupe a media celebrity. Her sister, she lamented, was relegated into an almost forgotten role.

After 30 years of reflection, Klingbeil concludes that “to kill someone for killing someone makes little sense... It’s bad public policy. One that has not succeeded in its initial intent to keep society safe.”

Earlier in the day, the witnesses and over 50 supporters of the Safe and Just Alternatives campaign met with lawmakers in a coordinated effort to raise awareness. They thanked legislators supporting the bill, tried to persuade legislators who’ve yet to take a position, and provided a visible presence of the vitality of the abolition movement.

And this movement is getting stronger.

Across the country, states are reconsidering the system. Last year Illinois passed a bill to repeal the death penalty and became the 16th state, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, to cease executions. Recently the governor of Oregon announced a moratorium on executions in his state, in part due to the excessive cost and unequal application of death sentences.

It’s time to follow the smart actions of other states’ lawmakers and stop wasting millions of tax dollars on a capital punishment system that is beyond repair.

Become part of the movement by telling your legislators to replace the death penalty with a sentence of life imprisonment without parole. Send a message today.

GPS Tracking: The Supreme Court Takes a Step for Privacy

klunder — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:30:26 +0000

The United States Supreme Court on Monday unanimously decided that law enforcement needs a warrant to place a GPS tracking device on a vehicle. We applaud the Supreme Court for ruling correctly that warrantless installation of a GPS device violates the Fourth Amendment.

The Washington Supreme Court first considered this issue back in 2003, prior to any other state or federal court. The ACLU-WA submitted a brief arguing against warrantless GPS surveillance, and our court agreed that warrantless tracking violated the Washington Constitution. While prosecutors claimed using a GPS is no different than the time-honored practice of a police cruiser tailing a vehicle, the court found that 24-hour, uninterrupted surveillance by GPS is fundamentally different.

“The intrusion into private affairs made possible with a GPS device is extensive as the information obtained can disclose a great deal about an individual’s life,” said Justice Barbara Madsen in the court’s ruling. The court pointed out that GPS devices can provide detailed information about personal details of an individual’s life, including travel to doctors’ offices and banks, attendance at houses of worship and political meetings, and visits to restaurants and bars.

Since that time, several other courts have considered the issue. Some were persuaded by the Washington case, but others decided that warrantless tracking was OK under the Fourth Amendment. Yesterday’s decision by the United States Supreme Court means that GPS tracking now requires a warrant anywhere in the country.

Unfortunately, the Court based its decision entirely upon the physical act of placing the device on the car, rather than on the detailed surveillance that resulted. This approach is different from all of the previous courts that had considered the question. The good news is that five of the nine justices signed concurring opinions that expressed concern about the surveillance itself, and strongly hinted that similar surveillance that could be accomplished without physical intrusion would also be unconstitutional. And they invited Congress to enact privacy-protective legislation.

Hopefully this will spur on Congress to move the GPS Act. This legislation, which has bipartisan support in both the House and Senate, would require full warrant protection for all types of location tracking. (If you want to show your support for the GPS Act, please take action now!)

The New York Times had previously called this case “the most important Fourth Amendment case in a decade,” since it was anticipated that the Court’s decision would affect not just GPS tracking, but a variety of other surveillance techniques, including tracking people’s locations through their cell phones. The actual decision is much narrower, so the case ends up being merely one stepping stone along the path to reconstructing privacy rights in the 21^st century.

End the death penalty in Washington

sdavies — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:49:50 +0000

As the 2012 legislative session gets underway, momentum to end the death penalty continues to grow. The ACLU is supporting the Safe and Just Alternatives Campaign to replace the death penalty with a sentence of life imprisonment without parole. Help us by telling your legislators to replace the death penalty.

TAKE ACTION

The death penalty is costly, unfair, and poses an unacceptable risk of executing the innocent. We need to send a strong message to our legislators that the law needs to change.

Standing Up Against Injustice: We Honor the Courage of Gordon Hirabayashi

srobinson — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:08:44 +0000

Gordon Hirabayashi, a son of Japanese immigrants, was a senior at University of Washington when bombs fell at Pearl Harbor. Like 112,000 of his fellow Japanese Americans, he would be placed under curfew, ordered into internment, and finally jailed for defying those orders. Forty years later, with the help of volunteer attorneys and the ACLU of Washington, the U.S. Supreme Court vacated his conviction.

