Brief Description: Addressing specific juvenile reentry programs.

Sponsors: Representatives Dickerson, Darneille, Roberts, McCoy, Appleton, Kenney and Santos.

Hearing Date: 2/6/07

Staff: Sonja Hallum (786-7092).

Background:

A juvenile convicted of sex offense may receive a commitment sentence in a Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration (JRA) facility or the juvenile may receive a sentence within the local community if he or she is found amenable to treatment.

If the juvenile is sentenced to a JRA commitment, he or she will spend the sentence confined in a JRA facility. Once the offender has completed his or her sentence, the offender is released from the facility and is placed on a period of parole supervision.

If the juvenile does not have any prior sex offense history, the offense is not a serious violent offense, and the juvenile has had an evaluation that indicates he or she is amenable to treatment, the court may impose the standard range sentence and suspend the sentence on condition the offender comply with all the terms and conditions of the Special Sex Offender Disposition Alternative (SSODA). The offender is placed on supervision for a period of at least two years and may spend up to 30 days in confinement. After the 30 days in confinement, the juvenile may return to the family home under conditions of supervision.

In the case of either a juvenile who is released from a JRA facility or a juvenile in the SSODA program, the juvenile may return to the family home. If the victim was a family member, the victim may be residing in the same home as the offender.

Summary of Bill:

Pilot Program:

The Department of Social and Health Services (Department) is required to develop a pilot program to develop best practices for the successful reintegration of sex offenders into the family and community, particularly when the offender and victim are members of the same family.

The pilot program will consist of three pilot sites to be selected based on criteria established by the offender reentry work group which is organized by the Department. The pilot program sites will implement the service model, protocols, and guidelines developed by the work group.

The effectiveness of the pilot program will be evaluated by the Washington State Institute for Public Policy and will be compared to similar sites that have not implemented a program targeted at this population.

Work Group:

By September 1, 2007, the Department is required to convene an offender reentry workgroup. The workgroup will develop the criteria for the pilot program and will establish a service model, protocols, and guidelines for the provision of services to juvenile sex offenders, their victims, and families in situations in which the offender and victim are members of the same family.

The workgroup will establish the outcome measures to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. The workgroup will also report recommendations to the Department for any changes in the service model or guidelines based on the outcomes from the pilot program.

Washington State Institute for Public Policy:

Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) is required to conduct research and prepare the following:

• Identification of best practices in offender treatment, victim services, and family support in situations in which a juvenile sex offender is a member of the same family as the victim. A report is due to the Department by November 30, 2007.
• An assessment of existing community responses throughout the state to juvenile sex offenders, their victims, and families. The assessment will look at the system of adjudication, disposition, placement, and supervision of the juvenile sex offender. A report is due to the Department by April 30, 2008.
• A pre-program evaluation of the three pilot sites and the three comparison sites to determine the effectiveness of the existing programs and services. A report is due to the Department no later than November 30, 2008.
• An evaluation of the three pilot sites to determine the effectiveness of the pilot program. A report is due to the Department no later than October 31, 2010.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.