Incarceration

When the state Legislature convenes on Jan. 9, lawmakers will have the opportunity to address the racially biased practices and devastating consequences of the failed War on Drugs by replacing a system that stigmatizes and criminalizes people with substance use disorders with one that treats drug use with a public health approach. 

This rise in mass incarceration is a result of decades of “tough on crime” policies, mandatory minimums and harsh sentencing practices leading to the growth of the prison industrial complex.  

Those released from jail due to COVID-19 should never have been in jail in the first place. We can't go back to mass incarceration.

The legislative process isn’t just about laws; It’s about people. This is why we need you, our ACLU-WA members and supporters, to join us in advancing our 2019 legislative agenda.

Voters often overlook this local election, but it’s a key way to curb mass incarceration. What few people realize is that prosecuting attorneys play a leading role in shaping the criminal system— and that voters in their communities elect them to the job.