Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

Task Forces

The Attorney General's Office manages several task forces to assist the office in carrying out important initiatives.

Active Groups Completed Groups
Domestic Extremism and Mass Violence Task Force Sexual Assault Coordinated Community Response Task Force
Hate Crimes and Bias Incidents Hotline Advisory Committee Washington State Joint Legislative Task Force on Jail Standards
Artificial Intelligence Task Force Hate Crime Advisory Working 
HearMeWA Advisory Committee Senate Bill 6360 Work Group: Consolidating Traffic-Based Financial Obligations Work Group
Washington State Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Task Force Youth Safety and Well-being Statewide Reporting Tool Work Group
Truth and Reconciliation Tribal Advisory Committee Law Enforcement Data Collection Advisory Group
Commercially Sexually Exploited Children Statewide Coordinating Committee  
Office of Military & Veteran Legal Assistance Advisory Committee  
Sexual Assault Forensic Examination Best Practices Advisory Group  
Organized Retail Crime Task Force  
Sunshine Committee  

 

ACTIVE GROUPS

 

Domestic Extremism and Mass Violence Task Force

Pursuant to ESSB 5950 (125) (37), the Domestic Extremism and Mass Violence Task Force will provide recommendations to the legislature to establish a comprehensive public health and community-based framework to combat extremism and mass violence. The Task Force’s final report and recommendations are due to the governor and Legislature by December 1, 2026.

Domestic Extremism and Mass Violence Task Force Meeting

Or

  • Join in-person at 800 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2000, Seattle, WA 98104
  • Please check-in at reception no later than 8:50 a.m.

Public Comment

If you would like to provide public comments to the Task Force during a meeting, please email the Anti-Hate Team at anti-hate@atg.wa.gov at least 2 hours prior to a Task Force meeting. Written comments are accepted at any point, please send comments to anti-hate@atg.wa.gov. 

Hate Crimes and Bias Incidents Hotline Advisory Committee – 2024

Pursuant to Substitute Senate Bill 5427 and codified at 43.10.305, the Attorney General’s Office convenes the Advisory Committee to provide advice and assistance regarding the hotline’s design, operation, outreach, service delivery objectives and priorities, and funding.

Hate Crimes and Bias Incidents Public Safety Subcommittee Meeting

Wednesday, November 20th 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST

Artificial Intelligence Task Force

Pursuant to SB 5838, the AGO is tasked with supporting and convening an Artificial Intelligence Task Force. The Task Force’s final report and recommendations are due to the governor and Legislature July 1, 2026. For more information, visit the Artificial Intelligence Task Force page. 

HearMeWA Advisory Committee – 2021 - 2022

Pursuant to ESSB 5092 (127) (17) (a) the HearMeWA Advisory Committee advises the Office of the Attorney General as it develops processes for risk assessment, threat assessment, referral and follow-up, data retention, and confidentiality of the HearMeWA Program. For more information, visit the HearMeWA Advisory Committee page. 

Washington State Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Task Force

The Washington State Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People (MMIW/P) Task Force will assess systemic causes behind the high rate of disappearances and murders of indigenous women and people. The team will support the 21-member task force, and produce two reports to the Governor and Legislature in August 2022 and June 2023 to report the task force’s findings. The task force will include tribes and tribal organizations, as well as state and local policy makers.

Truth and Reconciliation Tribal Advisory Committee – 2023-2025

The Truth and Reconciliation Tribal Advisory Committee will conduct research and outreach to understand the operations and impact of Indian boarding schools in Washington run by public and faith-based institutions, and to develop recommendations for the state to acknowledge and address the historical and intergenerational harms caused by Indian boarding schools and other cultural and linguistic termination practices.

Commercially Sexually Exploited Children Statewide Coordinating Committee – 2013-2023

Pursuant to House Bill 1832 and codified in RCW 7.68.801, the Attorney General’s Office convenes the Coordinating Committee to improve protections for exploited youth by examining local and regional practices and incidence data.  For more information, visit https://www.atg.wa.gov/commercially-sexually-exploited-children-statewide-coordinating-committee.

Office of Military & Veteran Legal Assistance Advisory Committee – 2017 to present

Pursuant to Substitute House Bill 1055 and codified in RCW 43.10.292, the Attorney General’s Office convenes the Advisory Committee to provide advice and assistance to the Office of Military & Veteran Legal Assistance regarding program design, operations, volunteer recruitment and support strategies, service delivery objectives and priorities, and funding. For more information, visit https://www.atg.wa.gov/omvla-advisory-committee.

