Twenty-seven counties operate DWI victim panels throughout Washington State and twenty-two throughout Oregon. Panel speakers are those whose lives have been tragically affected by a drunken driving crash.

Who attends DWI Victims Panels?

We can no longer accommodate walk-ins. To schedule a date to attend the Panel, please call us at (425) 823-8275, Mondays through Fridays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Offenders

Suspension Condition
When sentencing a DWI offender, the judge imposes a jail term and a fine but suspends a portion of each on certain conditions. One condition is a requirement to attend the DWI Victims Panel.
Attendance Verification
Immediately following sentencing, a court clerk schedules a date for attendance, usually within two weeks. A panel member has a list of scheduled offenders at the meeting to verify attendance.
Court Monitored
Offenders who fail to attend are ordered back to court for imposition of appropriate sanctions, including jail time and rescheduling a new date to attend the Panel.

All Drivers

Recommended by Offenders
After attending a Panel meeting and hearing victims’ stories, several offenders have recommended that anyone who drives should attend.
Recommended by A Dad
One father attended a Panel in 1987 with his 15-year-old son who was required to attend as part of his school’s driver training program. That father, Seattle’s Post-Intelligencer columnist Jon Hahn, remarked, “Everyone who drives should be there.”

Drivers’ Ed Class Requirements
For part of their drivers’ education class requirements, students have been required to:

  • view a videotape of the Panel, and/or
  • attend a Panel presentation
Sense of Immortality Overcome
The personal experience of the victims helps overcome the students’ sense of immortality.

Significant Impact
“The message you carry has made a significant impact on the airmen at McChord Air Force Base.” (Richard C. Marr, Brig. Gen., USAF Commander, December 1, 1994)
Most Effective Program
“Your presentation has been enthusiastically received by all fortunate enough to have attended, and members of my staff have informed me that it is the most effective program they have seen.” (F.J. Metz, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy, NAS Whidbey Island, January 11, 1988)

Those Who Work With Offenders
Besides offending drivers, others who benefit from these Panels are the people who work with DUI or DWI offenders. This includes probation officers, counselors, police officers, attorneys, and judges.