Fighting crime: King County prosecutor in West Seattle this week

| Crime | Safety | West Seattle news | White Center

Also from the “coming up” file – The man whose office is in charge of what happens to criminals after they’re arrested is scheduled to be in West Seattle this Thursday, at the South Delridge/White Center Community Safety Coalition meeting. Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg‘s last major public appearance in the West Seattle/White Center vicinity was four months ago, at the “Public Safety in Peril” town-hall meeting (WSB coverage here) that he, Sheriff Sue Rahr, and others held to discuss then-looming budget cuts. So what’s happened since then, and how is it affecting the task of keeping criminals off the street since they’re caught? You can find out firsthand on Thursday night at St. James Place, 9421 18th SW (map); the meeting starts at 6 pm with free dinner, as always, and continues till 8 pm – Seattle Police and King County Sheriff’s Office reps are always on hand to update crime trends in the south WS/WC area too.

jeannie February 22, 2009 (1:30 pm)

Am I just imagining it, but does this photo of Dan Satterberg make him look like Dwight Schrute of The Office?

miws February 22, 2009 (2:00 pm)

jeannie, not just this particular photo. Everytime I see a photo of him, or see him on TV, I can’t help but think the same thing! :)

Mike

Scott February 22, 2009 (8:15 pm)

Now would be a good time to find out how the new felony filing guidelines are keeping criminals off the streets.

An Example

By law it is a felony to possess any methamphetamines.

HOWEVER,

They will not let it be filed as a felony (thus letting the cities file it as a misdemeanor crime and do misdemeanor crime) unless they have (I believe) 20 grams.

So rather than trying people committing felonies as felons, they go get charged as misdemeanors and now 100s if not thousands of people are now convicted misdemeanants rather than convicted felons.

WITCH! February 23, 2009 (1:31 pm)

Scott – Excellent idea. Let’s overload the already heinously overloaded system and make everyone a felon so they can’t own firearms, vote, or get a decent job because they’ll have a gigantic blemish when their I-9 gets processed (even if it’s the only offense). We’re not advocating methamphetamine possession / use / etc. but it’s an epidemic for a reason and not everyone involved fits the bill of “felon” beyond the strict interpretation of the law you provide. Municipalities must make adjustments to their arrest and incarceration practices because they can’t handle the influx of criminals and their systems are overwhelmed. Something’s got to give and in the “case” you provided it’s obviously the decision of what constitutes a felony and what does not and this is made by the authorites. You can bet your bottom dollar that someone involved in an egregious crime while also under the influence and possession of methamphetamines will get charged with a felony when the soccer mom that decided she needed an extra kick in her life (no pun intended) will get the misdemeanor and appropriate opportunities for treatment, will pay fine(s), and face the repercussions from her family and friends. I don’t get the chance to quote the bible much, but I will now; “Judge not and ye shall not be judged.”

Scott February 24, 2009 (10:07 am)

Well witch,

the same thing goes for when this felon writes checks from your bank account. Rather than that being a felony, again we are back in misdemeanor court unless he does it to you and nine other people. And its my job judge….

Sorry, comment time is over.