OLYMPIA, Wash. – Some people convicted of organized retail theft could get a longer prison sentence under a proposal making its way through the legislature.
Heard in the House Committee on Community Safety Monday afternoon, House Bill 1276 would create a new sentencing enhancement for anyone convicted of stealing or possessing a high value of goods.
12 months would be added to the sentence of a person guilty of organized retail theft where the property is worth $20,000 or more. If the property has a value of $50,000 or more, 24 months would be added to the sentence.
Currently, a person could get up to ten years in prison for organized theft, based on the seriousness of the crime.
A bipartisan coalition of lawmakers have signed onto the bill. People who testified in support at Monday’s hearing said money made from organized theft funds other criminal activity, often involves a great deal of violence and pointed to a 2021 Forbes study which found Washington was the state most impacted by retail crime.
“It impacts our businesses who can’t absorb the loss and may have to lay off workers,” said prime sponsor State Representative Mari Leavitt (D-University Place). “It impacts our state by having lost tax dollars that could go back into the strength of our economy. And it impacts consumers who may not feel safe as a result, to do their shopping.”
A representative from the state Sentencing Guidelines Commission testified in opposition, saying existing aggravating factors already allow for stiffer punishments for crimes with a large economic impact or with sophisticated planning.
Other opponents said organized theft isn’t as large of a problem as retailers say it is, and question the impact of longer sentences.
“It isn’t helpful because we’ve known for years that sentence length is not a deterrent to crime, neither for the general public or for the person caught,” said David Trieweiler with the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. “Yet here we are again, falsely claiming that increasing sentence lengths will deter these crimes and increase public employee safety. It will not.”
One King County prosecutor testified more resources are needed as they face an increase in all types of cases. Leavitt acknowledged the proposal is just one tool needed to address organized theft.
It is currently unclear when the community safety committee could vote on the bill.
Albert James is a television reporter covering state government as part of the Murrow News Fellowship program – a collaborative effort between news outlets statewide and Washington State University.
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