Consent Decree Timeline

The 2012 consent decree between the United States and the City of Seattle was established to ensure police services are provided to Seattle residents in a way that fully complies with the U.S. Constitution, effectively safeguards public and officer safety, and fosters public trust in the Seattle Police Department and its officers.

The 230-paragraph settlement agreement, also known as the consent decree, details the tasks, goals, and procedures through which the Department of Justice and the City of Seattle will carry out the decree under the supervision of Judge James Robart of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington and his appointed monitor. The 2012 consent decree was specifically designed to address various officer activities, including (1) use of force, (2) crisis intervention, (3) stops and detentions, (4) bias-free policing, and (5) effective supervision.

Within each category, the consent decree required the Police Department to develop new policies and training programs that were reviewed by both the Department of Justice and the federal monitoring team to ensure they aligned with the principles and goals of the consent decree and reflected emerging best practices. Although the consent decree outlined specific tasks and expectations, it remained flexible enough to adapt to changes in policing over the past 13 years. For example, the best practices in crowd management evolved significantly during the period of the consent decree. The consent decree led the Seattle Police Department to create internal systems for critical self-evaluation to ensure that every use of force, stop, detention, and arrest was documented and reviewed. Necessary corrective actions were taken, aiming to make Seattle’s police service an ongoing, learning organization.