The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office implemented a new policy, forcing the office to decide what to do with a case within 30 days of a case referral.
According to a press release from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (KCPAO), King County Prosecuting Attorney Lessa Manion announced that as of Oct. 1, all adult felony juvenile cases referred by law enforcement to the office will be reviewed within 30 days of being referred by law enforcement.
According to the office, prosecutors will communicate whether a case will be filed and charged, declined, used as part of another case, or if additional evidence is required from police investigators within a maximum of 30 days from when police referred it. This is the first time since the KCPAO’s inception that it has implemented such a policy.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, it took the KCPAO an average of 100 days to complete case filings. According to the office, during the COVID-19 pandemic, arraignments and court hearings were severely limited. Additionally, there were delays when lower-level non-violent cases were triaged for available resources and court space, leading to months-long delays. However, these factors are no longer present, according to the office.
“Making charging decisions within 30 days is part of our commitment to improve the aspects of the justice system that are within our control,” Manion said. “The 30 Day Case Review is better for victims, law enforcement, defendants and our community – who should expect their government to continue raising the bar on service delivery.”
King County Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall said that she welcomed the new policy. Cole-Tindall said that any steps that can be taken to deter crime and hold people accountable are critical in the Sheriff’s Office’s mission of public safety.
“Our deputies and detectives work extremely hard to bring criminals to justice and I am confident this move by Prosecuting Attorney Manion will help support our top priority which is to reduce crime and the fear of crime,” Cole-Tindall said.
According to Kent Police Department Chief Rafael Padilla, prosecutors filing decisions are a crucial first step in the court process. Padilla said filing decisions impact the victim, the accused and investigators.
“Reaching these decisions sooner will benefit everyone, and this policy change is a win for our communities,” Padilla said.
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