State Gains More Authority in Turning Down Out-of-State Felons

Maurice Clemmons

Just in case you're new to the city or were living in a cave last November: almost a year ago, Maurice Clemmons gunned down four Lakewood police officers in a coffee shop. A felon from Arkansas, Clemmons had been allowed to move to Washington while still under supervision.

In a Clemmons-inspired measure passed today by the Interstate Commission for Adult Supervision, Washington, and all other states in the Commission, will have more authority to refuse to receive felons from other states that are under supervision or parole, the Seattle Times reports.

Washington had tried to get Arkansas to take Clemmons back prior to the shootings, but was unsuccessful. Governor Gregoire applauded the measure, saying it makes it less likely for "an interstate case like Maurice Clemmons" to happen again.

The amendment was proposed by the head of Washington's Department of Corrections, and will take effect in March of 2011.

Time will tell what these states will define as a "threat to public safety"--there are many different types of felons besides Maurice Clemmons. But at least this isn't the most restrictive measure proposed in the wake of the shootings.