News Release
In a briefing before the Seattle City Council this morning, the Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC) released the preliminary results of a pilot program for offenders who are supervised in Seattle. Launched in February, 2011, the research-based program shows that swift and certain, but modest, sanctions are more effective in reducing drug use, crime and days spent in jail for violations of release conditions.

Think that’s possible? I mean, really? Can we have less crime and less punishment? The answer is a resounding “Yes!” A pilot program launched last February with state prison inmates released to community supervision in Seattle has reduced drug use,…