SB 5513-S - DIGEST

(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

     Revises RCW 10.95.185 relating to the allowable witnesses to a scheduled execution.

     Expands the list of witnesses who may attend an inmate execution to include a maximum of two law enforcement officers, chosen by the chief executive officer of the agency that was responsible for investigating the associated criminal case.  In addition, no less than five representatives from the media can be designated as witnesses.  Consideration must be given to those media representatives who serve the communities that were affected by the crimes or by the actual commission of the execution of the inmate.

     Provides that the term "law enforcement representatives" includes those law enforcement officers that were responsible for investigating the crime for which the defendant was sentenced to death.

     Provides that the term "judicial officer" is expanded to include a deputy prosecuting attorney from the county where the inmate's final judgment, sentence, and death warrant were issued by the superior court.  The deputy prosecuting attorney may attend the execution instead of the elected prosecuting attorney.

     Provides that families of victims may be represented by a person other than an immediate family member including a victim advocate of the victim's family.  Families of victims may have more than one representative attend.