Safety for all

The health of our community depends on the ability of every person to live a safe and productive life, knowing that when we need help it will be readily available and provided.

We can have a robust and coordinated public safety system that creates genuine safety for all people in King County communities while also reflecting our values. By breaking down silos across county government and working with the community and community-based organizations, we are deploying options that keep residents safe immediately and focusing on root causes to rebuild lives. Together, we can break harmful cycles and implement new partnerships that enhance how we deliver public safety.

In the 2023 – 2024 budget, Executive Constantine proposes to fund a Public Safety plan that will help King County achieve this vision. Click or tap on the areas below for more information.

King County Executive Dow Constantine
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Fill County vacancies 72 sheriff deputies 100 corrections officers 30 youth detention officers	Support community safety 140 security officers on Metro transit to provide visibility and support 52 Regional Peacekeepers , trusted messengers delivering a community-led approach to gun violence prevention including critical incident response, hospital-based referrals, and hot spot remediation activities 100 behavioral health apprentices
Sheriff Office Reimagined New unit focused on reducing gun violence 4 new co-responder units so behavioral health professionals can address crises together with law enforcement 2 new divisions: Community Programs & Services and Special Operations	Best and latest training Sheriff deputies trained in anti-racism & de-escalation Corrections officers trained in anti-racism & suicide prevention

Expand behavioral health Regional network of crisis care centers Protect and expand residential bed capacity Support workforce Restore 24/7 operations at an expanded Sobering Center – a safe place for people to sleep off the acute effects of intoxication and connect treatment services, housing assistance, and other supports	Restore jail & detention services Regular programming, including individual and group supports In-person visitation hours Regular booking hours restored so police agencies can book individuals as needed All jail bunks retrofitted to lessen suicide risk
Alternatives to youth detention identified to replace the juvenile detention center	Identify alternative options for antiquated Seattle jail to better meet the region’s needs where many of the individuals in custody have behavioral health needs

Partner with other criminal legal system agencies, including cities and the state and federal governments, in public safety planning and implementation and bringing successful programs to scale	50% of Sheriff patrol deputies deployed with body-worn cameras (100% by the end 2025)
Reduce pandemic-created legal system backlog to hold individuals accountable for crimes committed	Reduce inquest backlog to shed light on the facts and circumstances surrounding a death at the hands of law enforcement and identify whether programs, policies, or training could be updated to avoid similar tragedies in the future
Provide faster and direct restitution to harmed parties through restorative justice programs

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Safety for all

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Safety for all

Safety for all

Executive Office