In April 2025, Spokane police arrested a man for violently assaulting a woman, leading to a call to 911 due to escalating yelling and suspected domestic violence. The victim expressed her frustration about her boyfriend's abusive behavior, revealing a pattern of prior domestic violence. Despite clear probable cause for prosecution due to the man's previous convictions for similar offenses, the Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office opted to decline charges based on the victim's unwillingness to pursue the case.
This shift in prosecutorial decisions has become more pronounced since mid-2025, with Spokane County, known for its high domestic violence rates, witnessing a notable increase in declined cases. For instance, the number of felony domestic violence case refusals surged from just one or two per month to over a dozen by March 2026, with a peak of 25 declined cases. This trend has left many offenders, including those charged with serious crimes like strangulation and assault, released quickly without prosecution.
Sgt. Dave Adams of the Spokane Police Department noted that this increase in declined cases struck him as unprecedented, marking a significant change in the local criminal justice landscape. Prosecuting Attorney Preston McCollam, who took office in July 2025, faces criticism amid these declines, with advocates for domestic violence survivors attributing the situation to a combination of factors, primarily the Washington State Supreme Court orders in June 2025 that limited public defense caseloads.
These court orders aimed to address overwhelmed public defenders by reducing the number of cases each can handle, yet have instead complicated the operational dynamics of the criminal justice system. Prosecutors are now compelled to prioritize which cases to pursue, especially as the Spokane County prosecutor's office operates at about 80% staffing capacity, creating further strain on their ability to prosecute. McCollam indicated the staffing shortages and shifting court rules significantly affected their decision-making process.
Amid these challenges, several cases exemplified the struggle to proceed without victim cooperation. For instance, a severe incident reported by a woman about her boyfriend's choking and assault led to police action but was ultimately declined by prosecutors based solely on the victim’s subsequent claim that she was “fine” and had no safety concerns. This exemplifies a trend where victims, often under pressure from abusers, retract statements or refuse to cooperate with the legal process, thereby hindering potential prosecutions.
Advocates like Sally Winn of the YWCA highlighted the challenges inherent in domestic violence situations, where victims may fear repercussions or seek to restore relationships post-incident, leading to non-cooperation with law enforcement. Historically, prosecutors could still move forward even without direct testimony from victims, relying on collateral evidence like medical records and witness testimonies. However, the dramatic rise in declines due to victim uncooperativeness has changed this approach.
In response to the increasing difficulties faced by victims and the legal system, discussions surrounding resource allocations have intensified. Despite a state budget increase aimed at bolstering public defense resources, local prosecutors remain skeptical about the adequacy of funding to meet the overwhelming needs of the caseload. Clark County Prosecuting Attorney Tony Golik and others caution that the reduction of cases public defenders can handle may lead to a cascading failure in the justice system, with significant ramifications for victims of crime.
As public defenders continue to face increased caseload limits without sufficient staff to comply, criminal justice advocates warn of a mounting crisis. Some counties, including Yakima, have yet to experience case declines, but there is concern that as public defense reforms phase in, a broader trend of declining prosecutions for domestic violence may emerge, exacerbating an already critical situation for survivors seeking justice.
The Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney's Office emphasized the need for cooperation from victims to proceed effectively with domestic violence cases, underscoring the complexity of navigating the legal terrain where victim safety and systemic constraints intersect. The increasing number of declined cases continues to raise alarms regarding community safety and the efficacy of the justice process.
