The Seattle City Council has moved to diversify its approach to crime and punishment by green-lighting a pilot program that will see some misdemeanor detainees housed with the South Correctional Entity (SCORE). As reported by the Seattle City Council, the legislation, initiated by Councilmember Bob Kettle, is a response to the decrease in available jail spots through the King County jail.
The pilot program will aim to rapidly provide 20 extra slots for detainees at SCORE. This addition seeks to alleviate the tension wrought by the King County Jail's dwindling numbers, which have sharply fallen from an average daily count of 180 Seattle misdemeanor detainees in 2019, down to 75 last year. According to the Seattle City Council, ongoing negotiations by the Mayor's Office with King County are attempting to ease booking restrictions, yet these talks are reportedly not moving swiftly enough to satisfy the urgent public safety needs of the city.
"While we lead with compassion, we need the wisdom to recognize that when our community is harmed, we need to be able to enforce the law and help protect our neighborhoods.," Councilmember Kettle said, as quoted by the Seattle City Council. Councilmember Rob Saka echoed similar sentiments, stressing the importance of a multi-faceted approach to adequately address public safety, including diversion and treatment, enforcement, and detention.
The specifics of how this pilot program will run are still under development. The Mayor's Office is set to outline clear policies to determine which crimes will qualify detainees to be held at SCORE, with a focus on misdemeanors that hold a significant community impact. The arrangement generally allows for holding individuals for 24-48 hours, provided they are medically cleared and are not anticipated to undergo further criminal proceedings post-arraignment.
In context with this latest move, the council has continued its push for public safety improvements. Just last week, a collective effort led by Councilmember Cathy Moore, Kettle, and City Attorney Ann Davison resulted in proposed legislation targeting commercial sexual exploitation and increasing gun violence around Aurora Avenue North. Additionally, a bill is up for consideration that would authorize the creation of Stay Out of Drug Areas (SODA), empowering courts to prohibit defendants from re-entering specific zones following drug-related offenses.
