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Last updated 1:18PM ET
February 17, 2012
KPLU Local News
KPLU Local News
Democrats Divided On Constitutional Amendment On Bail
Austin Jenkins (2010-02-09)
Washington State Patrol and Lakewood Police officers light flares at a roadblock near the scene of a shooting that involved two Pierce County Sheriff's deputies, Monday, Dec. 21, 2009, near Eatonville, Wash. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
OLYMPIA, WA (KPLU) - A proposal to amend Washington's constitution in response to the Lakewood police officer murders is running into rough legislative waters. Last week, the House passed a scaled back version of the legislation first proposed by the Governor. Now, the State Senate is poised to vote on an even more narrowly worded amendment. KPLU's Austin Jenkins explains.

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Under Governor Chris Gregoire's proposal, judges would have been able to withhold bail in cases where they believed the defendant posed a threat to public safety. But that language was too broad for many Democrats in the House. So they passed a constitutional amendment that says bail can be denied when the accused faces life in prison with the possibility of parole. This week the Senate is expected to consider another option that would apply in even fewer cases - only those in which conviction would result in prison without parole. The governor notes her approach had the support of police, prosecutors and judges.

Chris Gregoire: "All agreed that the better course of action was what I proposed. But again, my number one priority is get something done. We are not going home until we get something done on this issue."

Currently, judges in Washington can only withhold bail in capital murder cases. Any change to the state constitution would have to be approved by voters. I'm Austin Jenkins in Olympia. © Copyright 2012, KPLU