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Pass testimony legislation

Change is sometimes difficult. Changing the legal justice system seems impossible at times. I have been working continuously for five years trying to change the way incentivized informant testimony is gathered and used in our state. It appears that both law enforcement and prosecutors alike do not want an even playing field when using these informants. ESSB 5038 sponsored by Sen. Mike Padden addresses some of the issues with non-uniform standards in our current laws.

Achieving lasting, honest and correct convictions in our state could be within grasp by applying uniform standards when using these informants. ESSB 5038 will not stop all wrongful convictions caused by false testimony of informants. It will add another layer of protection to our ever disappearing civil rights. Criminal informants are a huge part of our legal justice system. Sometimes the incentivized information given by informants should be taken with extreme caution.

Detectives and prosecutors, please do your best to corroborate this testimony before ruining any more lives of innocent people.

Duane Statler

Spokane

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