Resentencing used to be rare. Not anymore.
Over the past several years, Washington law has changed in meaningful ways, opening the door for people to come back to court and seek reduced sentences. For many, this is the first real opportunity to have their story fully told and their growth recognized.
At Gause Law Offices, this is a core part of our practice. We represent people seeking resentencing with one clear goal: bringing our clients home as early as possible. We have built a strong track record of securing significant sentence reductions, sometimes shaving decades off of a sentence, and in some cases, securing immediate release with credit for time served.
This work requires not just legal knowledge, but a strategic and comprehensive approach to telling our clients’ stories in a way that courts cannot ignore.
How We Approach Resentencing
Every resentencing case we take is treated as an opportunity to present a full, updated picture of who our client is, not just who they were at the time of the offense.
We don’t rely on the old record. We rebuild the narrative.
That means:
Retaining expert evaluators in every case to assess cognitive development, functioning at the time of the offense, and the mitigating qualities of youth
Presenting updated risk assessments that focus on rehabilitation and current risk
Developing a comprehensive sentencing package that includes:
Letters of support from family, friends, and community members
Department of Corrections records showing programming, education, work history, and positive behavior reports
This is not a paper exercise. It is a deliberate, evidence-driven presentation of growth, accountability, and rehabilitation.
And it works.
Who May Be Eligible for Resentencing
Washington law now provides several pathways back to court. Below is a high-level overview of some of the most common avenues for relief.
Youth and Young Adults
Several key cases have created opportunities for resentencing:
Miller v. Alabama
Requires resentencing for individuals who were under 18 and sentenced to mandatory life without parole for aggravated first-degree murder.State v. Houston-Sconiers / In re Domingo-Cornelio and Ali
Allows many individuals sentenced as youth before March 2, 2017, to return to court because sentencing courts did not properly consider youth as a mitigating factor and must now do so.State v. Monschke / State v. Bartholomew
Allows many young adults (ages 18–20) sentenced to life without parole for aggravated first-degree murder to be automatically resentenced where a Court can consider the mitigating qualities of youth prior to determining sentence. A judge can still sentence to LWOP again, but can also give a different reduced sentence to a term of years.
These cases reflect a broader shift: courts must now meaningfully consider youth, brain development, and the capacity for change.
Drug Possession Cases – Blake Relief
In 2021, the Washington Supreme Court decided State v. Blake, striking down the state’s drug possession statute as unconstitutional.
All prior simple possession convictions can be vacated
Many individuals may be eligible for resentencing if those convictions impacted their offender score
This has created significant opportunities for sentence reductions across a wide range of cases.
“Three Strikes” Reform
Washington also narrowed its “Three Strikes” law.
Second-degree robbery is no longer a strike offense
This change applies retroactively
For individuals serving life sentences under the old law, you may be entitled to resentencing.
Prosecutor-Initiated Resentencing (SB 6164)
Under SB 6164, prosecutors can ask the court to resentence someone when the original sentence no longer serves the interests of justice.
If the court agrees, a full resentencing hearing follows—with the opportunity to present updated mitigation and evidence of rehabilitation.
Immigration-Based Relief
Under Padilla v. Kentucky, some non-citizens may be entitled to relief if they were not properly advised about immigration consequences when they entered a plea.
This can include vacating convictions or reopening cases for resentencing.
Why Representation Matters
Resentencing is not automatic. And it is not simple.
These cases often involve evolving law, procedural hurdles, and strategic decisions that can significantly impact the outcome. More importantly, they require a compelling, well-supported presentation that shows the court why a different sentence is justified today.
At Gause Law Offices, we do that work.
We dig deep. We build the record. We bring in the right experts. And we present a clear, powerful case for release.
Because at the end of the day, this work is about second chances—and making sure our clients have a real opportunity to come home.