It has been said that Washington State consistently ranks as having a hefty per capita rate of hate crime in the United States. In fact, only the State of Texas has more, shockingly. In response to this lofty number, the Washington state law makers passed Senate Bill 5427 establishing a statewide bias response hotline for citizens to report hate with the hope that it will create a cost-effective solution for providing crucial, timely support to those impacted by hate related incidents. The hotline will be a one-stop shop with victim providers providing holistic support and access to an array of state and local services. The Washington State Attorney General is currently working to hire staff and implement the hotline. It is expected that a pilot version of the hotline program will be rolled out in 2025 with expansion planned for 2027. The real question will be whether this program homes in on the acts that are truly intended as hateful or will other acts/ behaviors get swooped up into the hotline plan exceeding its true purpose, which is, of course, to root out hate.
If you or a loved one is in a bind as a result of a criminal charge (hate related or otherwise), 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. SQ Attorneys can be reached at (425) 359-3791 and/or (206) 441-0900.
