At the bill’s Jan. 16 public hearing, Simmons told colleagues that “while some people may have a stigma for people who have committed a sex offense, I think they have invaluable information to share that can really guide this board.” The first state legislator to be formerly incarcerated, she said her background brought “some lived experience that was missing here.”
Also testifying in favor of the bill was SOPB Chair Brad Meryhew, a defense attorney who represents those accused of sex offenses. He told the committee that “one of the things that we try very hard to do on the board is to facilitate as many diverse voices as we can at the table. We invite to the table many stakeholders, including those impacted by these policies.”“This is not a process that anybody takes lightly,” he added.
Another proponent of HB 2177 was Alex Mayo with Washington Voices, an organization that represents convicted sex offenders. He told the committee that the bill would “increase diversity of perspectives on the Sex Offender Policy Board.
For far too long we have been focused solely on punishment. Our policies also need to address healing and prevention.” SOPB member Sonja Hardenbrook, who represents the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers on the board, told the committee that “it is important to include those with lived experience in all policy decisions. It’s a reality that those of us fortunate enough to serve on boards like this bring with us a fair amount of privilege, and it can blind us to some policy or its impact.”
Also testifying in favor of the bill was SOPB Chair Brad Meryhew, a defense attorney who represents those accused of sex offenses. He told the committee that “one of the things that we try very hard to do on the board is to facilitate as many diverse voices as we can at the table. We invite to the table many stakeholders, including those impacted by these policies.”“This is not a process that anybody takes lightly,” he added.
Another proponent of HB 2177 was Alex Mayo with Washington Voices, an organization that represents convicted sex offenders. He told the committee that the bill would “increase diversity of perspectives on the Sex Offender Policy Board.
For far too long we have been focused solely on punishment. Our policies also need to address healing and prevention.” SOPB member Sonja Hardenbrook, who represents the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers on the board, told the committee that “it is important to include those with lived experience in all policy decisions. It’s a reality that those of us fortunate enough to serve on boards like this bring with us a fair amount of privilege, and it can blind us to some policy or its impact.”