One of the last government operated electronic home monitoring (“EHM”) programs in Western Washington is about to be shut down. The City of Renton has simply run out of funds to keep their EHM program functionally operating. In fact, the EHM program in Renton exceeded its budget by over $2 million during the 2019 – 2025 time period. Renton plans to start allowing private entities to handle their authorized EHM. The concern is that such a plan will extinguish any and all accountability, transparency and integrity of defendant oversight. EHM is something that allows defendants to avoid jail and continue to work and earn a paycheck. The problem is that if the oversight is too ‘soft’ then folks may not be getting their ‘just deserts’ in terms of punishment, at least that is what some people think anyways. A government run EHM program is believed, by some, to simply be tougher. That may, or may not, be true. However, if the cost is too great then offering an alternative so folks can still work while serving their time is a noble option and should be put in place. Sometimes tough decisions must be made, and this is one of those times. Eliminating EHM all together would be worse than contracting it out, there is little to no doubt in that reality.
If you or a loved one is in a bind as a result of criminal allegations (in Renton or elsewhere), immediately contact a Seattle Criminal Attorney. A Seattle Criminal Defense Attorney 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. SQ Attorneys can be reached at (425) 359-3791 and/or (206) 441-0900.