BP BHEAD INT H

AN ACT Relating to juvenile offenders; amending RCW 13.40.025, 13.40.080, and 13.40.160; adding a new section to chapter 13.04 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 4.24 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 13.40 RCW; creating a new section; and prescribing penalties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 13.04 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Any county with a population of at least one hundred seventy-five thousand but less than two hundred fifty thousand that has a city with a population of at least fifty-nine thousand may authorize a pilot project to allow courts of limited jurisdiction within the county to exercise concurrent jurisdiction with the juvenile court under certain circumstances. District and municipal courts of limited jurisdiction at the local option of the county or any city or town located within the county may exercise concurrent original jurisdiction with the juvenile court over traffic or civil infractions, violations of compulsory school attendance provisions under chapter 28A.225 RCW, and misdemeanors when those offenses are allegedly committed by juveniles and:

(a)(i) The offense, which if committed by an adult, is punishable by sanctions that do not include incarceration; or

(ii) The offender's standard range disposition does not include confinement as defined in RCW 13.40.020;

(b) The court of limited jurisdiction has a computer system that is linked to the state-wide criminal history information data system used by juvenile courts to track and record juvenile offenders' criminal history;

(c) The county legislative authority of the county has authorized creation of concurrent jurisdiction between the court of limited jurisdiction and the juvenile court; and

(d) The court of limited jurisdiction has an agreement with officials responsible for administering the county juvenile detention facility pursuant to RCW 13.04.035 and 13.20.060 that the court may order juveniles into the detention facility for an offense in cases in which the court finds that a disposition without confinement would be a manifest injustice.

(2) The juvenile court shall retain jurisdiction over the offense if the juvenile is charged with another offense arising out of the same incident and the juvenile court has jurisdiction over the other offense.

(3) Jurisdiction under this section does not constitute a decline or transfer of juvenile court jurisdiction under RCW 13.40.110.

(4) The procedural and disposition provisions of chapter 13.40 RCW shall apply to offenses prosecuted under this section.

(5) All diversions and adjudications entered by a court of limited jurisdiction shall be included in an offender's criminal history as provided in chapter 13.40 RCW.

(6) The provisions of this section shall be implemented as a pilot project in the county.

Sec. 2. RCW 13.40.025 and 1995 c 269 s 302 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) There is established a juvenile disposition standards commission to propose disposition standards to the legislature in accordance with RCW 13.40.030 and perform the other responsibilities set forth in this chapter.

(2) The commission shall be composed of the secretary or the secretary's designee and the following nine members appointed by the governor, subject to confirmation by the senate: (a) A superior court judge; (b) a prosecuting attorney or deputy prosecuting attorney; (c) a law enforcement officer; (d) an administrator of juvenile court services; (e) a public defender actively practicing in juvenile court; (f) a county legislative official or county executive; and (g) three other persons who have demonstrated significant interest in the adjudication and disposition of juvenile offenders. In making the appointments, the governor shall seek the recommendations of the association of superior court judges in respect to the member who is a superior court judge; of Washington prosecutors in respect to the prosecuting attorney or deputy prosecuting attorney member; of the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs in respect to the member who is a law enforcement officer; of juvenile court administrators in respect to the member who is a juvenile court administrator; and of the state bar association in respect to the public defender member; and of the Washington association of counties in respect to the member who is either a county legislative official or county executive.

(3) The secretary or the secretary's designee shall serve as chairman of the commission.

(4) The secretary shall serve on the commission during the secretary's tenure as secretary of the department. The term of the remaining members of the commission shall be three years. The initial terms shall be determined by lot conducted at the commission's first meeting as follows: (a) Four members shall serve a two-year term; and (b) four members shall serve a three-year term. In the event of a vacancy, the appointing authority shall designate a new member to complete the remainder of the unexpired term.

(5) Commission members shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. Members shall be compensated in accordance with RCW 43.03.240.

(6) The commission shall cease to exist on June 30, ((~~1997~~)) 1996, and its powers and duties shall be transferred to the sentencing guidelines commission established under RCW 9.94A.040.

