S-4635.1          _______________________________________________

 

                         SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 8429

                  _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1992 Regular Session

 

By Senators Thorsness, Niemi, Erwin and A. Smith

 

Read first time 3/9/92.Resolving to continue development of sentencing alternatives.


     WHEREAS, The frugal use of state and local resources is essential to the state; and

     WHEREAS, The state financial resources dedicated to adult corrections will double by 1996, not including additional funding for capital construction; and

     WHEREAS, Most placements for adult offenders in Washington are operating at or above capacity; and

     WHEREAS, The numbers of adult offenders requiring some type of criminal justice placement is estimated to increase by forty thousand by 1996, over forty-three percent; and

     WHEREAS, The costs of offender placements vary dramatically;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the state of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, That the sentencing guidelines commission continue development of sentencing alternatives relating to the legislative and gubernatorial mandates to emphasize alternatives to confinement for nonviolent offenders, with special emphasis on the treatment of offenders addicted to controlled substances; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That in addition to the agencies and interests represented by the commission membership, the sentencing guidelines commission seek the involvement of members of the business community, education community, treatment community, and local government; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the efforts of the sentencing guidelines commission involve and be coordinated with the joint legislative task force on sentencing of adult criminal offenders; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the sentencing guidelines commission examine the economic and social relationship of criminal sanctions in maintaining public safety to other essential state programs such as education, health, and welfare; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the sentencing guidelines commission report its findings and recommendations to the governor and legislature no later than December 31, 1992.