Watch SCAR, PJALS, and other coalition members present a press conference on recent statewide policing laws and the community impact of law enforcement’s implementation of these laws.
Originally held on Thursday, August 5th at 1:00pm
Watch a recording of the livestream on Facebook: Click Here
Recently, eleven new police reform laws went into effect in Washington state. Smart Justice Spokane, SCAR (Spokane Community Against Racism), PJALS, and other coalition members are partnering to provide a briefing this afternoon that informs about these transformative new laws and how law enforcement’s implementation of them impacts our community.
Many law enforcement agencies across the state, including those that serve the Spokane area, have responded to the new measures by stating that they will no longer be fully responsive to calls for emergencies like domestic violence situations and mental health crises. They claim that some of the language of the laws is ambiguous. In the face of community outcry for changes to policing over the past year and these new laws which respond to those concerns, law enforcement is instead choosing to do nothing. This is unacceptable.
We are calling for the Attorney General’s Office to issue an official opinion on legislative intent, develop model policies, and formally oversee the implementation of state law by the Spokane Police Department and Spokane County Sheriff Office with the Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC).
Host Organizations:
Spokane Community Against Racism, Disability Rights Washington, Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane, NAACP, I Did The Time, Greater Spokane Progress, the Smart Justice Spokane coalition, Spokane Alliance, Asian Pacific Islander Coalition – Spokane, Freedom Project East, Planned Parenthood Advocates Of Greater Washington and North Idaho.