Sex Crimes is a focus as a result of it seemingly not being a priority to Seattle police and the mayor. Last month there were no sexual assault case involving an adult victim that was assigned to a detective unless an arrest was involved. Some cases where people called to report a sexual assault were routed to the automated telephone reporting unit designed to address non-urgent calls.
Currently, there are four detectives handling sexual assault and child abuse cases in Seattle. Adult sex assault reports have a longer window in which officers may begin investigating them. Crimes against children are the highest priority due to a Washington state law which requires investigation into these crimes.
Seattle Police have forwarded far fewer sex assault cases to the King County Prosecutor’s Office than last year. Arrests for sex crimes involving adults and children have declined considerably. In 2019 fourteen percent of cases investigated by the sexual assault and child abuse unit resulted in an arrest. This year it is 1.6%.
Two cops went off the record stating that adult sex assault cases are seldom assigned. That has not always been. Police staffing is an issue just as there are issues with staffing across the board for most occupations at this time due to COVID. The Seattle Police Department says there are fewer officers to investigate crimes. Sixteen percent of Seattle officers are on leave. Others have left permanently.
The new mayor is paying attention to “hot spots,” people purchasing and selling drugs, and stolen goods from big-box stores. Seattle’s year-end crime report states that violent and property crime is up. The new mayor, Harrell, promised to address crime hotspots and focus on repeat offenders of low-level crimes.
Seattle detectives said that they continue to investigate crimes however cases take time. A 2020 report by the King County Auditor’s Office found King County Sheriff’s Office and the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office sometimes didn’t interview sexual assault victims within the recommended time frame, and deputies failed to provide advocacy information which is a requirement by law.
Important Resources:
King County Sexual Assault Resource Center: 888-998-6423 // Hotline for therapy, legal advocates and family services
UW Medicine Center for Sexual Assault & Traumatic Stress: 206-744-1600 // Hotline, resources including counseling and medical care
Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs // List of providers across the state that offer free services.
Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network (RAINN): 800-656-4673 // Hotline and/or online chat with trained staff
