Criminal justice

How is King County doing?

Crime takes a toll on the health of our communities through loss of life, fear for physical safety, property damage, disintegration of community cohesion, diversion of public resources from social services, and incarceration. The rate of property crimes and major violent crimes has decreased since 1985 in King County. Aggravated assault is consistently the predominant major violent crime, although it has declined dramatically in the last decade (data not shown).

The incarceration rate for the King County jail is substantially lower than the national average for all jails across the country. The most recent national data is from 2008, which showed a rate of 258 incarcerated persons for every 100,000 persons in the population at large. In contrast, King County's incarceration rate was only 132 per 100,000. This means that the incarcerated population would have to nearly double to reach the national average.

What else influences these indicators?

Crime and incarceration rates are affected by variable and persistent economic and social conditions and inequalities. In addition, poor economic conditions or few employment opportunities often lead to an increase in both property and violent crimes. Community norms that inhibit or encourage violence and crime also have an impact on crime rates.

Incarceration rates are influenced by discharge rates from institutional and criminal justice facilities, as well as the availability of mental health and substance abuse treatment services, and supportive housing and employment for persons exiting those facilities. Incarceration rates are also affected by charging decisions, sentencing practices, and modifications to the adult and juvenile criminal codes.

What role does King County government play?

King County plays a major role in preventing criminal activity, responding to crime, and administering the criminal justice system. The county's key criminal justice organizations include the Sheriff's Office, Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention, Prosecuting Attorney's Office, Office of the Public Defender, Superior Court, Department of Judicial Administration, and District Court.

The King County Sheriff's Office is the chief law enforcement agency in King County, and provides regional, local unincorporated, and contract police services. The agency's functions vary widely to meet the differing needs of communities as well as legal mandates.

The Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention (DAJD) is responsible for operating jail facilities for both adults and juveniles. For adults, there are two jail facilities: the King County Correctional Facility (KCCF) in downtown Seattle and the Maleng Regional Justice Center (MRJC) in Kent. For juveniles, there is one facility: the Youth Services Center (YSC) in Seattle. DAJD also operates several programs that provide alternatives to incarceration.

The Prosecuting Attorney's Office is responsible for the prosecution of both felony cases (in the King County Superior Court) and misdemeanor cases that arise in unincorporated areas of King County (in the King County District Court).

The Office of the Public Defender contracts with four nonprofit law firms and maintains an assigned counsel panel to provide for indigent defense. As in most urban jurisdictions, an overwhelming majority of felony defendants are not able to afford their own attorney.

The King County Superior Court is a general jurisdiction trial court that handles felony criminal matters arising anywhere in King County (among other responsibilities). The Department of Judicial Administration (Clerk's Office) handles Superior Court case documents and staffs the Adult Drug Diversion Court.

The King County District Court is a limited jurisdiction trial court that handles misdemeanor criminal matters arising in unincorporated King County (among other responsibilities).

The Department of Community and Human Services also administers numerous programs to reduce justice system impacts for both juveniles and adults; and Public Health - Seattle & King County provides jail health services.

Reducing impacts of involvement with the criminal justice system is a major priority for King County. Recent criminal justice planning efforts call for additional alternatives to detention and incarceration and feature programs that demonstrate measurable success in reducing re-entry into the justice systems. With the Veterans and Human Services Levy, the county will expand criminal justice programs designed to help veterans and others in need achieve and maintain stability in the community and stay out of jail. Several of the strategies in the Mental Illness and Drug Dependency (MIDD) Action Plan, funded by the one tenth of one percent sales tax, are intended to have similar positive effects for persons with serious mental illness and/or substance abuse problems.