Ending Youth Solitary Confinement
Solitary confinement, which includes physical and social isolation in a cell for 22 to 24 hours a day, has previously been seen as a way to improve behavior or as punishment for juveniles in detention facilities. However, studies have shown that instead of improving behavior, solitary confinement actually increases behavioral issues, and poses a significant danger to the well-being of these young people.
No matter why a young person is in a juvenile detention facility, they deserve to be treated humanely and not left with lasting harmful effects. That’s why, this session I’ve introduced legislation that would prohibit the practice of putting young people in solitary confinement as a punishment, and limit the use of isolation to emergency situations only.
Learn more in my recent video update.
The House Passes Clean Fuels!
The 2019 session included passage of some key environmental policies, including a bill to transition our state to 100% clean energy by 2045, legislation that phases out super pollutants, a bill that supports increased energy efficiency for commercial buildings, and much more.
While these were big victories, we know that there’s a lot more work to do to.
This week, House Democrats led the charge toward another climate victory by once again passing a Low Carbon Fuels Standard for Washington state. The bill directs the Washington State Department of Ecology to adopt a rule establishing a Clean Fuels Program that would limit greenhouse gas emissions per unit of transportation fuel energy to 10 percent below 2017 levels by 2028 and 20 percent below 2017 levels by 2035.
Nearly half of our state’s greenhouse gas emissions are from the transportation sector. Implementing a clean fuels standard would deliver the triple win of protecting our climate, cleaning our air, and growing clean energy jobs.
If the bill makes it all the way through the Legislature this session, Washington would finally join its west coast neighbors in adopting a Clean Fuels Program!
Mark your calendar: Upcoming Telephone Town Hall!
Join your 21st District representatives on Tuesday, February 11, at 6:30 PM for a telephone town hall!
Calls will go out to thousands of homes throughout the 21st District. We invite you to listen live and ask us questions on issues ranging from education, healthcare, and juvenile justice to transportation, behavioral health, housing, and climate change.
If you don’t have a landline or don’t receive the call, you can still participate by dialing 877-229-8493 and using ID Code 116357.
Alternatively, you can stream the telephone town hall online.
Our democracy is strongest when everyone has the ability to learn about the issues and share their comments, questions and ideas. I hope to hear from you soon!
Sincerely,
Rep. Strom Peterson