| Social and Economic Policy The League of Women Voters of Washington recognizes the need for a “criminal justice system that is just, effective, equitable, transparent, and that fosters public trust at all stages, including policing practices, pre-trial procedures, sentencing, incarceration, and re-entry.” Issue Team Chair: Karen Peacey, kpeacey@lwvwa.org |
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Legislation |
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Overview LWVWA Position on Criminal Justice This includes:
Summary of Issues for the 2026 Legislative Session Many of our priority bills this year focus on reforming our draconian sentencing laws. We’re working with Look2Justice and other community advocated to support bills that will: (1) extend the age for review of juvenile sentences so that people who committed crimes under age 21 can seek review after serving lengthy sentences, (2) allow people whose sentences have been lengthened as a result of their juvenile records to seek resentencing, (3) restore a cap of one-third time off across the board for earned release, (4) provide judges the opportunity to modify lengthy sentences, and (5) eliminate the use of juvenile convictions as “strike” offenses for purposes of the three strikes laws. We will also continue to advocate for law enforcement accountability and reform, together with our partners at the Washinginton Coalition for Police Accountability. This includes legislation to ensure that law enforcement agencies will be eld accountable for any systemic misconduct and to update the standards for sheriffs and police chiefs. We will also seek to improve conditions for people who are currently incarcerated and institutionalized by supporting legislation to allow people who are incarcerated to vote and to reduce the use of long-term solitary confinement. We have prioritized legislation that will encourage community placement of young people rather than prison, andfinally, ensuring that people in jail have access to ballots and voter education. Overview of the 2025 Legislative Session We will continue to advocate for police accountability and reform, together with our partners at the Washington Coalition for Police Accountability. This includes legislation to limit traffic stops and to ensure that law enforcement agencies will be held accountable for any systemic misconduct. We will also seek to improve conditions for people who are currently incarcerated and institutionalized by supporting legislation to (1)ensure that their voices can be heard as part of the democratic process, (2) reduce the use of long-term solitary confinement, (3) make the cost of phone calls from incarcerated people to their friends and loved ones free, and (4) improve educational opportunities in prison. Finally, we will continue our efforts to reform draconian sentencing laws by working with Look2Justice and other community advocates to support bills that will (1) extend the age for review of juvenile sentences so that people who committed crimes under age 21 (instead of age 18) can seek review after serving 15 years, and (2) allow people whose sentences have been lengthened as a result of their juvenile records to seek resentencing.
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2026 Criminal Justice Legislation
Priority Bills
Bills in green are supported. Bills in red are opposed by the League. Bills in black the League is watching.
HB 1125 Judicial Discretion Act. This bill would provide judges the opportunity to modify lengthy sentences upon a showing that a person’s original sentence no longer serves the interests of justice.
HB 1137 No Violence, No Segregation Act. This bill will reduce the number of people who are sent to solitary confinement by (1) increasing the burden of proof needed to prove an infraction from “some” evidence to a preponderance of the evidence, and (2) limiting the types of infractions that will result in solitary confinement.
HB 1146 Ensuring Access for Voters in Jails. This bill requires county auditors to develop a Voting Plan for each jail that includes details about how the jail will help people (1) register to vote and (2) access voter information and ballots.
HB 1196 Unlock the Vote Act. This bill narrows the definition of “infamous crime” to enable people who are currently incarcerated to vote.
HB 1239 Preparing Incarcerated People for Successful Reentry. This bill restores a cap of one-third time off across the board for earned early release, (2) authorizes a pilot program at the women’s prison for incarcerated survivors of intimate partner violence or sexual assault, and (3) requires all crime survivors to be given information about how sentences can change as a result of various factors.
HB 1274 Washington Fair Score Act. This bill allows currently incarcerated individuals whose sentences were lengthened by juvenile "points" to petition for resentencing. It retroactively applies HB 1324, passed in 2023.
HB 1317 Second Look Pathway for Youth. Building upon a recent Washington Supreme Court decision, this bill allows people who committed crimes before age 21 to have their lengthy sentences reviewed by the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board. It is a step toward recognizing that brain science shows that our brains do not become fully developed until age 25.
HB 2389/SB 6062 Individualized Justice for Youth Act. This bill requires a finding that community-based placement will not adequately protect the community before a young person can be committed to a youth prison. It also requires at least one midpoint review hearing for certain sentences over 12 months to determine whether the young person can be released on probation.
SB 5925/HB 2161 Attorney General Investigations and Reform. This bill gives the Attorney General’s Office the authority to investigate law enforcement and local corrections agencies that have engaged in systemic violations of the Washington Constitution or state laws.
SB 5945 No Juvenile Strikes. This would eliminate the use of any conviction for a crime committed before age 18 as a "strike" offense and require resentencing for people who are serving life without parole due to one or more underlying convictions for crimes committed before the person turned 18.
Other Bills
HB 1178 Authorizing concurrent sentencing enhancements. This bill (1) allows courts discretion to order multiple firearm and deadly weapon enhancements to run concurrently rather than consecutively, (2) removes the provision prohibiting earned release time for portions of sentences resulting from deadly weapon enhancements, and (3) repeals both the gang-related sentencing enhancement for involving minors and the drug-related school zone enhancement.
HB 1591 Providing sentencing alternatives and remedies for defendant survivors. This bill allows courts to avoid unduly harsh sentences for defendants who were victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or human trafficking at the time they committed their offense if their abuse was a significant contributing factor to their crime. It also allows resentencing of survivors who are currently incarcerated and have served at least eight years in prison.
HB 2595 Extending the time to seek post-conviction relief. Under current law, people convicted of a crime have only one year to file a petition for post-conviction relief. This bill would extend that period to three years.
SB 5974 Modernizing and clarifying criteria for Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. The Law Enforcement Leaders bill strives to make uniform standards across the state more up-to-date and professional for all marshals, sheriffs, and chiefs. It will create standards for eligibility for office, certification, background checks, and use of volunteers.
SB 5855 Prohibiting the use of face masks by law enforcement officers. This bill prohibits law enforcement officers from wearing opaque facial coverings (such as balaclavas, tactical masks, or ski masks) while interacting with the public in the performance of their duties, with exceptions for undercover operations, SWAT team protective gear, and medical masks.
SB 6002 Regulating the use of automated license plate readers. This bill will create regulations governing automated license plate readers (ALPRs) that limit which agencies can use ALPRs, how long they can retain the data, and who can access that data
- Local Leagues in Washington have action chairs who coordinate action teams. Some local Leagues have health care teams to take action locally. Contact your local League action chair to find out and join.
- If you are interested in a particular bill, use the links above to go to the webpage for that bill. These pages include staff summaries and reports including who testified PRO, CON, or OTHER on the bill, if there has been a public hearing. There is also information about how to access videos of hearings that have been held.
- Read and take action through the LWVWA Legislative Action Newsletter, distributed each Sunday during the legislative session.
- You may also express your opinion on legislation with the LWVWA issue chairs. We will take your perspectives into consideration as we determine our support for legislation and prepare testimony. Send them to Karen Peacey, (425) 286-0103, Criminal Justice Issue Chair.
- Join the LWVWA Criminal Justice Action group by emailing Karen Peacey.