I bring many years of expertise in the criminal justice system to my work on the House Judiciary Committee and the House Public Safety Committee. I am committed to working to make us safer on the roadways, in public spaces and in our homes. I enjoy the support of our state troopers, sheriffs, police chiefs and rank-and-file officers.
I have a strong record from the first session, having sponsored and led the Legislature to enact a landmark drunk driving bill and a court reform measure that will save the taxpayers money and offer better access to the courts for crime victims.
As we move forward in the Legislature I will focus sharply on the chronic problem of domestic violence. It is shocking to learn that half of all of the women who die each year in our area are killed by their abusive partners. This epidemic deserves major attention and I will convene law enforcement, the courts and other concerned parties through the Judiciary Committee to find better solutions.
Local budgets are busting across Washington State because of the increasing burden of the criminal justice system. Something is way out of balance. It is time we took a serious look at how our criminal justice dollars are spent so we focus primarily on crimes against persons and property instead of squandering huge sums on a punitive approach toward the mentally ill and the addicted.
By investing in cost-effective alternatives to wasteful incarceration and by employing more effective public safety strategies we will give our law enforcement officers the support and respect they deserve and help make their jobs safer, while making our public spaces and our neighborhoods safer at the same time.