King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion’s office has launched a Victim Portal that gives victims online and text-message access to key court information. The office describes the tool as the first of its kind in Washington State.
The portal offers online access, with text or email alerts for case updates.
Westside Seattle also reported that some victims will continue to receive updates through a separate process, including people with specific safety concerns and those served by the office’s Special Assault Unit.
Why the Portal Exists
Manion said the shift reflects a basic gap in resources. The King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office lacks sufficient victim advocates for every case, particularly for non-violent offenses such as property crimes, the office said. The portal is meant to help keep victims connected throughout the legal process even when a dedicated advocate isn't available to call with updates.
Manion framed the launch in constitutional terms. “The Crime Victim Portal helps brings the rights of crime victims, which are guaranteed by our State Constitution, into the 21st Century,” she said. Washington law, under RCW 7.69.030, requires reasonable efforts to ensure victims, survivors of victims and witnesses receive specified rights in adult and juvenile criminal proceedings and certain civil commitment proceedings, per the Washington State Legislature.
Westside Seattle also reported comments from staff on the practical value of timely updates. Leticia Figueroa said the tool gives victims direct access to information while supporting more efficient case handling across the office. Dana Swenson said updates help survivors plan for child care, work leave, transportation and safety.
Part of a Broader Push for Access
The new portal builds on an earlier tool from the same office. King County's online Protection Order Portal, introduced in June 2024, has allowed more than 3,200 survivors to begin requesting protection orders digitally without traveling to the courthouse, the office's report notes. That system is operated by the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, per victim-services.kingcounty.gov, and helps applicants file legal documents with courts and connects them with in-person advocates as needed, according to GeekWire. It was developed through a partnership between a Seattle-area government program and Microsoft, and has served 17 people per day on average since its launch.
Demand for that kind of help has been climbing. Requests for protection orders jumped 26% from 2022 to 2023, GeekWire reported, citing King County officials — a trend that underscores why the office has been building out more self-service digital tools for people navigating the court system on their own.
Manion has also pushed for change beyond the courthouse's technology. She has advocated for additional victim advocate positions at the county, state and federal levels, and backed 2024 legislation ensuring virtual hearing rights and expanding protection order access. She also testified in 2025 in support of Senate Bill 5362 to secure funding for survivor services; a Senate committee report on that bill notes that the state's Office of Crime Victims Advocacy funds programs, tribes and tribal organizations across Washington that support people who have been hurt, harmed or identify as victims or survivors of crimes, according to the Washington State Legislature.
Service pressures
A 2025 Washington Senate committee report documented a broader funding pressure: federal funding received by the state Office of Crime Victims Advocacy fell from $74.7 million in fiscal year 2018 to $17.8 million in fiscal year 2024, according to the committee report on Senate Bill 5362.