Sec. 3. RCW 13.40.080 and 1994 sp.s. c 7 s 544 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) A diversion agreement shall be a contract between a juvenile accused of an offense and a diversionary unit whereby the juvenile agrees to fulfill certain conditions in lieu of prosecution. Such agreements may be entered into only after the prosecutor, or probation counselor pursuant to this chapter, has determined that probable cause exists to believe that a crime has been committed and that the juvenile committed it. Such agreements shall be entered into as expeditiously as possible.

(2) A diversion agreement shall be limited to one or more of the following:

(a) Community service not to exceed one hundred fifty hours, not to be performed during school hours if the juvenile is attending school;

(b) Restitution limited to the amount of actual loss incurred by the victim, and to an amount the juvenile has the means or potential means to pay;

(c) Attendance at ((~~up to ten hours of~~)) counseling and/or ((~~up to twenty hours of~~)) educational or informational sessions at a community agency for a specified period of time as determined by the diversion unit. The educational or informational sessions may include sessions relating to respect for self, others, and authority; victim awareness; accountability; self-worth; responsibility; work ethics; good citizenship; and life skills. For purposes of this section, "community agency" may also mean a community-based nonprofit organization, if approved by the diversion unit. The state shall not be liable for costs resulting from the diversionary unit exercising the option to permit diversion agreements to mandate attendance at ((~~up to ten hours of~~)) counseling and/or ((~~up to twenty hours of~~)) educational or informational sessions;

(d) A fine, not to exceed one hundred dollars. In determining the amount of the fine, the diversion unit shall consider only the juvenile's financial resources and whether the juvenile has the means to pay the fine. The diversion unit shall not consider the financial resources of the juvenile's parents, guardian, or custodian in determining the fine to be imposed; and

(e) Requirements to remain during specified hours at home, school, or work, and restrictions on leaving or entering specified geographical areas.

(3) In assessing periods of community service to be performed and restitution to be paid by a juvenile who has entered into a diversion agreement, the court officer to whom this task is assigned shall consult with the juvenile's custodial parent or parents or guardian and victims who have contacted the diversionary unit and, to the extent possible, involve members of the community. Such members of the community shall meet with the juvenile and advise the court officer as to the terms of the diversion agreement and shall supervise the juvenile in carrying out its terms.

(4) A diversion agreement may not exceed a period of six months and may include a period extending beyond the eighteenth birthday of the divertee. Any restitution assessed during its term may not exceed an amount which the juvenile could be reasonably expected to pay during this period. If additional time is necessary for the juvenile to complete restitution to the victim, the time period limitations of this subsection may be extended by an additional six months.

(5) The juvenile shall retain the right to be referred to the court at any time prior to the signing of the diversion agreement.

(6) Divertees and potential divertees shall be afforded due process in all contacts with a diversionary unit regardless of whether the juveniles are accepted for diversion or whether the diversion program is successfully completed. Such due process shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(a) A written diversion agreement shall be executed stating all conditions in clearly understandable language;

(b) Violation of the terms of the agreement shall be the only grounds for termination;

(c) No divertee may be terminated from a diversion program without being given a court hearing, which hearing shall be preceded by:

(i) Written notice of alleged violations of the conditions of the diversion program; and

(ii) Disclosure of all evidence to be offered against the divertee;

(d) The hearing shall be conducted by the juvenile court and shall include:

(i) Opportunity to be heard in person and to present evidence;

(ii) The right to confront and cross-examine all adverse witnesses;

(iii) A written statement by the court as to the evidence relied on and the reasons for termination, should that be the decision; and

(iv) Demonstration by evidence that the divertee has substantially violated the terms of his or her diversion agreement.

(e) The prosecutor may file an information on the offense for which the divertee was diverted:

(i) In juvenile court if the divertee is under eighteen years of age; or

(ii) In superior court or the appropriate court of limited jurisdiction if the divertee is eighteen years of age or older.

(7) The diversion unit shall, subject to available funds, be responsible for providing interpreters when juveniles need interpreters to effectively communicate during diversion unit hearings or negotiations.

(8) The diversion unit shall be responsible for advising a divertee of his or her rights as provided in this chapter.

(9) The diversion unit may refer a juvenile to community-based counseling or treatment programs.

