FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 6069

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 35 L 14

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Modifying community custody conditions for sex offenders.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Rivers, Darneille, King, Litzow, Fain, Becker, Kohl-Welles, Roach and Brown).

Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections

House Committee on Public Safety

Background: When a court sentences a person to a term of community custody, the court must specify conditions of that supervision. Some conditions are mandatory. Other conditions are discretionary and determined by the judge on a case-by-case basis. The court has discretion to order a condition requiring the offender to refrain from direct or indirect contact with the victim of the crime or a specified class of individuals. When an offender is placed on community custody with the Department of Corrections (DOC), DOC has the authority to add conditions, so long as those conditions do not conflict with those ordered by the court.

Anyone may request notice from DOC when a specific sex offender will be released or transferred to community custody or work release. DOC must provide the requestor with notice of the offender's proposed residence and give the person an opportunity to provide information and comments on the potential safety risks to specific persons that the offender may pose.

Summary: DOC may require a sex offender to refrain from contact with the victim of the crime or an immediate family member of the victim. If a victim or an immediate family member of a victim requests that the offender not contact them, DOC must require the offender to refrain from contact with the requestor. If the victim is a minor, the parent or guardian of the victim may make a request on the victim's behalf.

At the time of providing notice of a sex offender's proposed residence to persons who requested notice, DOC must also inform the person that a victim or an immediate family member of a victim may request that the offender refrain from contacting that person as a condition of the offender's community custody if the condition is not already provided by court order.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate

49

0

House

98

0

Effective:

June 12, 2014.