Information Sheet

Public Safety Budget

Gov. Gary Locke’s proposed public safety budget:

• Provides $1.4 billion to pay for the state prison system, supervision of prisoners after their release, supervision and treatment of sex offenders, confinement and treatment of chronic juvenile offenders, the state Crime Lab, aid to crime victims, help for at-risk youth, emergency preparedness for natural disasters and terrorism, and the State Patrol.

• Saves nearly $100 million by reducing the number of low-risk, non-violent offenders in prison by 1,200 and by eliminating state supervision of 2,900 low-risk, non-violent offenders who have completed prison time and 22,000 low-risk, non-violent offenders who have competed jail sentences. These reductions are accomplished by accelerating implementation of a new sentencing grid already approved by the Legislature and by increasing the amount of “good time” an offender can earn in prison.

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