(10) The right to counsel shall inure prior to the initial interview for purposes of advising the juvenile as to whether he or she desires to participate in the diversion process or to appear in the juvenile court. The juvenile may be represented by counsel at any critical stage of the diversion process, including intake interviews and termination hearings. The juvenile shall be fully advised at the intake of his or her right to an attorney and of the relevant services an attorney can provide. For the purpose of this section, intake interviews mean all interviews regarding the diversion agreement process.

The juvenile shall be advised that a diversion agreement shall constitute a part of the juvenile's criminal history as defined by RCW 13.40.020(9). A signed acknowledgment of such advisement shall be obtained from the juvenile, and the document shall be maintained by the diversionary unit together with the diversion agreement, and a copy of both documents shall be delivered to the prosecutor if requested by the prosecutor. The supreme court shall promulgate rules setting forth the content of such advisement in simple language.

(11) When a juvenile enters into a diversion agreement, the juvenile court may receive only the following information for dispositional purposes:

(a) The fact that a charge or charges were made;

(b) The fact that a diversion agreement was entered into;

(d) Whether the alleged offender performed his or her obligations under such agreement; and

(e) The facts of the alleged offense.

(12) A diversionary unit may refuse to enter into a diversion agreement with a juvenile. When a diversionary unit refuses to enter a diversion agreement with a juvenile, it shall immediately refer such juvenile to the court for action and shall forward to the court the criminal complaint and a detailed statement of its reasons for refusing to enter into a diversion agreement. The diversionary unit shall also immediately refer the case to the prosecuting attorney for action if such juvenile violates the terms of the diversion agreement.

(13) A diversionary unit may, in instances where it determines that the act or omission of an act for which a juvenile has been referred to it involved no victim, or where it determines that the juvenile referred to it has no prior criminal history and is alleged to have committed an illegal act involving no threat of or instance of actual physical harm and involving not more than fifty dollars in property loss or damage and that there is no loss outstanding to the person or firm suffering such damage or loss, counsel and release or release such a juvenile without entering into a diversion agreement. A diversion unit's authority to counsel and release a juvenile under this subsection shall include the authority to refer the juvenile to community-based counseling or treatment programs. Any juvenile released under this subsection shall be advised that the act or omission of any act for which he or she had been referred shall constitute a part of the juvenile's criminal history as defined by RCW 13.40.020(9). A signed acknowledgment of such advisement shall be obtained from the juvenile, and the document shall be maintained by the unit, and a copy of the document shall be delivered to the prosecutor if requested by the prosecutor. The supreme court shall promulgate rules setting forth the content of such advisement in simple language. A juvenile determined to be eligible by a diversionary unit for release as provided in this subsection shall retain the same right to counsel and right to have his or her case referred to the court for formal action as any other juvenile referred to the unit.

(14) A diversion unit may supervise the fulfillment of a diversion agreement entered into before the juvenile's eighteenth birthday and which includes a period extending beyond the divertee's eighteenth birthday.

(15) If a fine required by a diversion agreement cannot reasonably be paid due to a change of circumstance, the diversion agreement may be modified at the request of the divertee and with the concurrence of the diversion unit to convert an unpaid fine into community service. The modification of the diversion agreement shall be in writing and signed by the divertee and the diversion unit. The number of hours of community service in lieu of a monetary penalty shall be converted at the rate of the prevailing state minimum wage per hour.

(16) Fines imposed under this section shall be collected and paid into the county general fund in accordance with procedures established by the juvenile court administrator under RCW 13.04.040 and may be used only for juvenile services. In the expenditure of funds for juvenile services, there shall be a maintenance of effort whereby counties exhaust existing resources before using amounts collected under this section.

Sec. 4. RCW 13.40.160 and 1995 c 395 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) When the respondent is found to be a serious offender, the court shall commit the offender to the department for the standard range of disposition for the offense, as indicated in option A of schedule D-3, RCW 13.40.0357 except as provided in subsections (5) and (6) of this section.

If the court concludes, and enters reasons for its conclusion, that disposition within the standard range would effectuate a manifest injustice the court shall impose a disposition outside the standard range, as indicated in option B of schedule D-3, RCW 13.40.0357. The court's finding of manifest injustice shall be supported by clear and convincing evidence.

