OLYMPIA – Today, House lawmakers approved legislation aimed at improving the way bail is administered in Washington.
“Today, we’ve taken a clear step forward in limiting the number of dangerous offenders roaming our streets,” Rep. Troy Kelley (D-Tacoma) said.
Passing 92 to 4, House Joint Resolution 4220 amends the state constitution, allowing judges to deny bail to a person charged with an offense that could be punishable by life in prison. Under the current wording of the constitution, the only time a judge can deny bail is if a suspect is charged with aggravated murder. If not, the judge must set bail, and if the suspect posts bail, they are free until trial.
The House also voted 96 to 0 to approve House Bill 2625, sponsored by Kelley, which ends the practice of booking bail, where suspects can post bail according to a formula, without seeing a judge at all. Kelley said his legislation, HB 2625, would end the practice of booking bail, which allowed Lakewood shooter Maurice Clemmons to post bail on the weekend without seeing a judge.
“Requiring a judge’s approval for bail and denying bail to the most violent and dangerous suspects will help us protect our families, as well as our law enforcement officers,” said Kelley.
Kelley’s HB 2625 is now the trailer bill for HJR 4220, which sets the procedures into statute when a judge denies bail under the constitutional amendment.