SEATTLE — King County has launched a reform this month requiring prosecutors to make felony charging decisions within 30 days of receiving case referrals from law enforcement.
The new policy, implemented by King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion, applies to all adult felony cases and juvenile filings across the county. Previously, suspects and victims alike faced months-long delays before learning whether criminal charges would be filed.
The change addresses a significant backlog that accumulated during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the prosecutor’s office struggled to keep pace with incoming cases…