A disposition outside the standard range shall be determinate and shall be comprised of confinement or community supervision, or a combination thereof. When a judge finds a manifest injustice and imposes a sentence of confinement exceeding thirty days, the court shall sentence the juvenile to a maximum term, and the provisions of RCW 13.40.030(2) shall be used to determine the range. A disposition outside the standard range is appealable under RCW 13.40.230 by the state or the respondent. A disposition within the standard range is not appealable under RCW 13.40.230.

(2) Where the respondent is found to be a minor or first offender, the court shall order that the respondent serve a term of community supervision as indicated in option A or option B of schedule D-1, RCW 13.40.0357 except as provided in subsections (5) and (6) of this section. If the court determines that a disposition of community supervision would effectuate a manifest injustice the court may impose another disposition under option C of schedule D-1, RCW 13.40.0357. Except as provided in subsection (5) of this section, a disposition other than a community supervision may be imposed only after the court enters reasons upon which it bases its conclusions that imposition of community supervision would effectuate a manifest injustice. When a judge finds a manifest injustice and imposes a sentence of confinement exceeding thirty days, the court shall sentence the juvenile to a maximum term, and the provisions of RCW 13.40.030(2) shall be used to determine the range. The court's finding of manifest injustice shall be supported by clear and convincing evidence.

Except for disposition of community supervision or a disposition imposed pursuant to subsection (5) of this section, a disposition may be appealed as provided in RCW 13.40.230 by the state or the respondent. A disposition of community supervision or a disposition imposed pursuant to subsection (5) of this section may not be appealed under RCW 13.40.230.

(3) Where a respondent is found to have committed an offense for which the respondent declined to enter into a diversion agreement, the court shall impose a term of community supervision limited to the conditions allowed in a diversion agreement as provided in RCW 13.40.080(2).

(4) If a respondent is found to be a middle offender:

(a) The court shall impose a determinate disposition within the standard range((~~(s)~~)) for such offense, as indicated in option A of schedule D-2, RCW 13.40.0357 except as provided in subsections (5) and (6) of this section. If the standard range includes a term of confinement exceeding thirty days, commitment shall be to the department for the standard range of confinement; or

(b) ((If the middle offender has less than 110 points, the court shall impose a determinate disposition of community supervision and/or up to thirty days confinement, as indicated in option B of schedule D-2, RCW 13.40.0357 in which case, if confinement has been imposed, the court shall state either aggravating or mitigating factors as set forth in RCW 13.40.150.)) If the middle offender has 110 points or more, the court may impose a disposition under option A and may suspend the disposition and impose a determinate disposition of community supervision for a period of up to one year or the maximum term allowed by the standard range whichever is longer, on the condition that the offender serve up to thirty days of confinement and follow all conditions of community supervision. If confinement has been imposed, the court shall state either aggravating or mitigating factors as set forth in RCW 13.40.150. If the offender violates any condition of the disposition including conditions of a probation bond, the court may impose sanctions pursuant to RCW 13.40.200 or may revoke the suspension and order execution of the disposition. The court shall give credit for any confinement time previously served if that confinement was for the offense for which the suspension is being revoked.

(c) Only if the court concludes, and enters reasons for its conclusions, that disposition as provided in subsection (4)(a) or (b) of this section would effectuate a manifest injustice, the court shall sentence the juvenile to a maximum term, and the provisions of RCW 13.40.030(2) shall be used to determine the range. The court's finding of manifest injustice shall be supported by clear and convincing evidence.

(d) A disposition pursuant to subsection (4)(c) of this section is appealable under RCW 13.40.230 by the state or the respondent. A disposition pursuant to subsection (4) (a) or (b) of this section is not appealable under RCW 13.40.230.

(5) When a serious, middle, or minor first offender is found to have committed a sex offense, other than a sex offense that is also a serious violent offense as defined by RCW 9.94A.030, and has no history of a prior sex offense, the court, on its own motion or the motion of the state or the respondent, may order an examination to determine whether the respondent is amenable to treatment.

The report of the examination shall include at a minimum the following: The respondent's version of the facts and the official version of the facts, the respondent's offense history, an assessment of problems in addition to alleged deviant behaviors, the respondent's social, educational, and employment situation, and other evaluation measures used. The report shall set forth the sources of the evaluator's information.

The examiner shall assess and report regarding the respondent's amenability to treatment and relative risk to the community.

