BP BHEAD INT H

AN ACT Relating to aggravating factors; amending RCW 9.94A.390 and 13.40.150; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that gang-related criminal activity and violence against rival gang members is an aggravating factor that is a basis for imposition of an exceptional sentence or disposition. Recent appellate court decisions have noted that gang-related criminal activity is often motivated by: (1) A gang member's desire to retaliate against members of a particular rival gang as a result of a prior incident; (2) a gang member's desire to elevate his or her position in the gang hierarchy and enhance the member's status by committing violent acts; (3) the gang's attempt to assert dominance over other gangs in a particular area to further the gang's criminal enterprise that may include narcotics trafficking and other violent acts; and (4) the gang's attempt to project its power and criminal enterprise through terrorist acts.

Gang-related criminal activity is often committed in a random manner towards members of the public or other gangs who were not involved in a prior incident but are attacked solely because of their gang affiliation. The violence frequently occurs in public places and in complete disregard for others' safety. Unpredictable, irrational violence committed without warning is particularly insidious and is especially destructive of society's sense of security. Gang violence has an impact far beyond intended victims and may invade a community's zone of safety not normally associated with an offense. Organized criminal enterprises pose a great challenge to law enforcement and the general public feels that it is held hostage by gang activity. Therefore, the legislature intends to codify the appellate court's rulings that gang-related criminal activity is a basis for an exceptional sentence or disposition.

Sec. 2. RCW 9.94A.390 and 1990 c 3 s 603 are each amended to read as follows:

If the sentencing court finds that an exceptional sentence outside the standard range should be imposed in accordance with RCW 9.94A.120(2), the sentence is subject to review only as provided for in RCW 9.94A.210(4).

The following are illustrative factors which the court may consider in the exercise of its discretion to impose an exceptional sentence. The following are illustrative only and are not intended to be exclusive reasons for exceptional sentences.

(1) Mitigating Circumstances

(a) To a significant degree, the victim was an initiator, willing participant, aggressor, or provoker of the incident.

(b) Before detection, the defendant compensated, or made a good faith effort to compensate, the victim of the criminal conduct for any damage or injury sustained.

(c) The defendant committed the crime under duress, coercion, threat, or compulsion insufficient to constitute a complete defense but which significantly affected his or her conduct.

(d) The defendant, with no apparent predisposition to do so, was induced by others to participate in the crime.

(e) The defendant's capacity to appreciate the wrongfulness of his or her conduct or to conform his or her conduct to the requirements of the law, was significantly impaired ((()). The voluntary use of drugs or alcohol is excluded(())).

(f) The offense was principally accomplished by another person and the defendant manifested extreme caution or sincere concern for the safety or well-being of the victim.

(g) The operation of the multiple offense policy of RCW 9.94A.400 results in a presumptive sentence that is clearly excessive in light of the purpose of this chapter, as expressed in RCW 9.94A.010.

(h) The defendant or the defendant's children suffered a continuing pattern of physical or sexual abuse by the victim of the offense and the offense is a response to that abuse.

(2) Aggravating Circumstances

(a) The defendant's conduct during the commission of the current offense manifested deliberate cruelty to the victim.

(b) The defendant knew or should have known that the victim of the current offense was particularly vulnerable or incapable of resistance due to extreme youth, advanced age, disability, or ill health.

(c) The current offense was a major economic offense or series of offenses, so identified by a consideration of any of the following factors:

(i) The current offense involved multiple victims or multiple incidents per victim;

(ii) The current offense involved attempted or actual monetary loss substantially greater than typical for the offense;

(iii) The current offense involved a high degree of sophistication or planning or occurred over a lengthy period of time;

(iv) The defendant used his or her position of trust, confidence, or fiduciary responsibility to facilitate the commission of the current offense.

