DOC Pays $2.25 Million to Settle 1999 Shooting Lawsuit

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                      March 12, 2008

OLYMPIA – Five children involved in a 1999 attack by a Washington offender under community supervision at a California Jewish community center will share a $2.25 million settlement, the Department of Corrections announced today.

“This was a tragedy that shocked us all.  The victims and their families have our deepest sympathies,” said DOC Secretary Eldon Vail.

Buford Furrow Jr., the offender, currently is serving a life sentence in a federal prison.

DOC assumed supervision over Furrow for a year on April 28, 1999 following his release from a county jail on an assault charge. Furrow reported as directed to his community corrections officer for several months prior to the Aug. 10, 1999 shooting.

During his period of supervision in the community, DOC raised his risk classification from minimum to medium, which meant more frequent meetings with his community corrections officer. He also was banned from possessing firearms or alcohol.

In the lawsuit filed in King county Superior Court plaintiffs allege DOC failed to properly supervise Furrow by not discovering that he had several firearms and ammunition and failed to conduct home visits.

Since the shooting a number of major changes to strengthen offender supervision have been mandated.  The Offender Accountability Act, made effective by legislative action on July 1, 2000, gave DOC more authority to impose conditions on offenders on supervision in the community. Other legislation passed since then allows DOC easier access to offenders’ mental health records.  Additionally, DOC stiffened its community supervision policies last year.

“We all try to make sense of these senseless acts of hate and violence.  They leave us all shocked and saddened but motivated to find ways to improve public safety.  I hope in some small way these families will be able to find peace and resolution,” Vail said.

He added he believed that the new laws passed by the Legislature and new department policies that place community offenders under closer supervision will make it less likely similar events will occur in the future.

-30-

 

Divider image - horizontal green bar