The New Hope Act was signed into law in May of 2019. The aim of this Act was to help people who have made a bad choice or mistake pay their debt to society and move forward with their lives, without the life-long stigma of a criminal conviction. Previously, people who...
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Can I restore my gun rights after a felony conviction?
Upon a felony conviction, you lose certain rights. Some of these rights may naturally restore after you complete your sentence or meet other requirements. Other rights require you to take further action with the court to seek restoration. Specifically, restoring your...
What should you know about field sobriety tests?
When officers suspect Washington residents of drunk driving, they may administer tests. The first test suspected DUI drivers often take is a field sobriety test. Today we will take a look at what a field sobriety test is and how courts use them in DUI cases....
Is expungement right for you?
Expungement On any given day in Washington state, there are more than 35,000 people living behind bars. When these individuals reenter society, many of them struggle to find gainful employment because of criminal convictions that disqualify them from certain...
How expungement can help some people stay in the U.S.
Even if you have no criminal record, applying for citizenship or permanent resident status can be a long and arduous process. After all, government adjudicators are apt to dig deeply into both your current and past behaviors. If you have a criminal conviction, your...
Are there different types of license suspensions in Washington?
Having a driver's license is a privilege, and this privilege can be taken away for many different reasons. In Washington, license suspension is used to penalize drivers for numerous infractions, from driving while under the influence of alcohol to failing to pay child...
Does the three strikes law apply to a nonviolent robbery charge?
With the passage of Senate Bill 5288, Washington State made changes to its three strikes law, and no longer recognizes a nonviolent robbery charge as an offense subject to its rules. Before this amendment, you may have faced a life sentence without parole after three...
Why is treatment a better alternative to jail for drug abusers?
Every day people in Washington are arrested or go to jail for drug offenses. Many sell or buy drugs because they are addicted and become desperate. After they spend their time in jail, they leave and return to society with the same underlying issues that caused the...
State Law Gives “New Hope” to Those With Criminal Records
we discussed some of the many hurdles faced by people with criminal records in Washington State. Even after paying their debt to society, people with criminal convictions are often denied adequate housing, employment and other resources they need to re-enter society...
Is There Hope for Normalcy Post-Conviction?
If a Washington criminal court judge handed you a guilty verdict, you may assume that your life is over. According to Rasmussen College, the average criminal sentence is a little more than three years. However, people with felony convictions often face long-term...
