A Duty to Protect, Tacoma, WA 2001
Partners:
The News Tribune
KCTS-TV (PBS)
KPLU-FM
The Washington state legislature was poised in January 2002 to limit lawsuits that could be brought by victims of crimes committed by prisoners on parole until a poll commissioned by the partners showed 90 percent of the state supported the victims’ right to sue. The measure was tabled, a sign of success for a project that sought to inject citizens’ voices into the debate over what to do about the state parole system.
The partners undertook the project “A Duty to Protect” in 2001, when the state spent $53 million dollars in judgments or settlements for lawsuits stemming from parolee crime – almost as much as it spent to monitor parolees. It was clear the parole system needed reform but it was not clear what form that should take.
The partners surveyed 400 Washington residents in October and November to see where they stood on the issue. They found most wanted to retain the right to sue and less than half supported caps on damages.
The poll became the basis for a series of reports that began Jan. 7, 2002 on KCTS-TV’s “Currents” public affairs program. KPLU-FM and The News Tribune each began a three-part series on Jan.13 to coincide with the start of the legislative session. The partners also collaborated on a Web site, www.adutytoprotect.org, that included the survey, a forum on parole issues and links to lawmakers and parole organizations around the country.
The legislature did take limited reform action in 2002. It passed a measure that would allow state agencies to investigate parole system failures without fear the reports would be used in litigation. Fear of litigation had kept the state from conducting meaningful investigations. It was hoped the new bill would allow the state to learn from its mistakes.
Contact:
Peggy Bellows
Senior Editor
News Tribune
1950 S. State St.
Tacoma, WA 98405-0008
Phone: (253) 597-8456
Email: peggy.bellows@mail.tribnet.com