It’s been five months since Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced that over a 13-year period nearly 3,000 prison inmates were accidentally released early. Wednesday, Washington Senate Republicans issued a 66-page report that places significant blame for the problem not being fixed on former corrections Secretary Bernie Warner.
Senate Republicans also proposed a dozen changes to state law to address issues highlighted in the report. The proposals include: simplifying Washington’s sentencing grid and hiring an independent ombudsman to oversee the Department of Corrections.
An earlier investigation commissioned by Inslee also recommended the creation of an ombudsman position.
Two deaths -- a murder and a vehicular homicide -- have been linked to inmates who were let out early.
The problem was traced to a computer coding error. The Department of Corrections says the problem has now been fixed.
