Manka Dhingra — Addressed as Chair Dhingra in the introduction to the final presenter.
Yasmin Trudeau — Introduced herself and described her district.
Yasmin Trudeau — Senator Trudeau asked whether the 2024 and 2025 jump includes bleed-over from vaccine claims and asked what is causing the increase.
Yasmin Trudeau — The speaker thanked Vice Chair Trudeau and addressed her as vice chair.
Yasmin Trudeau — Addressed as Vice Chair.
Yasmin Trudeau — Senator Yasmin Trudeau is introduced as the next questioner and then asks Brown about his reference to parole-like systems. She questions why the committee would not adapt a parole model if the data show it reduces recidivism while still preserving accountability and oversight, citing the idea that an existing system could be reimagined rather than replaced.
Keith Wagoner — Senator Keith Wagoner was introduced as joining the meeting remotely and identified as representing Washington’s 39th Legislative District, with a brief follow-up noting his remote location.
Keith Wagoner — Senator Wagoner asked whether DCYF is included in the blue line or broken out separately.
Keith Wagoner — Senator Wagoner commented that radio advertisements encouraging juvenile-facility abuse claims may be contributing to the spike in filings.
Keith Wagoner — A discussion about radio advertisements: one speaker reassured Senator Wagoner about the ads he hears, and Wagoner clarified that he was not upset or 'chagrined' by them, only noting that he had heard the advertisements.
Jesse Salomon — The chair announced that Senator Jesse Salomon had just joined and invited him to introduce himself. Senator Salomon then introduced himself and identified his 32nd District, covering North Seattle, Shoreline, Woodway, Mountlake Terrace, Lynnwood, and parts of Edmonds.
Jesse Salomon — Senator Jesse Salomon asks whether the existing claims have been resolved and whether that resolution will lead to fewer claims in the future.
Jesse Salomon — A question was directed to Senator Salomon about whether medication-assisted therapy is helping with fentanyl.
Jesse Salomon — Addressed as 'Senator Salomon' when asking about outcomes that differ by sentencing systems.
Jesse Salomon — Referred to as 'Senator Salomon'; said to have touched on the question of what works.
Jesse Salomon — Senator Salomon questioned the witness about the connection between parole and racial disproportionality, noting historical disparities in parole grants and pressing how parole or second-look measures would address those inequities. He referenced support from Judge Galvan and other judges while asking how the witness’s point would be achieved in practice.
Jesse Salomon — Addressed by name in the greeting.
Jesse Salomon — The transcript appears to misrecognize Senator Jesse Salomon as 'Sarah Solomon' in a follow-up question about DNA evidence accuracy.
Nikki Torres — The chair announced that Senator Nikki Torres would speak next, and Torres then introduced herself as the State Senator for the Floating 15th district, representing parts of Benton and Yakima County.
Nikki Torres — Noted as being online during the meeting.
Scott Barbara / Barbara Scott (questionable) — First presenter began testimony and joked about the name being reversed in the transcript.
Daryl Cochran — Daryl Cochran introduced himself as representing the Washington State Association for Justice and as a lawyer for child sexual abuse victims. He argued that the bar graphs reflect a pandemic-related backlog in the court system, with cases accumulating since 2018 and a 2024 spike caused by the system thawing after the freeze. He then said the data represents real human suffering, describing abusive foster care placements, including statewide “houses of horrors” where children were raped and state caseworkers and administrators allegedly knew about it. He cited examples such as Ione, J. Barty Ranch, the Kiwanis Vocational Home in Centralia, and OK Boys Ranch, and said the Seattle Times stories and tort settlements helped expose the misconduct. Cochran argued that the state had a duty to fund and oversee caseworkers, that DSHS reviews found widespread abuse, and that children were often transferred without explanation or follow-up. He concluded that ignoring abuse causes broader societal harm, that the state has moral, societal, and legal obligations to atone, and that tort law is necessary to bring wrongdoing to light, hold agencies accountable, and protect innocent children in foster care.
Alison Kretzinger — Alison Kretzinger, speaking for the Department of Children, Youth, and Families, opened her testimony by identifying herself and describing the agency’s creation as an opportunity to do things differently, including moving youth back from out-of-state placements.
Unidentified department representative — The department representative said it is difficult to predict whether claims filed or settlement amounts will slow down and that the department expects continued growth. They added that the increase appears to be driven by a combination of factors, including greater clarity in legal statutes and frameworks through various cases.
Alison Goodsinger? (questionable) — The speaker appears to address 'Allison' while turning the presentation over; the name is unclear in the transcript.
Jason Howell — Identified himself as the chief risk officer for the Department of Social and Health Services and began describing changes in DSHS tort exposure after the DCYF split.
