Public integrity cases – Prosecuting Attorney’s Office

*Prior to February 5, 2025, the KCPAO was mandated by executive order to review all in-custody death investigations for their completeness and to make a recommendation to the Executive whether the King County Charter required an inquest. (See. EO PHL 7-1-5 §7.1). As a result, the KCPAO reviewed all in-custody deaths, including deaths by suicide,  accident and natural causes. Executive Order PHL 7-1-6, issued on February 5, 2025, removed this requirement. As a result, going forward, the KCPAO will only review in-custody death investigations that law enforcement refers to our office for filing where physical force was used on the inmate by law enforcement or other circumstances where criminal liability may attach. This applies to death investigations that pre-date the executive order.