On Monday, Hirabayashi died at the age of 93.

We here at the ACLU of Washington honor his memory.

Hirabayahsi’s refusal to register for internment or comply with curfew orders challenged the wartime powers of President Franklin Roosevelt. In 1942, FDR signed an executive order allowing Japanese Americans to be forcibly removed from the West Coast and relocated to detention camps – solely on the basis of their race. The treatment was unconstitutional, and the conditions at the camps were harsh, cramped, and isolated.

In Hirabayashi’s own words, “My citizenship didn’t protect me one bit. Our Constitution was reduced to a scrap of paper.”

Like Fred Korematsu who disputed the legality of internment camps in California and Minoru Yasui who took on racially discriminatory curfews in Oregon, Hirabayashi bravely defended his rights at a time of widespread fear and bigotry.

Represented by future ACLU-WA board member Arthur Barnett and with funding from national ACLU director Roger Baldwin, Hirabayashi challenged the government actions in court as abridgement of his constitutional rights. The U.S. Supreme Court in 1943 supported the government’s policies as justified by military necessity, and Hirabayashi spent a total of nine months in jail.

Forty years later, he sought legal redress.

A hearing showed that the U.S. Department of War in 1943 suppressed numerous official reports from the FBI and the Navy that Japanese Americans posed no threat to national security. In 1986 and 1987, the U.S. District Court in Seattle and then federal appeals court overturned both of Hirabayashi’s convictions.

Hirabayashi remained a voice for justice and fairness throughout his life. When the ACLU-WA moved its quarters to the Hoge Building in 1990, we were proud to have him speak as the honored guest at our office-warming event.

On February 11th, 2012, you have the opportunity to celebrate his victory on the 25th anniversary of the final Hirabayashi v. United States decision at a conference organized by the Fred T. Korematsu Center for Law and Equality at Seattle University and co-sponsored by the ACLU-WA. The event will honor Hirabayashi's courage in resisting military orders, reflect on the Supreme Court ruling upholding his convictions, and commemorate the work of his legal team who reopened the case long after World War II had ended.

For more information, please contact Junsen Ohno, Korematsu Center Administrator, (206) 398-4283, ohnoj@seattleu.edu.

Governor’s Endorsement Boosts Drive for Marriage Bill

ktaylor — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:33:34 +0000

At a press conference in Olympia yesterday, Governor Chris Gregoire issued a heart-felt endorsement of civil marriage for same-sex couples. The Governor talked of the need for state law to recognize the “love, commitment, partnership, and responsibility” of lesbian and gay couples. She also acknowledged that coming to support legal marriage for all couples has been a “personal journey” for her.

We appreciate that the Governor took the journey toward fairness and equality for all people. Let’s hear it for elected officials who are open to changing their minds and stretching themselves to do what is right, not what is easy.

Gregoire pointed out that same-sex couples face the same hurdles as all couples seeking to build a strong family. “How can we tell some children that their parents’ love is less equal than that of others,” she declared. “Having loving, committed couples of any orientation can only help us,” she added.

In a statement issued today by Washington United for Marriage – a coalition in which the ACLU-WA is playing a leading role – members of two same-sex couples explained why marriage matters to them:

"My partner and I have been together 22 years, and our family is very similar to those of my friends and colleagues," said Jennifer Cast, a longtime Washington resident who wishes to marry. "We work hard to create a productive and happy life for ourselves and our family. We cherish the good times and console each other during hard times. We share each other's challenges, sorrows, triumphs, and joys, just like any other couple. We want our love and commitment to be valued and recognized equally in our state."

“When I tell people that Rudy and I have a domestic partnership, they really don’t understand what that means,” said John McCluskey, a longtime resident of Tacoma. “We’ve been together for 53 years and I couldn’t imagine spending my life with anyone else. The thought that people don’t understand that our family faces the same struggles and the same triumphs as any other family in our state is heartbreaking.”

The Governor urged the legislature to make Washington the seventh state to recognize marriage for same-sex couples under state law – following the lead of Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont, plus the District of Columbia.

The state Legislature has been on its own journey toward full acceptance of lesbian and gay relationships. In 2007 it passed a domestic partnership law which provided hospital visitation rights, the ability to authorize autopsies and organ donations, and inheritance rights when there is no will. In 2009, the Legislature passed and voters statewide later upheld a bill that expanded those rights to include all the rights and responsibilities that heterosexual couples have – "everything-but-marriage.” Senior couples 62 and older can register as domestic partnerships as well. Nearly 19,000 people in Washington are registered as domestic partners. Most of them would probably prefer to be married.

