Washington courts rarely discipline guardians ad litem accused of misconduct in custody cases
Minimal oversight of court investigators makes it difficult for parents to challenge flawed reports without risking damage to their cases
Criminal Justice
Washington courts plod through historic effort to vacate hundreds of thousands of illegal drug convictions
Less than one-fifth of eligible cases have been vacated thus far
She was raped and relentlessly demanded answers — until the city took her to court for harassment
In a small Seattle suburb, a rape investigation sparks a war over speech and power
Fueled by harsh drug sentences, Idaho leads nation in women's incarceration, report finds
Idaho Justice Project calls for drug policy reforms, but lawmakers say public safety is at stake
WA courts ordered 70% fewer court fines and fees between 2018 and 2021 — but disparities remain
Washington defendants owed nearly $300 million as of July 2023
‘A different standard’: Native Americans still searched at far higher rates by Washington State Patrol, new data shows
Though disparities for other races improved, InvestigateWest analysis reveals Native Americans five times more likely to be searched despite ongoing scrutiny
Three years, no investigations: A slow start for Washington office tasked with probing police violence
Most cases under review involve the deaths of Native Americans
A mentally ill inmate in Oregon lost nearly 100 pounds before his sudden death, records suggest
“Starvation is a terrible way to die,” says attorney Lee Ann Donaldson, who is representing Skye Baskin’s family
Since Dobbs, Idaho mothers increasingly accused of child abuse while pregnant
Officials are using medical information to add mothers to child abuse registry for conduct before birth
A Portland woman says her wife stole her identity. Like many victims, she’s unable to press charges
Experts say difficulties in prosecuting spousal identity theft means victims are often steered to civil court to seek justice
More than one-third of Idaho jails failed their inspections. Find out if your local jail is one of them.
Search InvestigateWest’s database of jail inspections for details on the conditions inside
Without state protections, Idaho jail detainees face dangerous conditions
States in the Northwest lack laws ensuring the health and safety of people locked in county jails