 

 

Sexual Assault Forensic Examination Best Practices Advisory Group  – 2019-2026

Pursuant to Second Substitute House Bill 1166 and codified in RCW 43.10.800, the Attorney General’s Office convenes the Advisory Group to reduce the number of untested sexual assault kits in Washington and to review best practice models for managing all aspects of sexual assault investigations.

SAFE Advisory Group Meeting

Wednesday, November 6th 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. PDT

  • Click here to join the Zoom meeting (Meeting ID: 845 4362 7680, Passcode: 874224)
  • Agenda
  • OR Join in-person at 800 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2000, Seattle, WA 98104
  • Floor 20, Conference Rm. 2020 (“Olympic”)

OR

  • Join in-person at 800 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2000, Seattle, WA 98104
  • Floor 20, Conference Rm. 2020 (“Olympic”)

Previous Meeting Minutes

Annual Reports

 

Organized Retail Crime Task Force – 2022

Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced the creation of a statewide Organized Retail Crime Task Force in June 2022. The Task Force will improve coordination and collaboration among law enforcement agencies to address these multi-jurisdictional crimes that endanger employees and cause significant economic harm to our state. If you have any questions please reach out to the Policy Unit, policy_team@atg.wa.gov.

 

Reports:

 

Previous Meetings

 

Sunshine Committee – 2007 to present

Pursuant to Substitute Senate Bill 5435, the Attorney General’s Office convenes the Committee to review all exemptions to the Public Disclosure Act.  For more information, visit https://www.atg.wa.gov/sunshine-committee.

 

COMPLETED GROUPS

 

Washington State Joint Legislative Task Force on Jail Standards - 2022

Pursuant to the Washington State 2021-23 Operating Budget, and codified in RCW 70.48.801 the Joint Legislative Task Force on Jail Standards will gather and review data on jails in Washington and across the United States to make recommendations to the Legislature regarding state oversight of jails and other policy changes to promote safety and welfare for incarcerated persons and staff.

Previous Meeting Minutes

 

 

 

Sexual Assault Coordinated Community Response Task Force – 2020-2022

Pursuant to Substitute Senate Bill 6158, the Attorney General’s Office convenes the Task Force to develop best practice protocols for coordinated community responses to sexual assault survivors beginning with their arrival at a hospital or clinic.

Previous Meeting Minutes

Annual Reports

 

Hate Crime Advisory Working Group – 2019-2020

Pursuant to Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1732 and codified in RCW 43.10.300, the Attorney General’s Office convened the Advisory Working Group to develop strategies to raise awareness of and enhance responses to hate crimes and hate incidents. 

Final Report

Senate Bill 6360 Work Group: Consolidating Traffic-Based Financial Obligations Work Group. – 2016-2017

Pursuant to Substitute Senate Bill 6360, the Attorney General's Office convened a work group to provide input on the development of a unified and affordable payment plan for statewide consolidation of an individual's traffic-based financial obligations imposed by courts of limited jurisdiction.

Final Report

Cover Letter

Appendix A (Work Group Perspectives), Appendix B (County Profiles & Locations of Failure to Appear Suspensions)

 

Youth Safety and Well-being Statewide Reporting Tool Work Group – 2019-2020

Pursuant to Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1109 Section 134(14), the 2019 Operating Budget, the Attorney General’s Office convened the Work Group to study and make a proposal for the implementation of a 24-hour statewide hotline or app for receiving reports and other information related to youth safety and well-being. 

Final Report

 

 

 

Law Enforcement Data Collection Advisory Group

Pursuant to Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5259, the Attorney General’s Office convened the Law Enforcement Data Collection Advisory Group to help the Office design and develop the statewide law enforcement data collection program to promote openness, transparency and accountability.

Member List

Status

The Advisory Group’s unanimous recommendations were approved by the Attorney General.

In compliance with Senate Bill 5259 (2021), the Attorney General's Office issued a solicitation to contract with an institution of higher education (defined in RCW 28B.92.030) to establish the statewide Law Enforcement Use of Force Data Program.   Washington State University was the successful bidder. The Attorney General’s Office signed a grant agreement with WSU on August 15, 2023. This grant agreement fulfills the legislative mandate and enacts the Advisory Group’s final recommendations, as approved by Attorney General Bob Ferguson.  Learn about WSU’s progress here.

Previous Meeting Minutes