Hundreds of suspected violent criminals released without bail in Washington

Washington judges released hundreds of suspected violent criminals without bail, the Spokesman-Review reported Sunday.

Records obtained by the outlet revealed that many people accused of serious violent crimes — including rape, child molestation, assaults, vehicular homicide, and death threats — were allowed to await trial at home instead of being locked inside a jail cell. Such individuals were reportedly released 665 times in Spokane County from January 2021 to September 2023.

A former Spokane police officer accused of raping two women, a man accused of punching a nurse, and another man accused of slashing someone’s face with a handsaw were all released without bail.

County Commissioner Al French told the Spokesman-Review that the findings are “alarming.”

“We are assessing how to respond,” French said. He noted that at one time, he believed the releases were linked to overcrowding, but added that judges have claimed not to make decisions based on jail capacity.

“So the only conclusion left – just bad judicial judgment,” French said.

Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels was also disappointed about the release data and expressed concern for crime victims.

“Who’s going to stop them from coming back?” Nowels questioned. “What about the fear of that victim? What about the family of the girl who was killed by a drunk driver?”

On 33 separate occasions, individuals accused of rape — 19 involving children — were released without bail since 2021. Another 24 people were released after being accused of child molestation. During that same period, 2,704 people accused of violent and non-violent felony crimes were also released without bail.

“I look at these numbers and worry about the victims,” French said. “Thirty-three victims of rape in our community that had to experience this. That is disturbing.”

Spokane County Superior Court Judge Julie McKay explained that under Washington law, those accused of a crime are presumed innocent and therefore subject to release.

“The presumption when they hit jail is that they are going to go right back out. That’s where we start from because that’s what the law says,” McKay said. “From there, you are looking at an analysis of if you’re going to hold somebody, then you have to be able to hold them, saying they are going to fail to come to court or they are at risk of committing a violent offense. Or, they’re at risk of interfering with witnesses, tampering with witnesses, or interfering with the administration of justice that we do.”

McKay noted that judges also evaluate criminal and mental health history, including "how old their criminal history is, what the actual facts of the case are, whether it is what would be considered a violent crime.”

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