(d) The current offense was a major violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, chapter 69.50 RCW (VUCSA), related to trafficking in controlled substances, which was more onerous than the typical offense of its statutory definition: The presence of ANY of the following may identify a current offense as a major VUCSA:

(i) The current offense involved at least three separate transactions in which controlled substances were sold, transferred, or possessed with intent to do so; or

(ii) The current offense involved an attempted or actual sale or transfer of controlled substances in quantities substantially larger than for personal use; or

(iii) The current offense involved the manufacture of controlled substances for use by other parties; or

(iv) The circumstances of the current offense reveal the offender to have occupied a high position in the drug distribution hierarchy; or

(v) The current offense involved a high degree of sophistication or planning or occurred over a lengthy period of time or involved a broad geographic area of disbursement; or

(vi) The offender used his or her position or status to facilitate the commission of the current offense, including positions of trust, confidence or fiduciary responsibility (e.g., pharmacist, physician, or other medical professional); or

(e) The current offense included a finding of sexual motivation pursuant to RCW 9.94A.127;

(f) The offense was part of an ongoing pattern of sexual abuse of the same victim under the age of eighteen years manifested by multiple incidents over a prolonged period of time; ((or))

(g) The operation of the multiple offense policy of RCW 9.94A.400 results in a presumptive sentence that is clearly too lenient in light of the purpose of this chapter, as expressed in RCW 9.94A.010; or

(h) The offense was a gang-related criminal activity that:

(i) Was motivated by the defendant's desire to further the gang's illegal activities or to enhance his or her status within the gang; or

(ii) Was committed in a random manner associated with gang violence; or

(iii) Invaded the community's zone of safety.

Sec. 3. RCW 13.40.150 and 1992 c 205 s 109 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) In disposition hearings all relevant and material evidence, including oral and written reports, may be received by the court and may be relied upon to the extent of its probative value, even though such evidence may not be admissible in a hearing on the information. The youth or the youth's counsel and the prosecuting attorney shall be afforded an opportunity to examine and controvert written reports so received and to cross-examine individuals making reports when such individuals are reasonably available, but sources of confidential information need not be disclosed. The prosecutor and counsel for the juvenile may submit recommendations for disposition.

(2) For purposes of disposition:

(a) Violations which are current offenses count as misdemeanors;

(b) Violations may not count as part of the offender's criminal history;

(3) Before entering a dispositional order as to a respondent found to have committed an offense, the court shall hold a disposition hearing, at which the court shall:

(a) Consider the facts supporting the allegations of criminal conduct by the respondent;

(b) Consider information and arguments offered by parties and their counsel;

(d) Consult with the respondent's parent, guardian, or custodian on the appropriateness of dispositional options under consideration and afford the respondent and the respondent's parent, guardian, or custodian an opportunity to speak in the respondent's behalf;

(e) Allow the victim or a representative of the victim and an investigative law enforcement officer to speak;

(f) Determine the amount of restitution owing to the victim, if any;

(g) Determine whether the respondent is a serious offender, a middle offender, or a minor or first offender;

(h) Consider whether or not any of the following mitigating factors exist:

(i) The respondent's conduct neither caused nor threatened serious bodily injury or the respondent did not contemplate that his or her conduct would cause or threaten serious bodily injury;

(ii) The respondent acted under strong and immediate provocation;

(iii) The respondent was suffering from a mental or physical condition that significantly reduced his or her culpability for the offense though failing to establish a defense;

(iv) Prior to his or her detection, the respondent compensated or made a good faith attempt to compensate the victim for the injury or loss sustained; and

(v) There has been at least one year between the respondent's current offense and any prior criminal offense;

(i) Consider whether or not any of the following aggravating factors exist:

(i) In the commission of the offense, or in flight therefrom, the respondent inflicted or attempted to inflict serious bodily injury to another;

(ii) The offense was committed in an especially heinous, cruel, or depraved manner;

(iii) The victim or victims were particularly vulnerable;

(iv) The respondent has a recent criminal history or has failed to comply with conditions of a recent dispositional order or diversion agreement;

(v) The current offense included a finding of sexual motivation pursuant to RCW 9.94A.127;

(vi) The respondent was the leader of a criminal enterprise involving several persons; and

(vii) There are other complaints which have resulted in diversion or a finding or plea of guilty but which are not included as criminal history;

(j) The offense was a gang-related criminal activity that:

(i) Was motivated by the defendant's desire to further the gang's illegal activities or to enhance his or her status within the gang; or

(ii) Was committed in a random manner associated with gang violence; or

(iii) Invaded the community's zone of safety.

(4) The following factors may not be considered in determining the punishment to be imposed:

(a) The sex of the respondent;

(b) The race or color of the respondent or the respondent's family;

(d) The economic or social class of the respondent or the respondent's family; and

(e) Factors indicating that the respondent may be or is a dependent child within the meaning of this chapter.

(5) A court may not commit a juvenile to a state institution solely because of the lack of facilities, including treatment facilities, existing in the community.