OLYMPIA — A new bill spurred by the recent release of Kevin Coe proposed ahead of the upcoming legislative session would make it harder for serial rapists to be released from civil commitment.
If approved, offenders who have not sought treatment nor expressed remorse for their crimes would not be allowed to be released from the Civil Commitment Center on McNeil Island. The bill is sponsored by state Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, and cosponsored by state Sen. Marcus Riccelli, D-Spokane. The legislation has at least 15 other cosponsors.
“There’s people that believe in forgiveness, that believe that treatment can work,” Schoesler said in an interview Tuesday. “But if you reject those, you should not see the light of day.”…