SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 6326

                    AS OF FEBRUARY 1, 1994

Brief Description:  Revising provisions relating to release of offenders.

SPONSORS: Senators Fraser, A. Smith and Franklin

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE

Staff:  Susan Mahoney (786‑7717)

Hearing Dates: February 2, 1994

BACKGROUND:

Under current provisions of the SRA, certain types of offenders are required to be on community placement for one year following the defendant's release from total confinement.  Some offenders are released without any type of supervision or review to determine whether the offender is safe to be released.  There is concern that the supervision and review provisions currently in place, in particular with regard to those persons who have been convicted of a class A felony, are inadequate to address public safety concerns.

There are also a number of offenders in the Department of Corrections (DOC) system who are taking psychotropic drugs.  Those offenders are able to accrue "good time" under the same requirements as those offenders not taking psychotropic drugs.

SUMMARY:

DOC is required to give the prosecuting attorney three months notice of release of persons convicted of a class A felony so that the prosecutor can request an evaluation and investigate whether involuntary commitment proceedings are appropriate.

Offenders convicted of class A felonies are subject to post-release supervision until the expiration of the statutory maximum sentence for the crime.

There is no earned early release time ("good time") for periods during which an offender is taking psychotropic drugs.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested January 31, 1994