King County voters approve changes to police death inquests
SEATTLE (AP) — Residents in Washington state have approved a new amendment for King County requiring inquests during investigations into police officer conduct when people die in custody.
Inquests are judicial inquiries conducted by a judge, jury or government official that determine the cause of a person’s death. They do not always require an autopsy.
Residents of the county, which includes Seattle, approved the amendment that adds the county’s inquest process into the county charter, setting the process for investigating deaths in police custody, KING-TV reported. Tuesday's vote count showed 81% in favor of the amendment.
Under the amendment, inquests now also can apply to law enforcement custody death cases involving jail or police staff. King County must also pay for attorneys for the families of those who died, according to the amendment's language.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/king-county-voters-approve-changes-to-police-death-inquests/ar-BB1aLfWj?ocid=hplocalnews