Inslee to provide clemency to those convicted under “unconstitutional” drug possession law

Governor’s office says 1200 people are eligible for clemency after State v. Blake decision.

file photo

file photo

Washington state has instituted a new process to allow individuals on active community supervision for certain drug possession convictions to directly petition Gov. Jay Inslee to commute their sentences.

This new path to commutations is intended to allow expedited relief for thousands of individuals following February’s State of Washington v. Blake decision, in which the Washington State Supreme Court declared Washington’s simple drug possession statute unconstitutional.

In a press release statement, Inslee said he is prepared to issue unconditional commutations for eligible petitioners to eliminate any remaining community supervision involving drug possession convictions that have been invalidated by the Washington Supreme Court, as well as any obligation to pay on related legal financial obligations.

Since the Washington v. Blake decision, state courts have issued orders to vacate a large number of causes that meet the criteria under the ruling. But many cases remain unresolved, and with courts backed up due to the pandemic, thousands of individuals with now-invalidated convictions have not been able to get into court to have those convictions vacated, according to the governor’s office.

“COVID has created countless challenges in our criminal justice system. And February’s Blake decision compounded those challenges,” Inslee said via written statement. “Though the State Supreme Court has invalidated the drug possession convictions of thousands of individuals, many of these individuals have not been able to get into court to have their convictions vacated and dismissed, even six months after the Supreme Court’s decision.”

In April, Inslee issued unconditional commutations to 18 individuals who were still in Department Of Corrections custody solely on since-invalidated convictions. Now, the Office of the Governor has partnered with DOC and Office of Public Defense to facilitate this new commutation process.

Recently, the governor’s office said the DOC began contacting eligible individuals on active community supervision to alert them to the new program and invite them to petition Inslee for clemency relief.

There are currently over 1,200 individuals who remain on active DOC community supervision, solely for drug possession convictions held invalid by the Washington State Supreme Court in Blake, according to the governor’s office.

Since the first completed petitions arrived at the Office of the Governor, Inslee has already issued over 100 unconditional commutations, with additional orders being issued daily.

“I am committed to doing what I can to try to remedy the situation and assist the courts who are doing what they can to get through this backlog of cases,” Inslee said.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

COURTESY PHOTO, King County
Driver reportedly going 111 mph in Kent fatal collision

SeaTac man, 33, faces vehicular homicide, reckless driving charges in Nov. 4 death of 38-year-old woman

A National Civics Bee in Arizona. COURTESY PHOTO, Civics Bee
Kent Chamber of Commerce to offer civics contest for middle schoolers

Essay competition first step as part of 2025 National Civics Bee

t
Kent Police help catch alleged prolific graffiti vandal

Tacoma man reportedly had guns, spray paint, rappelling harness and book about taggers in vehicle

COURTESY PHOTO
State Sen. Karen Keiser will officially retire Dec. 10 from the Legislature after 29 years in office.
Process begins to replace retiring state Sen. Karen Keiser

33rd Legislative District Democrats will nominate candidates to King County Council

t
Kundert pleads not guilty in Kent cold case murder

Faces charge of strangling Dorothy Silzel, 30, in 1980 at her condo

Dave Upthegrove. COURTESY PHOTO
Upthegrove looks forward to role as state lands commissioner

Des Moines Democrat will leave King County Council after election victory

COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Kent School District levy passing after initially failing | Update

Nov. 12 results: Yes votes up by 602 with more ballots to be counted

File Photo
Kent Police arrest Texas man in 2013 sexual assault of 6-year-old girl

DNA match reportedly identifies 31-year-old man stationed in 2013 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord

Kent police investigate fatal two-vehicle collision

The collision killed a woman and left a 45-year-old Tacoma driver, suspected of intoxication at the time of the crash, hospitalized.

Competing for the 8th Congressional District: Carmen Goers, left, and Kim Schrier. COURTESY PHOTOS
Adam Smith and Kim Schrier will retain Congress seats | Election 2024

Smith represents the 9th Congressional District and Schrier represents the 8th Congressional District.

Courtesy of Democratic Caucus
Pictured left to right: Sen. Bob Hasegawa (D), Rep. David Hackney, and Rep. Steve Bergquist
Democratic incumbents in lead for 11th Legislative District

Bob Hasegawa, David Hackney and Steve Bergquist have strong leads, with Hasegawa and Hackney running unopposed.