Mortgaged Futures: 30% of Juveniles Arrested

vhernandez — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:10:16 +0000

By the time they’re 23 years old, between 30 and 41 percent of Americans have been arrested, according to a study recently released by the journal Pediatrics. This number has sharply increased in recent decades; in the mid-1960s, only 22 percent of Americans reported having been arrested by the time they turned 23.

Even though this data seems shocking, the study’s author, Professor Robert Brame of the University of North Carolina, is “not terribly surprised” by it. Why should he be? Americans incarcerate an enormous proportion of our population – today, nearly one in 32 Americans are under correctional supervision. We impose harsh penalties for non-violent crimes.

The increasingly punitive nature of our society is especially evident among young people. Our schools are routinely staffed by police officers with authority to interrogate, search, and arrest students. Many public schools have adopted “zero tolerance” policies, treating minor infractions as criminal offenses. In one extreme but illustrative example, a 13-year-old New Mexico student was arrested for “interfering with public education” after he “burped audibly” in class.

Juvenile arrest is now common. What’s really shocking is the way contact with the criminal justice system continues to haunt young people long after arrest, conviction, or incarceration. The study in Pediatrics noted that youth with arrest records have lower levels of earnings, longer bouts with unemployment, greater work instability, diminished educational levels, and a greater risk of destructive family conflicts. The study’s authors concluded that “there is a risk that the collateral social and personal damage created by an arrest mortgages the futures of young people as they make the transition to adulthood.”

The ACLU of Washington opposes policies that deny young people opportunities solely on the basis of juvenile records. As the ACLU-WA Equal Justice Works Fellow, I am representing young people trying to seal juvenile records, and am challenging employers’ policies of denying jobs to all juvenile ex-offenders.

There is also some hope on the horizon for all Washington youth. Last session, with ACLU-WA support, the legislature passed a bill making it illegal for consumer reporting agencies to report juvenile records after an individual has turned 21. A legislative task force is still working on implementing the bill. With juvenile arrest rates so high, such changes are vital to limit the damage that juvenile records can cause.

You can get more information about the report on juvenile arrest rates in this article about the study on TIME.com.

Kudos to the DOJ! Now On to the Hard Work of Reform

ktaylor — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 23:36:57 +0000

I returned, very happily, from the Department of Justice press conference this morning. The DOJ’s in-depth report confirms what the ACLU has been saying and what many people of color and others have experienced – that the Seattle Police Department has engaged in a pattern and practice of excessive use of force. The report documents in detail the concerns that led us and 34 other community organizations to request a DOJ investigation. We are especially pleased that the DOJ is going to put in place a court order and monitor. Tom Perez, head of the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department, was in Seattle for the release of the report and said it will be a “blueprint for sustainable reform.”

Kudos to this Justice Department and U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington Jenny Durkan for taking seriously the duty of police officers to protect public safety while respecting individual rights. The DOJ has investigations of police practices underway in about 20 other cities as well.

Deeply disappointing are the immediate comments of the Chief of Police Diaz and the comments by Mayor McGinn. They should embrace the report, just as they welcomed the launch of the investigation

The DOJ found that Seattle’s citizen complaint process is broken, that there is a lack of accountability for excessive use of force, and that improved training, supervision, and leadership are needed to end by unacceptable behavior by some police officers. And the DOJ pinpointed that the SPD needs to seriously address concerns about discriminatory policing if it is to regain the trust of the community it serves.

It will require a long-term effort to bring about change in systems, culture, and training. And it will require true leadership from the top. The ACLU will be deeply involved in working with the Department of Justice, the City of Seattle, and community groups to implement that “blueprint for sustainable change” to ensure that the police effectively protect public safety while respecting the Constitution.

Public Health Approaches Work: Teen Tobacco and Alcohol Use Falls

mcooke — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:34:28 +0000

Teen marijuana usage rates have risen slightly in recent years, while tobacco and alcohol usage rates have declined. Of special note, 12^th-graders across the nation and in Washington state are now more likely to have used marijuana in the past 30 days than to have smoked a cigarette:

Data Source: Monitoring the Future (http://www.monitoringthefuture.org/data/11data/pr11t3.pdf)

Data Sources: Table 10 (http://depts.washington.edu/thmedia/sections/alcohol/WAState2000Survey.pdf); Page 19 (http://www.doh.wa.gov/tobacco/other/TobFacts-Public.pdf); Washington State Healthy Youth Survey (https://www.askhys.net).

