King County council adopts one-year moratorium on new or expanded detention facilities

The King County Council on March 3 adopted an emergency one-year moratorium that blocks the county from accepting applications for new or expanded detention facilities in unincorporated King County while staff prepare a work plan and recommendations for permanent regulations.

Councilmember Jeanne Mosqueda, the ordinance sponsor, told colleagues the moratorium is designed to close regulatory gaps that could allow private or publicly operated detention centers to move forward without proper safeguards. "This moratorium ensures that King County land use regulations can continue to focus on strengthening the public's health and community resilience while we study the implications of potential detention facilities," Mosqueda said.

Jake Tracy of council central staff briefed the council that the ordinance would adopt the definition of "detention facility" from state law (RCW…