August 22, 2024
Governor Jay Inslee
Office of the Governor
PO Box 40002
Olympia, WA 98504-0002
CC
Senator T’wina Nobles
416 Legislative Building
PO Box 40428
Olympia, WA 98504
I am writing on behalf of communities across Washington State, especially the people of the 28th Legislative District, to urgently call for a special session in response to the alarming report by the Seattle Times concerning the Special Commitment Center on McNeil Island. I am also calling for the immediate termination of Department of Social and Health Services Secretary Jilma Meneses and demand an independent, enforceable audit of the Department of Social and Health Services, including but not limited to the Center.
The recent statistics made public by the Seattle Times are jarring. The report stated that 1 in 4 people Washington released from the Special Containment Center–created to rehabilitate “sexually violent predators” – have been arrested for new crimes. It goes on to state that 1 in 7 re-offended in a “serious manner,” often committing a sexually violent crime. This should frighten every resident of our state who could unknowingly have one of these monsters in their community.
Moreover, that most of those released into local communities have little to no supervision or tracking post-release can lead to only one conclusion: more oversight is more liability for the state. Frankly, that state government and our elected representatives have adopted a “hope for the best” philosophy while burying their collective heads in the sand is simply unacceptable.
To this point, it is painfully clear that 28th District State Senator T’wina Nobles, whose district encompasses McNeil Island, is complicit in DSHS’s negligence.
Sadly, her failure is consistent with a general disregard for public safety and animus towards law enforcement. Not only did Senator Nobles stand idly by in 2020 during the Powell court proceedings but she voted to pass SB-5163, the underlying legislation that caused this disturbing set of issues. Senator Nobles then exacerbated the problem by advocating and voting to outlaw police pursuits even in the case of pursuing suspected rapists and murderers.
In closing, this is not the first time DSHS has shirked responsibility for failed outcomes. In 2020, a Pierce County jury found DSHS negligent in the death of two children at the hands of their father. The state recently lost an appeal of the near-$100 million settlement. Former 28th District Senator Steve O’Ban held a legislative hearing in the aftermath of the tragedy, but DSHS officials left before answering questions by the Senate panel.
The evidence is overwhelming at this point: The Department of Social and Health Services is rife with neglect, mismanagement, and instances of public endangerment. It is long past time for legislative and gubernatorial action.
Sincerely,
Maia Espinoza
Candidate for State Senate
28th Legislative District
(253) 384 - 1141