Pillar 3
Transform the criminal legal system
The criminal legal system is broken, and we need to transform it. We’re calling for restorative justice, decarceration, and a shift away from punitive measures, and toward healing and rehabilitation. Everyone deserves a chance to rebuild their life, and we must address the root causes of incarceration like racism, poverty, addiction, and mental health issues with compassion and care.
KEY PRIORITIES
End cash bail
What It Means
Replacing wealth-based pretrial detention with systems that assess whether an individual poses a genuine risk to public safety or is likely to appear in court.
Why It Matters
Replacing wealth-based pretrial detention with systems that assess whether an individual poses a genuine risk to public safety or is likely to appear in court.
End policies that criminalize poverty, homelessness, and addiction
What It Means
Shifting away from punitive responses to issues such as homelessness, mental illness, substance use disorders, and inability to pay fines or fees.
Why It Matters
Social and economic challenges are often better addressed through services and support than through arrest and incarceration. This approach can improve outcomes while reducing costs and unnecessary involvement in the legal system.
End harsh, disproportionate sentencing
What It Means
Reviewing sentencing practices to ensure penalties are proportional to offenses and applied fairly across cases.
Why It Matters
Excessively severe sentences can contribute to overcrowding, family disruption, and barriers to rehabilitation. Proportional sentencing promotes fairness and supports successful reintegration into society.
Divest from the prison industrial complex; No new jail
What It Means
Prioritizing investments in prevention, treatment, housing, education, and community services rather than expanding incarceration infrastructure.
Why It Matters
Long-term public safety is often strengthened by addressing root causes of crime. Investing in communities can reduce reliance on incarceration while promoting healthier and safer neighborhoods.
Implement the use of a racial equity lens in the County Prosecutor’s Office
What It Means
Evaluating policies, charging decisions, and outcomes to identify and address racial disparities within the criminal legal system.
Why It Matters
Data across many jurisdictions has shown disparities in legal outcomes among different demographic groups. Examining practices through an equity lens can help ensure decisions are fair, consistent, and free from bias.
Expand restorative justice practices.
What It Means
Supporting programs that bring together those harmed by an offense, those responsible, and the community to address harm and promote accountability.
Why It Matters
Restorative justice can provide meaningful accountability while focusing on healing, repairing harm, and reducing future involvement in the legal system.
Reform pretrial procedure
Reform pretrial procedure
What It Means
Improving how courts handle cases before trial, including detention decisions, access to counsel, court reminders, and alternatives to incarceration.
Why It Matters
Fair pretrial practices help protect constitutional rights, reduce unnecessary detention, and ensure individuals are not disadvantaged before their cases are resolved.
Fund public defenders
What It Means
Providing sufficient resources, staffing, training, and support to public defense offices.
Why It Matters
Effective legal representation is a cornerstone of a fair justice system. Adequately funded public defenders help ensure that a person's financial circumstances do not determine the quality of their legal defense.
Release sentencing data disaggregated by judge & defendant’s demographic info
What It Means
Publishing sentencing information broken down by factors such as offense type, judge, race, ethnicity, gender, and other relevant demographics while protecting personal privacy.
Why It Matters
Transparency allows policymakers and the public to identify patterns, evaluate consistency, and address potential disparities in sentencing outcomes.
End crimmigration
What It Means
Reducing the overlap between the criminal legal system and immigration enforcement, particularly in cases where local law enforcement resources are used to support federal immigration actions.
Why It Matters
Separating local public safety functions from immigration enforcement can help build trust between immigrant communities and public institutions, encouraging residents to report crimes, seek services, and participate in community life without fear.
Legislative Priorities
Ending the Criminalization of Homelessness in Washington
Orgs Involved
NAACP spokane
The Spokane NAACP are passionate people from all walks of life. Each of our committees utilize our member’s interests and talents to make a meaningful impact.
Waters Meet
Supporting community power building and grassroots advocacy to dismantle persistent health inequities.
Citizen Nine26
Citizen Nine26 is dedicated to helping people who have experienced injustices as a result of government misconduct.
Events, Workshops, and Trainings
No events available