| HeraldNet - Snohomish County's online news source |
 TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2010 12:10 am |
ADVERTISEMENT |
|||||||||
 |
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
Local News 
|
||||||||||||
New law aims to deny some felons bail State Rep. Mike Hope's proposed legislation would keep criminals facing a third-strike felony charge in jail until trial. OLYMPIA — Hearings will be held and laws could change next year when state legislators examine why the man accused of gunning down four Lakewood police officers had been free on bail given his long criminal history.Today, a Lake Stevens lawmaker may file legislation to make convicted criminals ineligible for bail if they are charged with new crimes that could put them in prison for life under the state's three-strikes law. Republican Rep. Mike Hope is proposing an amendment to the state constitution making clear those with two felony convictions and facing a possible third strike must be kept locked up until either charges are reduced or the case adjudicated. Hope, a Seattle police officer, drafted the legislation in direct response to the slaying of the officers. Accused killer Maurice Clemmons had two felony convictions and had been charged with a potential third-strike felony when he bailed out of jail days before the Nov. 29 shootings in the Tacoma suburb of Parkland. “The suspect in the Lakewood murders had nothing to lose. He knew, if convicted, that he would spend the rest of his life in prison. Letting him out on bail was a huge mistake, and something that we can't afford to let happen again,” Hope said. Hope said he has more than 30 co-signers to the legislation that can be pre-filed for the 2010 session starting today. Formal introduction would come Jan. 11. One of those co-signers is Rep. Mark Ericks, D-Bothell, a former police chief of Bothell. “There certainly will be plenty of debate on this,” he said. “I'm perfectly willing to see what the public feels about it.” As a proposed constitutional amendment, it must be passed by at least two-thirds in both the House and Senate and then approved by a majority of voters before it could become law. Several lawmakers think Clemmons' release exposes a loophole in the criminal justice process that needs closing. They want to know more about the incident and whether tighter state laws could have made a difference. Even before Hope announced his plans, Rep. Christopher Hurst, D-Enumclaw, declared he would hold hearings into the Lakewood police shootings in the House public safety committee on which he serves as chairman. Lawmakers need to understand why Clemmons was walking free and whether his release could have been prevented with different policies and practices by the state, he said. “This is not acceptable and the Legislature needs to take a look at this. I'm expecting we'll have a very thorough briefing,” Hurst said. “There may be some easy answers. There may be some very complicated answers.” Hurst also said his committee will consider Hope's legislation. Hope has entitled the legislation The Lakewood Police Officers Memorial Act. Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com. |
- Snohomish man dies in snowmobile accident
- A gift for a gifted kid
- Chocolate elegance: Monroe chocolatier hopes shop grows from simple beginnings
- Ex-official pleads not guilty in drunken golf course incident
- Everett cat goes from imperiled to princess
- Mariners' Moore looks to be ready for The Show
- An early start to allergy season
- Silvertips fall short in quest for No. 1 seed
- Life by chocolate
- The ‘Buzz’ from Marquette
- Census mailing a money saver
(9) - Gunfire at site of Kirkland medical marijuana grow (7)
- Monroe cell-tower plan angers neighbors (6)
- The Hub, a Snohomish institution, closes (5)
- A gift for a gifted kid (4)
- Paine Field results delayed by months (3)
- Gas costs are climbing for the season (3)
- Students to have their first look at ‘WASL-lite’ (2)
- PREP BASEBALL: Murphy looking to finish the job in 2010 (2)
- Low-performing schools named (2)
- Yelm ousts Lynnwood girls, 54-51
- Meadowdale boys take aim at fifth place
- Archbishop Murphy girls keep vow to win
- Meadowdale boys refuse to fold, but rally falls short in 3A state opener
- Prairie’s zone defense stymies Lynnwood at Class 3A state girls basketball tournament
- Ellensburg takes it to Archbishop Murphy girls at 2A tourney
- Beyond the ‘Woodstock Generation'
- Magical run for Jackson
- Boeing to Offer NewGen Tanker to US Air Force
- New CEO at Valley General Hospital
- Dan Koffman's ‘TopSpin' marketing astounds, inspires, motivates, produces — just for starters
- Economic forecasts for Snohomish County, Everett, Marysville offer some bright moments
- Government officials influencing home prices
- Massive EPA energy regulations meet challenge
- Washington state healthcare reforms also needed
|
|
 
|
|
|
|
| TODAY'S TOP JOBS |
| View All Top Jobs |
| Top Cars |
|
| Top Homes |
|
|
ADVERTISEMENT |
|
|
|Contact Us
|Advertiser Services
|Home Delivery
|Newsstand Locations
|Classifieds
|Feedback
|About the Company
|Work@the Herald
|Site Map |
|
COMMENTS
Log in or register to post a new comment.
To read other terms and conditions, click here
Mike Hope is right on the money. Cutting to the chase, this legislation would have prevented the tragedy in Lakewood...and probably other tragedies that haven't gotten as many headlines.
Where has Chris Hurst been on these issues as the Chairman of this committee? He's been AWOL.
He wouldn't even hear Eric's Law in front of his committee last year because Republican Mike Hope sponsored the bill. That's how partisan he is.
God give us more legislators who will respond to what's happening in the real world and show some leadership like Mike Hope.
Chad Minnick | Dec 7, 2009 12:37 am | 0 replies | Request removal
Post reply
This type of legislation should have been incorporated
in the initial three strikes law years ago.
Thank you for considering a law that might have prevented much heartache if it had been implemented
sooner.
John Peterson | Dec 8, 2009 8:55 pm | 0 replies | Request removal
Post reply
It's about time! Kudos to Hope for proposing this.
Good luck getting it passed with this liberal legislature.
Why do we have to wait until the rotten consequences of stupidity to show common sense?
hope floats | Dec 7, 2009 5:07 am | 0 replies | Request removal
Post reply