Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research		 BILL
ANALYSIS
Human Services Committee

SSB 5243

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Increasing the length of confinement for a parole violation committed by certain juvenile sex offenders.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Brandland, Hargrove, McAuliffe, Stevens, Rasmussen, Shin and Roach; by request of Department of Social and Health Services).

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill
  • Increases the sanction for a parole violation committed by a juvenile who is required to register as a sex offender to permit confinement of the offender for a period of up to 24 weeks, not to exceed the term of parole.

Hearing Date: 3/20/07

Staff: Sonja Hallum (786-7092).

Background:

If a juvenile is committed to a sentence at a Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration (JRA) facility, he or she may be under parole supervision upon release from the facility.

There are three types of parole in Washington: Intensive, Enhanced, and Sex Offender Parole. Juveniles who have the highest risk of re-offending receive a mandatory six months of supervision through Intensive Parole. Enhanced Parole is for youth who are not eligible for Intensive Parole. Juveniles on Enhanced Parole receive 20 weeks of supervision. Juveniles who commit specific sex offenses receive a mandatory 24 to 36 months of Sex Offender Parole.

If a juvenile violates his or her conditions of parole, the Department of Social and Health Services may request sanctions including intensified supervision, additional conditions of supervision, up to 30 days confinement in the local detention facility, or request the juvenile to be returned to a JRA facility to complete the remainder of his or her sentence if the sentence included the basic training camp or was one of the following sex offenses:

Summary of Bill:

An offender who is required to register as a sex offender who violates the terms of his or her parole may be confined in a JRA facility for a period of up to 24 weeks. However, the period of confinement the juvenile offender may receive for violating the terms of parole may not exceed the term of parole imposed on the offender.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

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