Tagged: Crime

Not as many people are dying from prescription drug overdoses in Washington, but heroin abuse appears to be spiking higher. Those figures come from an annual report on drug abuse in the state. Researchers studied death reports, police reports, help-line phone calls and treatment records. And the picture this year shows heroin is making a comeback. Use of the drug peaked in the 90s, but since then it's been mostly confined to aging drug-addicts.

An Alaska man accused of murdering an elderly Chehalis couple in 1985 is awaiting extradition to Lewis County, Wash. Police say the arrest of Rick Riffe of King Salmon, Alaska, closes a cold case investigation that spans 26 years.

This week, the Lane County Sheriff released nearly 100 prisoners from jail, including three homicide suspects. Friday nearly 30 sheriff's employees were laid off. The District Attorney has to lay off at least 14 from his office. The county has a bare bones budget due to loss of timber funding and low property tax revenue.

Nearly 100 inmates of the Lane County Jail will be released this week. Not because they've served their time, but because the county can't afford to keep them. This after commissioners cut nearly $100 million from the general fund.

Before Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire leaves office in January, she will decide whether to commute the life sentence of convicted killer Barry Massey. His attorneys hope this week’s Supreme Court ruling on life without parole for juveniles will bolster their case for clemency.

A new lawsuit alleges sexual abuse by workers at Oregon's only prison for women. It's the latest in a series of lawsuits brought by female inmates at the institution in Wilsonville.

The last person charged with the 2001 arson of a University of Washington building was sentenced today to four years in prison. Liz Jones has more.