In 2020, NACDL worked with the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (WACDL) to mobilize constituents to reach out to their lawmakers and urge them to support HB 2231, which addresses Washington’s harsh and indiscriminate felony bail jumping statute. HB 2231 establishes an affirmative defense to prosecution under the statute and makes violation of the statute a misdemeanor, rather than a felony. In response to a legislative action alert issued by NACDL, individuals shared powerful stories about their experience defending individuals coerced into guilty pleas in the face of felony charges for forgetting a court date, fearing losing their job, managing childcare responsibilities, or lacking access to transportation. HB 2231 was signed into law March 2020.
Bail Jumping
NACDL worked with the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers to reform Washington’s bail jumping statute.
