Washington state does not have a system for parole.

That doesn’t leave many options for someone serving a long sentence to earn an early release. 

An important one is a form of clemency called commutation. Since Governor Bob Ferguson took office, he has denied every request for it so far.

We’ll get into what that means with InvestigateWest reporter Moe Clark.

Read Moe's reporting here.

Vote for Seattle Now to win a Signal Listener's Choice Award!

Submit cost and time saving strategies to Sound Transit.

We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. 

Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online or on the KUOW App.

Washington state does not have a system for parole.
That doesn&rsquo;t leave many options for someone serving a long sentence to earn an early release.&nbsp;
An important one is a form of clemency called commutation. Since Governor Bob Ferguson took office, he has denied every request for it so far.
We&rsquo;ll get into what that means with InvestigateWest reporter Moe Clark.
Read Moe's reporting <a href="https://www.investigatewest.org/washington-governor-ferguson-clemency-denials/">here</a>.
Vote for Seattle Now <a href="https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2026/shows/genre/local-news">to win a Signal Listener's Choice Award!</a>
<a href="https://www.soundtransit.org/get-to-know-us/news-events/news-releases/sound-transit-seeks-cost-saving-strategies-st3-projects">Submit</a>&nbsp;cost and time saving strategies to Sound Transit.
We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. <a href="https://donate.kuow.org/donate/seattlenow">Tap here</a> to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed.&nbsp;
Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at <a href="mailto:seattlenow@kuow.org">seattlenow@kuow.org</a>, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or <a href="https://www.kuow.org/feedback">leave us feedback online</a> or on <a href="https://meet.kuow.org/question/">the KUOW App.</a>

Seattle Now is KUOW's flagship daily news podcast. Seattle Now brings you quick headlines, smart analysis, and award-winning local news. New episodes every weekday morning and afternoon. Start and end your day with Seattle Now, from KUOW and the NPR Network.

Seattle Now is KUOW's flagship daily news podcast. Seattle Now brings you quick headlines, smart analysis, and award-winning local news. New episodes every weekday morning and afternoon. Start and end your day with Seattle Now, from KUOW and the NPR Network.

Seattle Now

Washington state does not have a system for parole.  That doesn’t leave many options for someone serving a long sentence to earn an early release.   An important one is a form of clemency called commutation. Since Governor Bob Ferguson took office, he has denied every request for it so far.  We’ll get into what that means with InvestigateWest reporter Moe Clark.