FINAL BILL REPORT

EHB 2279

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.

C 214 L 09

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Addressing the offense of assault of a child in the first degree by requiring the review of the sentencing of offenders and modifying the conditions of release.

Sponsors: Representatives Hurst, Hope, Dunshee, Kelley and Roach.

House Committee on Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness

Senate Committee on Judiciary

Background:

Assault in the First Degree.

The crime of Assault in the first degree occurs when a person, with intent to inflict great bodily harm:

A person commits Assault of a Child in the first degree if the offender is over the age of 18 years old and he or she:

"Substantial bodily harm" is defined as bodily injury that involves a temporary but substantial disfigurement, or that causes a temporary but substantial loss or impairment of the function of any body part or organ, or that causes a fracture of any body part or organ."Great bodily harm" is defined as bodily injury which creates a probability of death, or which causes significant serious permanent disfigurement, or which causes a significant permanent loss or impairment of the functions of any bodily part or organ.

The crime of Assault of a Child in the first degree is a serious violent offense that is classified as a seriousness level XII, class A felony offense under the Sentencing Reform Act. A first-time offender with no previous criminal history would receive a sentence of 93 - 123 months in prison. A person convicted of a serious violent offense is limited to having his or her sentence reduced by no more than 10 percent via earned release time (good time). As a class A felony offense, the crime of Assault of a Child is also a strike under Washington's "Three Strikes and You're Out" law where a persistent offender is subject to a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The crime of Assault of a Child is also considered a "crime against persons." If a crime is designated as a crime against persons, additional restrictions may be imposed on the convicted person at sentencing. Such restrictions include that the convicted person cannot have his or her record of conviction cleared, cannot qualify to earn up to 50 percent of earned release time, and may be subject to a mandatory term of community custody.

Community Custody.

"Community custody" means that portion of an offender's sentence of confinement served in the community subject to controls placed on the offender's movement and activities by the Department of Corrections (DOC). While on community custody, offenders are subject to a variety of conditions. For example, unless waived by the court, the terms of an offender's community custody must include:

In addition, the court may impose a variety of conditions of community custody, including:

The DOC is also authorized to impose conditions of community custody as long as they do not conflict with any court-ordered conditions.

Sentencing Guidelines Commission.

The Sentencing Guidelines Commission (Commission) is a state agency created by the Legislature in 1981 as part of the Sentencing Reform Act. The Commission serves as an independent body to develop criminal sentencing guidelines and standards for recommendation to the Legislature. The Commission's responsibilities include:

The Commission consists of 20 voting members, 16 of whom are appointed by the Governor. The appointed members include: four superior court judges, two defense attorneys, two prosecutors, four citizens, the chief of a local law enforcement agency, one county elected official, one city elected official, and one administrator of juvenile court services. There are four ex-officio voting members: the Secretary of the Department of Corrections, the Director of the Office of Financial Management, the Chair of the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board, and the head of the state agency (or his or her designee) having responsibility for juvenile corrections programs. Four legislators are appointed by the leadership of the House of Representatives and the Senate and serve as non-voting members.

Summary:

This act is known as the Eryk Woodruff Public Safety Act of 2009.

Community Custody.

As a condition of community custody, the court must prohibit an offender sentenced for Assault of a Child in the first degree from serving in any paid or volunteer capacity where he or she has control or supervision of children under the age of 13.

Sentencing Guidelines Commission.

The Commission must study the crime of Assault of a Child in the first degree. As part of the study, the Commission must consider whether the current statutory sentence for Assault of a Child in the first degree should be revised while taking into account the following factors:

The Commission must submit its findings and recommendations to the appropriate committees of the Legislature by December 31, 2009.

Votes on Final Passage:

House

96

0

Senate

42

0

Effective: August 1, 2009