Mick Pedersen — Introduces himself as Risk Management for the Department of Corrections.
Michael — The chair or prior speaker appears to address someone named Michael before the handoff.
Jason — Jason is thanked by name in the transition between speakers.
HB1119 — Mentioned as legislation championed by the Chair to focus community corrections officers on preventing injury to the public.
Laura Knott Peterson — Named as one of the presenters for the next panel on parole.
Carrie Ann Jetser — Named as one of the presenters for the next panel on parole.
Carrie Ann Yitzer — Introduced herself as the coordinator of the Sentencing Guidelines Commission.
Dr. Lauren Knoth Peterson — Identified as a colleague from the Public Safety Policy and Research Center joining virtually.
Dr. Lauren Knoth Peterson — Identified herself as a senior research scientist with the Public Safety Policy and Research Center and said she would discuss sentencing guidelines and parole.
Carrie Ann — Addressed the question of how sentencing grids and ranges function under a parole system and introduced three general structures.
Carrie Ann — Referenced as having mentioned prior release guidelines under the indeterminate sentencing scheme.
Dr. Knoth-Pierston — Addressed by another speaker in a question about how 'typical' time served is determined and updated.
Dr. Pearson — Dr. Pearson was asked whether different sentencing and parole systems produce different outcomes. He responded that the short answer is yes, though the extent of the difference depends on the outcome and the quality of the study, with causality varying by measure.
Judge Veronica Galvan — Judge Veronica Galvan, co-chair of the Minority and Justice Commission and a King County Superior Court judge, testified in support of parole reform and second-look review. She urged lawmakers to rely on data rather than fear, noting that parole and probation can reduce recidivism more effectively and at lower cost than incarceration. She emphasized that successful reentry depends on housing, employment, education, and supportive relationships, and cited research showing racial and ethnic disparities in parole outcomes. Galvan argued for stronger data collection, accountability, meaningful access to review, and a parole system not controlled by parties with a direct interest. She referenced Washington law and related legislative history to support prosecutor-initiated review through elected judges and prosecutors, contrasted that approach with an appointed board, and concluded by calling for transparent, equitable, due-process-based systems that balance public safety, fiscal responsibility, fairness, rehabilitation, and accountability.
Judge Cindy Larson — Welcomed as a member of the next panel.
Judge Cindy Larson — Judge Cindy Larson, speaking as president of the Superior Court Judges Association, presented SCJA’s support for resentencing reform centered on creating a parole or review board rather than continuing piecemeal resentencing. She explained that a centralized system with data collection and oversight could help reduce geographic disparities, and argued that this approach is especially sensible given shortages of public defenders and prosecutors and heavy caseloads. She concluded by thanking the committee for the opportunity to testify.
Jeff Holy — Addressed as Ranking Member.
SB6164 — Referenced in the title of the cited study on prosecutor-initiated resentencing.
SB6164 — The speaker thanks the senator for SB 6164 and says it was part of a path that became legally complicated.
Eric Eisenger — Invited to join the prosecutors' panel.
Eric I. Singer — Eric I. Singer, the Benton County Prosecutor and a member of the WAPA Legislative Committee, explained that although parole is about giving people a second chance, any parole system should primarily serve the interests of the community. He argued that parole should only be adopted if it improves public safety, reduces recidivism, supports victims, and provides meaningful supervision and reentry services, especially for people returning after long prison terms. He cautioned against releasing violent offenders without adequate resources and supervision, said parole should be forward-looking rather than retroactive, and emphasized that it must preserve real consequences for criminal behavior so the public understands that crime still carries serious accountability.
Russell Brown — Russell Brown, executive director of the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, continued his testimony by addressing sentencing and parole policy. He noted that he wanted to add to points already raised, argued that states had good reasons for moving away from parole systems, and cautioned against recreating past problems. He said a determinant-plus model offers more certainty for victims and communities by establishing a minimum sentence before parole eligibility, and he pointed to the legislature’s expansion of the pardons and clemency board as another parole-like reform. Brown concluded by referencing the Criminal Sentencing Task Force, emphasizing that the focus should be on practical outcomes such as education, treatment, transition services, and reducing recidivism, regardless of what the system is called.
Russell Brown — Russell Brown, executive director of the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, introduces himself and states WAPA’s support for the Wrongfully Convicted Persons Act and its mechanism for actual innocence claims. He explains that WAPA believes the current process is working appropriately because relatively few people are seeking applications and many claims are screened out for practical legal reasons. His remarks conclude with the chair thanking him and asking him to follow up with Laura about DNA testing and newly discovered evidence, including burden-of-proof issues.