Good news for some may mean bad news for others in Seattle. Whether it be good or bad depends on what side of the fence you are on. Good for those that had been facing a criminal charge for certain types of criminal behavior. Bad for those who were victimized by that criminal behavior. Say what? Simply put, things have come to a head within Seattle’s City limits, and Seattle’s new City Attorney – Ann Davison – has decided her office will not prosecute nearly 2,000 cases in an effort to ease a case backlog that has grown out of control over the past few years due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. Ms. Davison has hired nine criminal attorneys and states that she needs to drop the cases in order to meet the “close in time” filing decision, i.e. filing a case within five days of receiving it from the Seattle Police Department.
The thought is that swifter justice will be provided by essentially clearing the docket and only prosecuting cases that don’t involve crimes against a person. The backlog of cases that won’t be prosecuted includes property destruction, theft, criminal trespass, non-DUI traffic offenses (i.e. Reckless Driving, Hit and Run and Negligent Driving), and cases that have passed the statute of limitations. Conversely, cases that will go forward are all crimes against people, including domestic violence, assault with sexual motivation and other assault and harassment-related crimes. Also included are crimes that meet the “High Utilizer Initiative” criteria recently set by the City Attorney earlier this year. Some folks are cheering others are jeering. Where do you stand on the issue?
If you or a loved one is in a bind as a result of a criminal charge, immediately contact a Seattle Criminal Attorney. A Criminal lawyer is not going to judge you, and understands that everyone makes mistakes. Hiring a Seattle Criminal Lawyer to help can – at a minimum – reduce penalties, and can help direct people on how to best deal with their criminal charge, and many times even get them dismissed. So it should go without saying that someone cited for a misdemeanor or felony should hire a qualified Seattle Criminal Lawyer as soon as possible. Criminal charges can cause havoc on a person’s personal and professional life. Anyone charged with a crime in Washington State should immediately seek the assistance of a seasoned Seattle Criminal Lawyer, like SQ Attorneys (206) 441-0900.
