This is an archive of old Quaker Voice posts.
Friends, A corrections ombuds bill is now eligible for a floor vote in the Washington State legislature, and must be voted on by this Wednesday, March 8, or face cut-off. Please phone or email (Today, or at the latest, Tuesday) your state senator to express your support for SB 5465, to establish an independent Corrections Ombuds. … Read more
Dear Friends, The House Judiciary Committee will hold a vote on Thursday, February 16 on HB 1783, which would reform Legal Financial Obligations (LFO’s). LFO’s are the fees, fines, restitution, and costs imposed by a court on top of a prison sentence. LFO’s often make it difficult for formerly incarcerated people to regain their lives … Read more
Dear Friends, The House Public Safety Committee will be holding a vote o;n Thursday, 2/16 on HB 1889, which establishes a corrections ombuds agency that is independent of the Department of Corrections. This bill is a major priority for Quaker Voice, and would do much to improve our correctional system to be healthier, safer and … Read more
Environmental Stewardship and Peace Working Group Clerk, Leni Skarin email: Focus issues for 2018: Support a carbon tax proposal, in particular the initiative still being drafted by the Alliance for Jobs & Clean Energy (jobscleanenergywa.com). When this initiative is submitted in January, we recommend asking Quaker Voice to endorse it and to encourage individuals … Read more
Friends Committee on Washington (State) Public Policy* is looking for a part-time Legislative Advocate and Policy Analyst (lobbyist) for the 2017 legislative session in Olympia. This position will require approximately 20 hours a week during session and 10 hours a month before and after session (starting November 1, 2016). Compensation is $20-30/hr., depending on experience. … Read more
The lawsuit, Foster v. Dept. of Ecology, has just been decided in favor ofchildren who want the state to do more on climate change! They are the plaintiffs for Plant for the Planet. The ruling will go to Governor Jay Inslee Monday morning (May 9). Inslee is likely to instruct the Department of Ecology to come … Read more
Your legislator is key to criminal justice reform We are writing you because one of your state legislators (see list below) is on the joint House-Senate committee writing the budget and is hence key to whether reform of Legal Financial Obligations (LFOs) for released prisoners is passed this year. It would be very helpful if … Read more
Yes, this bill is back … and it’s at a crucial point. Your help is needed. 1. Legal Financial Obligations (LFOs) refer to restitution, fines, public defender costs, incarceration costs, drug treatment, etc. 2. Please contact your state senator to move HB 1390 toward passage. This bill on Legal Financial Obligations, as passed by the House 970, would … Read more
LFOs refer to restitution, fines, public defender costs, incarceration costs, drug treatment, etc. Provisions of the bill: Accrual of interest (now 12%) on the non-restitution portion is eliminated in the future, and retroactively upon motion of the offender. A court may not impose non-restitution LFOs on a person found indigent at the time of sentencing. … Read more
We are writing you because your state Senator is on the Ways and Means Committee that must make a decision on the Corrections Ombuds bill SB 6154 by next Tuesday, Feb. 9. Passage through the Senate Ways and Means Committee, chaired by Senator Andy Hill (R; LD45), is critical. Thus, financial issues related to the … Read more