First, I want to thank the families and community members who joined us last Monday night in Kennewick for the town hall on the proposed less restrictive alternative (LRA) placement. I was encouraged by the strong turnout and deeply appreciate everyone who took the time to show up, ask questions, and share personal concerns.

When public safety is involved, clarity matters — so let me speak plainly with you.

The proposed placement of an LRA home in Kennewick has raised serious and legitimate questions, and I share those concerns. These placements do not belong in residential neighborhoods, especially near schools and places where children and families live their daily lives.

SVP placements and the public safety gaps we can’t ignore

Unfortunately, in recent years, Washington has increasingly moved people out of total confinement and into community-based housing. These are homes placed in ordinary neighborhoods, sometimes near schools and child care facilities, where individuals with a history of violent sexual crimes are allowed to live under court-ordered supervision.

That is deeply troubling.

Investigative reporting by The Seattle Times has shown why. The state has quietly accelerated releases from McNeil Island without adequate tracking, consistent oversight, or independent accountability. The state does not routinely monitor outcomes after release, and audits of the system are rare.

The Times found that roughly one in four people released from McNeil Island were later arrested for new crimes, and one in seven reoffended in a serious way, many involving sexual violence. Even placements that were supposed to be “supervised” have generated hundreds of violations over the past decade, including tampering with monitoring devices, curfew violations, and prohibited contact.

When these individuals are placed into neighborhoods, the risk is no longer theoretical — it’s local and real.

Parents should not have to wonder who is living near their child’s school. Neighborhoods should not learn about placements after decisions are already made. And communities should not be expected to absorb risk created by a system that has failed to prove it can manage that risk safely.

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