Ultra woke Washington state Democrats are slammed for trying to add a sex offender to guide sentencing policy advisory board for their 'lived experiences' and advocate for sick perps

Several board members argue the perspective of convicted sex offenders is 'invaluable' to the work they are doing The board has previously worked to make life easier for sex offenders being reintegrated into societyThe convicted offender would sit on the board as would a victim of a sex crime 

Progressive Democrats in Washington state are in hot water after advocating to add a convicted sex offender to a board that guides sentencing for such crimes.

Democrats in the state legislature introduced a bill earlier this month that would rename the ‘Sex Offender Policy Board’ to the ‘Sex Offense Policy Board,’ and subsequently add a convicted convicted offender to the group.

The offender would contribute ‘lived experiences’ that supporters of the bill call ‘invaluable.’

The bill reads: ‘One representative with lived experience with incarceration for a sex offense appointed by the chair of the sex offense policy board and approved by a majority vote of the board’s voting membership’ will have a spot on the board.

The Sex Offense Policy Board is working to officially incorporate the viewpoint of a convicted sex offender into its work. Democrats in the state legislature introduced a bill earlier this month that would rename the ‘Sex Offender Policy Board’ to the ‘Sex Offense Policy Board,’ and subsequently add a convicted convicted offender to the group.

As the legislature has issued policy after policy that prioritize the rights of the offenders over the rights of community members, concerned citizens have begun protesting the new rules

Conservative radio host Jason Rantz noted the bill would allow for a Level Three offender – the most dangerous sort – to sit on the board.

Republican state Rep. Dan Griffey also blasted the bill and questioned why there is a need for an ‘advocate’ for sex offenders, according to Fox News Digital.

The sex offender would be on the board along with at least one victim of a sex crime, who would also serve in a newly established seat on the board.

A Democrat sponsoring the bill, State Representative Tarra Simmons, has advocated for victims to sit on the board beside offenders. Simmons is herself a convicted criminal who has served time for three felony convictions for possession of controlled substances and theft.

Simmons says the legislature should be diverse, which, in her opinion, includes ex-convicts.

‘I’m proud to be here. I think I bring some lived experience that was missing from here,’ she said at a recent hearing.

‘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.’

Board chair Brad Meryhew said the idea of adding a sex offender to the policy board is the ‘sort of reality check that we always need in public policy.’

‘And I welcome the opportunity to have those voices at the table and to do everything I can to facilitate their active participation in our process,’ he continued.

Meryhew is a private defense attorney, who has worked on behalf of individuals accused of sexual misconduct, which some say presents a conflict of interest regarding his work on the board.

Board Chair Brad Meryhew said the perspective of a convicted offender will be the ‘sort of reality check that we always need in public policy’

Board member Tarra Simmons is herself a convicted criminal who has served time for three felony convictions for possession of controlled substances and theft – she is advocating for the inclusion of diversity among the board by way of another ex-con

Residents in some of the places where sex offenders were being housed have protested the policies, especially after finding out that their state government often has trouble keeping track of the offenders once they are released

The board was first established in 2008 for the purpose of conducting case reviews of sex offense cases and policy positions.

The group is made up of 13 members, each appointed by Governor Jay Inslee.

Washington state Democrats have long been working to make life easier for sex offenders.

In 2021, the group passed legislation that allowed the state to more easily release violent sexual predators across the state.

Residents in some of the places where sex offenders were being placed have protested the policies, especially after finding out that their state government often has trouble keeping track of the offenders once they are released.

One concerned citizen with young children told a local Fox station last year that the legislature’s policy is a ‘recipe for disaster.’

‘If you can’t keep accountability for the lower sex-offenders, how can we trust you and your organization to keep accountability for the worst of the worst?’ she said.

At the time that the policy was made official, Democrat State Sen. Christine Rolfes said the new ruled were about giving people ‘who are potentially dangerous, but not necessarily dangerous’ back into communities ‘where they can live safely and with their constitutional liberties protected.’

The next  year, the board issued a recommendation that would end the rule prohibiting the facilities that house the re-integrated sex offenders from being built within 500 feet of a childcare facility.