There are no simple explanations for these trends. But, it appears that regulation and public education about the harms of legal substances can decrease usage rates, while the criminal prohibition of a substance will not automatically prevent youth from using it.

As the debate surrounding Initiative 502 (which would legalize, tax, and regulate marijuana in Washington) heats up in 2012, lawmakers and voters should take a hard look at how our current marijuana laws are impacting youth. I-502 earmarks a large portion of the expected tax revenue from the law towards proven youth prevention and public education programs. This public health approach can work; it already has with tobacco.

520 Tolling Starts Soon, But Your Privacy Is Already Protected

klunder — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:32:57 +0000

The Washington Department of Transportation announced today that tolling will start on the SR 520 bridge on December 29. This will be Washington’s first all-electronic toll bridge—meaning there will be no toll booths—and by far the highest volume all-electronic toll facilities in the country. There are lots of advantages to eliminating toll booths (e.g., less congestion, greater safety), but there are also drawbacks, potentially including a loss of privacy. With an all-electronic system, the identity of every vehicle that crosses the bridge is captured, either through use of a transponder (Good To Go! pass) or automatic recognition of license plates. Those records are used to bill travelers, and then stored in a database for years.

Information about when and where a person drives can reveal a lot about that person, including information that they would prefer to keep private. In many states, toll records are routinely accessed by private attorneys in divorce cases. And anybody who watches Law & Order knows that law enforcement also uses toll records as a basic investigative technique. As more and more toll facilities are developed in Washington (e.g., downtown Seattle tunnel, Columbia River Crossing, I-405 express lanes), the surveillance possibilities multiply.

Fortunately, the Washington Legislature—with some help from the ACLU—decided it didn’t want Washington to use tolls as an excuse to become Big Brother. It passed a bill in 2010 that includes provisions to prohibit the use of toll records for any purpose other than toll collection and enforcement. This is the strongest toll privacy protection in the country. So come December 29, you may have to be concerned about the effect on your wallet of driving across the 520 bridge, but you won’t need to worry about the effect on your privacy.

There’s Good Reason Behind the Controversy over E-Verify

snarayan — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 00:43:47 +0000

Gov. Chris Gregoire and a group of farm-group representatives recently made headlines when they returned from Washington D.C., where they had sought to persuade Congress to oppose a bill requiring employers to use a system called E-Verify. In stern words, Gov. Gregoire criticized the measure and its likely detrimental effect on our state’s agriculture industry.

“All we’re going to do is penalize employers. We’re going to lose jobs, and we don’t have any way to get those jobs back,” she said in a media interview. “Now why — in this recession, as hard-hit as we are — would we, the state of Washington, support that?” Gov. Gregoire went so far as to declare an unofficial farm-labor crisis in Washington, particularly within the state’s economically important apple orchards, that she attributed to recent immigration enforcement efforts, including E-Verify.

The governor’s comments raised the profile of a controversial program that has been of great concern to advocates for immigrant and civil rights. The federal E-Verify system, which is now used by almost 300,000 employers nationally, uses an employee’s Social Security number and immigrant identification information to determine a worker’s eligibility to work in the United States.

Employers enter a prospective employee’s name into an Internet-based system operated jointly by the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration. The program then categorizes the worker as authorized or offers a “non-confirmation,” which if not corrected or resolved by the employee, will lead to his or her termination.

It sounds simple in theory. And don’t we all (or at least many of us) love technological solutions to complex problems? But in practice, the E-Verify system is badly flawed. A 2010 report by the Government Accounting Office found that errors in the system led to an estimated 80,000 Americans being denied their legal right to work.

If pending legislation sponsored by Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) were adopted, every prospective employee would have to be checked against E-Verify’s error-prone system before being hired. Should E-Verify be made mandatory nationwide, the number of workers erroneously targeted would balloon to an estimated 770,000, with errors having a disproportionate impact on immigrants, including U.S. citizens. And correcting the database would cause an enormous ripple impact on the Social Security Administration, where the wait for 30% of its cases already exceeds a half-year.

