Washington Criminal Lawyers

In the wake of an ongoing investigation by the Department of Justice, Seattle Police Chief John Diaz is ordering some major changes, calling for a “complete revamp of how the Police Department develops its ‘professional standards and expectations’ for officers.” The Department will also be reviewing all of its policies and procedures. [read more..]

As part of an ongoing investigation into the Seattle Police Department, the Department of Justice sent a letter to Mayor Mike McGinn in which they slammed the department for allowing officers to invoke protection against self-incrimination in even routine investigations, preventing accountability. [read more..]

The Seattle Police Department was accused of withholding information on their policies for over a year. Though they had been requested to hand over documentation of policies dealing with domestic violence victims, they refused. And after these policies came to light it was learned the police had been instructing people to leave some information out of their reports, information that could have helped defendants accused of domestic violence. [read more..]

Having come under fire for numerous allegations of excessive force over the past few years, the Seattle Police Department may be making some changes soon. The City Council has unveiled a list of 11 recommendations all aimed at reducing complaints and repairing damage to the Department’s reputation, particularly in regards to the minority communities. [read more..]

A Vancouver volunteer citizen crime watch group is on the lookout for stolen cars, and inadvertently collecting surveillance data on other citizens for the government. [read more..]

A new online system will now allow Seattle citizens to file a police report themselves when victimized by “low level” property crimes. According to the Seattle Times, this “empowers” the people and frees them from having to wait on the police. The real motivation behind the move, however, is likely budgetary rather than community empowerment. [read more..]