OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — A proposed constitutional amendment that would allow judges to deny bail to more dangerous defendants is hung up in the state Legislature.
House and Senate versions of the bill disagree on the types of crimes that would be affected. The House version would affect more defendants.
The state Senate Judiciary Committee is holding a hearing Friday on the measure that has been called the most important bill of the session for law enforcement. It’s a response to November’s shooting of four Lakewood officers by a man out on bail even though he was already accused of crimes that could have locked him up for life.
If the amendment passes the Legislature it would have to be approved by voters before it becomes part of the state constitution.