The government mechanism to fix such errors is Kafkaesque. There is currently no court remedy to force Immigration and Customs Enforcement to fix an error. Many times those errors are as simple as an incorrect data entry or name change. But in order to uncover the error, workers have to file letters with different parts of the agency seeking copies of their records. This cumbersome process often delays employment for months.

Another concern is privacy and identity theft. E-Verify creates one of the largest and most widely accessible databases ever created in the U.S. Hundreds of millions of records have been hacked, lost or disclosed in the past decade. Data breaches are a contributing factor to identity theft and E-Verify is a prime candidate to exacerbate this problem.

Further, E-Verify simply doesn’t work to fulfill its intended purpose. Another 2010 report, an audit conducted for the government by the research group Westat, found that E-Verify failed to detect workers not allowed to work in the U.S. a whopping 54% of the time.

Opposition to the use of E-Verify is far from limited to the ACLU and kindred organizations. In late November, Yakima County commissioners voted to not have the county use E-Verify, after they had ordered a review of how best to determine the legal status of workers. In September, an open letter from leaders of Tea Party Nation, Downsize DC, GOProud and other conservative groups called on Congress to reject the bill mandating use of E-Verify. They cited its creation of a de facto national ID system, its requiring employers to become enforcement agents of the federal government and its job-killing regulatory burden, as well as its violation of the right to work and its invitation to identity theft.

In California, a new state law signed in October prohibits the state, cities and counties from mandating that private employers use E-Verify — a move Washington could emulate.

As a Los Angeles Times editorial put it, mandating E-Verify “wouldn’t provide American businesses with a legal workforce. It would merely drive millions of undocumented workers further underground, where unscrupulous employers can more easily exploit them.” And, added the Times, “It could actually cost small-business owners nearly $2.7 billion to implement, according to a Bloomberg News report.

In short, subjecting all working Americans to an untrustworthy data system that puts them at risk of identity theft is not what our troubled economy needs. And it is not an answer to our ailing immigration system. That would take comprehensive reform that respects privacy and due process rights.

The 911 Good Samaritan Law Is Working

mcooke — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:34:25 +0000

In 2010, the ACLU of Washington was instrumental in the passage of the nation’s second “911 Good Samaritan” law. New research from the University of Washington’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute shows that the 911 Good Samaritan law works.

Washington’s 911 Good Samaritan law provides immunity from drug possession charges to people who seek medical assistance in drug overdose situations. The immunity is also extended to the person suffering the overdose.

The purpose of the law is to encourage people to get help during overdose situations. Previous research has shown that people who witness overdoses often fear calling for help because they think law enforcement will be called and get them in trouble. The law was passed because of a troubling increase in the number of overdose deaths in Washington. For the last few years, more people have died from overdoses than motor vehicle crashes in this state.

The ongoing study is being conducted by University of Washington researchers who have just released some initial results on the the law's effectiveness. Some of the key findings include the following:

Opiate overdoses are common -- 42% of opiate users surveyed at syringe exchange and 62% of Seattle police ( reported being present at the scene of a serious opiate overdose in the prior year.
Police were at the scene of most overdoses for which 911 was called, according to drug users and paramedics.
88% of opiate users indicated that now that they were aware of the law, they would be more likely to call 911 during future overdoses.

These findings illustrate that people are more willing to call for help as a result of the law’s existence. Nonetheless, it’s very important that the public continues to be educated about the law. As stated by the lead researcher on the project, Caleb Banta-Green, “these findings indicate we need to make sure we’re getting information into the hands of police and the community at large.” To that end, efforts are being made to educate law enforcement about the law.

The research is evidence that treating drug abuse as a public health issue instead of crime makes sense. Someone witnessing an overdose shouldn’t be scared to call 911; they should be encouraged to do so. Saving a human life is more important than arresting someone for drug possession. That’s why 911 Good Samaritan laws are so important.

To see the preliminary evaluation of the law, visit http://stopoverdose.org/evaluation.htm. If you want to learn more about Washington’s 911 Good Samaritan law, visit http://stopoverdose.org or take our quiz.

End the death penalty: The costs are too high

mfaruqee — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 21:46:16 +0000

With the state facing a staggering $2 billion budget hole, why does Washington continue to spend tax dollars on a death penalty system that doesn't make us safer? The death penalty is costly, unfair, and poses an unacceptable risk of executing the innocent. Please sign our petition telling legislators to support replacing the death penalty with life in prison without parole.