Friends and neighbors,
Last week kicked off the 2025 Legislative session. This year’s work will include combating the housing crisis, handling budget challenges, and many others.
Ending deceptive police tactics
Did you know that a police officer can present you with false evidence to coerce a confession? Did you know that it is legal to even use this tactic on kids? According to the Innocence Project, a national organization that works to overturn wrongful convictions, nearly a third of DNA exonerations from 1989 to 2020 involved a false confession. This tactic directly obstructs our criminal legal system from pursuing justice. Innocent people are wrongfully convicted while the actual offender avoids consequences.
A local example of the ramifications of deception is that of Ted Bradford of Yakima. He sat in prison for sexual assault for over a decade until he was exonerated by DNA evidence in 2010. Police told him that they had biological evidence and wouldn’t let him leave until he confessed. After hours of accusations and interrogation, Bradford confessed to get out of the situation, believing DNA evidence would eventually acquit him. Unfortunately, the police never had biological evidence and DNA testing hadn’t advanced enough to prevent Bradford’s conviction.
A 2020 study of 109 wrongful convictions found that 94% of offenders who avoided accountability were responsible for 337 additional offenses. A column in Time magazine featured law enforcement officers from local and federal agencies who believe that deceptive interrogation practices must end. The U.S. is one of the only countries in the world that still allows the use of deception during interrogations, and we can only imagine how many offenders are still at large because these investigations lead to false confessions.
There are better, data-driven ways to go about getting the truth that improve conviction rates, reduce appeals, and create stronger police relations with the community. That is why I am working to end the use of these tactics by introducing House Bill 1138. We must do better for survivors, victim’s families, and our communities. If we are truly working to protect the innocent and hold the guilty accountable, we must end the use of deceptive interrogation. HB 1138 will be heard in the House Community Safety Committee on Monday, January 27.
Participating in the legislative process
The legislative process works best when we hear from you and It’s easier than ever to see what’s happening in the state House of Representatives—and to share your thoughts.
- You can watch any committee hearing or floor debate on tvw.org, either live or after the event.
- To share your story, you can testify live in committees or sign up to testify remotely.
- You can reach your lawmakers by email, regular mail, or the toll-free Hotline.
Please speak out and share your thoughts, concerns, or questions!
Thank you in advance for your participation. I look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks again,
Rep. Strom Peterson