Taking a second look at old sentences puts King County in the national spotlight
Fair and Just Prosecution recently invited King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg and Deputy Chief of Staff Carla Lee to New Haven, CT, to speak to 25 newly-elected (and some veteran) district attorneys, academics and a Yale law students about the important role prosecuting attorneys can play in reviewing long sentences imposed in prior decades. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (PAO) is doing this through ‘second look’ case work. “A prosecutor’s obligation to do justice extends backwards as well as forward,” said Dan Satterberg. This ‘second look’ concept includes a review of an old cases… Read More
At DPD, a new unit helps people reclaim their lives
Crossposted from For the Defense For years, Detric Johnson felt as though there was nothing he could do to erase the mistakes of his past. He faced more than $10,000 in legal financial obligations (LFOs), a crippling burden. He had felonies on his record, most of them 25 years old. Without a driver’s license, he couldn’t land a job. “My life was in a shambles,” he said. All that changed over the course of a few months, when an old DUI and another driving charge caught up with him and he was assigned a… Read More
National conference selects King County as site of annual conference, spotlights Zero Youth Detention
Crossposted from Zero Youth Detention Each year, the Annie E. Casey Foundation hosts a national conference for the over 300 jurisdictions in 40 states that have signed on to implement its Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI). This year, the conference was hosted in King County, from October 16-18, in part to showcase the work of King County’s Zero Youth Detention and essential community partnerships. “I started volunteering. I found community, and they saw gifts in me I didn’t know I had,” said Durell Green, describing to conference attendees the transition that took him from time in… Read More
Reasonable Accommodations in King County Superior Court
This story is part of our series celebrating Disability Awareness Month. Access to justice for all persons is a fundamental right; however, for individuals with a sensory, mental or physical disability, this access can be filled with challenges. Implemented in 2007, Washington State General Court Rule 33 (GR 33) was designed to assure that persons with disabilities have equal and meaningful access to the judicial system. GR 33 requires courts to provide prompt response to requests for accommodation in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Washington State Law Against Discrimination… Read More
Improved services for customers with disabilities
Crosssposted from Metro Matters Metro’s new Access Paratransit operator, MV Transportation, brings a renewed customer service focus to the service, with offerings on the horizon including app-based scheduling, expanded multilingual support, higher on-time performance, and tighter pick-up and drop-off windows. But first, when Metro’s new contract with MV begins October 26, operations will focus on creating a seamless transition for customers and helping them know the resources available to them, should they need extra assistance. Access, Metro’s American Disabilities Act (ADA) paratransit program, is for people whose disabilities prevent them from using Metro’s… Read More
New funding opportunity from the Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy
The King County Department of Community and Human Services is now accepting applications for a facilitator for the recently awarded Countywide Commercial Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Collaborative. The facilitator will support the four awarded agencies in building a shared mission and vision and to develop a service model and work plan to steward the goals identified by the Collaborative. Applications are due Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019 by 5 p.m. There is up to $65,000 in VSHSL Technical Assistance and Capacity Building (TACB) funds available. The investment period is Dec. 2019 – Dec. 31, 2020, subject… Read More
Recycling program builds relationships between King County and Spanish-speaking communities
Advancing our “We are responsible stewards” value The Recicla más, or Recycle more program, provides information about recycling in Spanish to communities throughout King County. Started in 2011, Recicla más has relied on developing a partnership with facilitadores, or community educators, in the Latinx community to help improve and increase recycling. The Solid Waste Division (SWD), in the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, is further expanding this work with several multicultural/multilingual communities in King County to educate residents and businesses about recycling , composting, and waste prevention best practices. These partnerships ensure that the program… Read More
Meaningful program creates workplace efficiencies and opportunities for employees
King County’s Supported Employment Program matches job seekers with developmental disabilities to available jobs by identifying efficiencies and unmet needs throughout King County departments. The program allows each department to review its standard work practices utilizing Lean principles. A job coach is also available to help supported employees thrive in the workplace. Christina Davidson, Supported Employment Program Manager shares how meaningful this can be in several ways. “When creating opportunities to be more inclusive with our hiring we are also creating efficiencies and cost savings in departments,” she said. “It’s pretty cool to get… Read More
King County Council recognizes 2019 Disability Awareness Month
On Oct. 16, 2019, the Metropolitan King County Council proclaimed October as Disability Awareness Month in King County, celebrating the many contributions that people with disabilities make to our community and workforce. The proclamation is a reminder of our continued efforts to break down barriers so that people of all abilities can share their unique abilities, perspectives and talents. Signed into law in 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ensures that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. The ADA prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in… Read More
ESJ Opportunity Fund now accepting applications, deadline Nov. 22
The Office of Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) is now accepting applications for the Equity and Social Justice Opportunity Fund. The Opportunity Fund is a competitive process that provides resources to King County employees to develop and implement projects that work to advance equity, social justice and King County’s mission to lead with racial justice in support of the ESJ Strategic Plan. Read more in the overview here and download the application here. Applications are due by or before November 22, 2019. For questions contact Tynishia Walker at TWalker@kingcounty.gov or at 206-263-0534.
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