Manka Dhingra

About Manka Dhingra

Manka Dhingra is the Washington State Senator representing the 45th Legislative District. She is also a Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney with the King County Prosecuting Attorney\'s Office, award winning PTSA mom, anti- domestic violence advocate, and community leader. Manka has worked with the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, legislators, and the Governor’s office to reform and improve our criminal justice system and to ensure individuals get the treatment they need and deserve. A mental health and crisis intervention expert, Manka provides training to law enforcement and recently started a collaborative effort with King County law enforcement agencies to coordinate responses and help avoid tragedy. She also works directly with Harborview Hospital, mental health professionals, and our courts to improve criminal justice outcomes for individuals with mental illness—seeking to close the revolving door of jail, homelessness, and crime.

Experience

1. Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney

   King County Prosecuting Attorney\'s Office

   Jan 2000 — Present

   As Chair of the Therapeutic Alternative Unit, Manka supervises the Regional Mental Health Court, which received the Randy Revelle Award by the Washington State Psychiatric Association. She also oversees the Veteran\'s Court that serves veterans with PTSD and the Community Assessment and Referral for Diversion program. Manka is also an instructor at the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission for the Crisis Intervention Training (CIT), a 40-hour intensive training program for law enforcement officers. CIT is a community policing model that brings together law enforcement, hospital emergency departments, mental health providers, and individuals with mental illness and their families to improve the response to people in crisis.In her professional capacity, she also serves as a member of Shoreline Police Department\'s Advisory Group for Response Awareness De-escalation and Referral (RADAR) and participated in the Seattle Police Department\'s Muslim, Sikh, and Arab Advisory Council. She leads the Coordinated Crisis Intervention Response meetings where she collaborates with all King County law enforcement officers to find creative solutions and coordinate responses to help individuals with mental illness.

Education

• University of Washington School of Law

  Juris Doctor (J.D.)

  1996 — 1999

• University of California, Berkeley

  Bachelor's Degrees, B.A. Political Science and B.A. History

  1993 — 1996