SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    SB 5287

                            AS OF FEBRUARY 4, 1991

Brief Description:  Creating boot camp program for juvenile offenders.

SPONSORS:Senators Madsen, Hansen, Bauer, Rasmussen, Amondson, Metcalf and A. Smith.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE

Staff:  Ben Barnes (786‑7465)

Hearing Dates: February 6, 1991

BACKGROUND:

Current law requires the counties to construct, acquire, and maintain juvenile detention facilities for delinquent children.   It is unclear, however, whether the counties possess the authority to construct and operate juvenile boot camps.

SUMMARY:

Counties are expressly authorized to implement and operate a boot camp program for youthful offenders.

A child between the ages of 14 and 18 may be placed in a boot camp program if the youth has been committed to the Department of Social and Health Services as a serious or minor offender.  Each county operating a boot camp program must adopt rules for screening appropriate candidates for the program.

The program shall include educational and work assignments as well as physical training exercises for program participants.  Offenders are also required to participate in educational, vocational, and substance abuse programs.

Each county operating a boot camp program is required to keep records and monitor the criminal activity, educational progress, and employment placement of offenders who complete the boot camp program to compare with youthful offenders completing other types of programs.  An outcome evaluation study based on such comparison must be prepared by the county no later than 18 months after the boot camp program becomes operational.

If a program participant becomes unmanageable or medically ineligible, he or she will be removed from the program.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested January 28, 1991