DAVE ROSS

Why criminal justice reform is gaining bipartisan support

Dec 21, 2018, 1:35 PM | Updated: 1:39 pm

criminal justice, prison reform, Babineaux...

(AP)

(AP)

Criminal justice reform is steadily progressing in the United States and in Washington state. One local criminal justice expert says there is a good reason why — jail is expensive.

The First Step Act has achieved bipartisan approval in Washington DC, and is expected to get the thumbs up from the president as well. Among the range of changes to the prison system is de-escalation training for officers. The First Step Act applies to federal prisoners (about 200,000). But there are more than 2 million people incarcerated in America.

The First Step Act comes on the heels of Washington voters passing Initiative 940, which also deals with de-escalation training for state law enforcement.

Washington State University Professor David Makin specializes in criminal justice, he says there is a common thread between the national and state conversations around the issue.

“In many ways, being tough on crime kind of runs against being fiscally conservative,” Makin told Seattle’s Morning News on KIRO Radio. “Prisons are exceedingly costly. There are better and more cost-effective ways of dealing with crimes. I think what you are seeing is many are realizing that reality. We can both be tough and fiscally conservative.”

“No pun intended, it really is a first step,” he said. “It really demonstrates that the federal government sees this as problematic. And we are seeing states realize they cannot afford mass incarceration. And there are more effective ways to handle the problem.”

Makin points to Washington Initiative 940 as one example that states are trying to find ways around mass incarceration. Voters passed the initiative 60-40. It addresses police training, use-of-force, and how the courts treat officer-involved shootings. It changed the malice standard that Washington previously used when prosecuting police officers for fatal shootings.

“In Washington, we saw some issues with how police were interacting with different groups,” Makin said. “Having training that is evaluated for being effective … puts us in a better state.”

“What we are doing is recognizing we need to rebuild trust, and focus on better training that helps deescalate confrontations,” he said. “…. when you look at much of the training we give officers, it is rarely evaluated in the field … with I-940, it gives us the opportunity to be on the precipice of police training that we hope to apply across the nation.”

Dave's Commentary

Dave Ross on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM
  • listen to dave rossTune in to KIRO Newsradio weekdays at 5am for Dave Ross on Seattle's Morning News.

Dave Ross

car culture...

Dave Ross

Ross: Are we killing car culture? Or is car culture killing the US?

I don’t think the question is whether we're going to "kill" our car culture. The real question is can we stop our car culture from killing the U.S.?

3 days ago

drivers data insurance...

Dave Ross

Ross: As cars release driving data to insurance, is your driving my business?

Every move you make, every swerve you take, every lane change you fake – someone’s watching you. Do drivers have a right to keep driving data private?

10 days ago

rent control...

Dave Ross

Ross: Rent control was never the answer in Wash.

The rent control bill died in the Washington State Legislature this week, even though Democrats control both houses.

30 days ago

end of democracy...

Dave Ross

Ross: Conservative activist earns applause for pledging an ‘end of Democracy’

The theme from Jack Posobiec's speech is that Jan. 6 was a righteous attack not on democracy, but on those who threaten democracy.

1 month ago

Image: Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, is seen on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6, 2023. (Photo: Alex Brand...

Dave Ross

Ross: Voters can help cull bad politicians from the herd early

Let's remember that just about every occupant of a higher office once occupied a lower office, and was put there by us, Dave Ross says.

1 month ago

Super Bowl celebration...

Dave Ross

Ross: The NFL does it again

The NFL once again put on a show that was able to keep me tuned in for four hours even though I had no stake in either team.

1 month ago

Why criminal justice reform is gaining bipartisan support