Washington Governor Bob Ferguson Cancels Parole for Serial Rapist Billy Van Court Citing Public Safety Risks

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson blocks the release of Billy Van Court, citing a high risk of reoffending and a history of fleeing parole.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 5, 2026, 4:21 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from FOX 13 Seattle

Intervention in the Release Process

In a significant move for public safety, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson has canceled the parole order for Billy Van Court, who was set to be released after serving 40 years of a life sentence. The Governor's Office announced the decision on Wednesday, overriding a previous order from the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board (ISRB). Van Court’s lengthy criminal history includes a series of violent offenses, such as robberies, burglaries, and a 1983 sexual crime spree involving at least six victims, some of whom were children.

History of Parole Violations

The Governor’s decision was heavily influenced by Van Court’s recent conduct during a previous attempt at reintegration. Released on parole in 2023, Van Court fled the state in early 2025 after destroying his electronic tracking device and phone to evade supervision. Following his recapture and the subsequent revocation of his parole, the ISRB again found him eligible for release in October 2025, with an official parole order issued for February 2026. Governor Ferguson’s intervention ensures that Van Court will now remain incarcerated indefinitely.

Psychological Assessment and Risk Analysis

Evidence presented by the Department of Corrections and the ISRB highlighted a troubling outlook for Van Court’s rehabilitation. A 2025 psychological evaluation concluded that the inmate remains at a high risk to reoffend with violent crimes within five years of any potential release. Despite decades of access to prison programming, Ferguson expressed deep skepticism regarding the effectiveness of these efforts, stating in a letter to the review board that he remains "unconvinced" that Van Court is truly rehabilitated or fit for release.