(a) A proposed treatment plan shall be provided and shall include, at a minimum:

((~~(a)~~))(i) Frequency and type of contact between the offender and therapist;

(ii) Specific issues to be addressed in the treatment and description of planned treatment modalities;

(iii) Monitoring plans, including any requirements regarding living conditions, lifestyle requirements, and monitoring by family members, legal guardians, or others;

(iv) Anticipated length of treatment; and

(v) Recommended crime-related prohibitions.

The court on its own motion may order, or on a motion by the state shall order, a second examination regarding the offender's amenability to treatment. The evaluator shall be selected by the party making the motion. The defendant shall pay the cost of any second examination ordered unless the court finds the defendant to be indigent in which case the state shall pay the cost.

After receipt of reports of the examination, the court shall then consider whether the offender and the community will benefit from use of this special sex offender disposition alternative and consider the victim's opinion whether the offender should receive a treatment disposition under this section. If the court determines that this special sex offender disposition alternative is appropriate, then the court shall impose a determinate disposition within the standard range for the offense, ((~~and~~)) or if the court concludes, and enters reasons for its conclusion, that such disposition would effectuate a manifest injustice, the court shall impose a disposition pursuant to option C of schedule D-1, option C of schedule D-2, or option B of schedule D-3 as appropriate.

For either a standard range disposition or a manifest injustice disposition the court may suspend the execution of the disposition and place the offender on community supervision for up to two years.

(b) As a condition of the suspended disposition, the court may impose the conditions of community supervision and other conditions, including up to thirty days of confinement and requirements that the offender do any one or more of the following:

((~~(b)~~))(i) Devote time to a specific education, employment, or occupation;

(ii) Undergo available outpatient sex offender treatment for up to two years, or inpatient sex offender treatment not to exceed the standard range of confinement for that offense. A community mental health center may not be used for such treatment unless it has an appropriate program designed for sex offender treatment. The respondent shall not change sex offender treatment providers or treatment conditions without first notifying the prosecutor, the probation counselor, and the court, and shall not change providers without court approval after a hearing if the prosecutor or probation counselor object to the change;

(iii) Remain within prescribed geographical boundaries and notify the court or the probation counselor prior to any change in the offender's address, educational program, or employment;

(iv) Report to the prosecutor and the probation counselor prior to any change in a sex offender treatment provider. This change shall have prior approval by the court;

(v) Report as directed to the court and a probation counselor;

(vi) Pay all court-ordered legal financial obligations, perform community service, or any combination thereof;

(vii) Make restitution to the victim for the cost of any counseling reasonably related to the offense; or

(viii) Comply with the conditions of any court-ordered probation bond.

The sex offender treatment provider shall submit quarterly reports on the respondent's progress in treatment to the court and the parties. The reports shall reference the treatment plan and include at a minimum the following: Dates of attendance, respondent's compliance with requirements, treatment activities, the respondent's relative progress in treatment, and any other material specified by the court at the time of the disposition.

At the time of the disposition, the court may set treatment review hearings as the court considers appropriate.

Except as provided in this subsection (5), after July 1, 1991, examinations and treatment ordered pursuant to this subsection shall only be conducted by sex offender treatment providers certified by the department of health pursuant to chapter 18.155 RCW. A sex offender therapist who examines or treats a juvenile sex offender pursuant to this subsection does not have to be certified by the department of health pursuant to chapter 18.155 RCW if the court finds that: (A) The offender has already moved to another state or plans to move to another state for reasons other than circumventing the certification requirements; (B) no certified providers are available for treatment within a reasonable geographical distance of the offender's home; and (C) the evaluation and treatment plan comply with this subsection (5) and the rules adopted by the department of health.

If the offender violates any condition of the disposition or the court finds that the respondent is failing to make satisfactory progress in treatment, the court may revoke the suspension and order execution of the disposition or the court may impose a penalty of up to thirty days' confinement for violating conditions of the disposition. The court may order both execution of the disposition and up to thirty days' confinement for the violation of the conditions of the disposition. The court shall give credit for any confinement time previously served if that confinement was for the offense for which the suspension is being revoked.

For purposes of this section, "victim" means any person who has sustained emotional, psychological, physical, or financial injury to person or property as a direct result of the crime charged. "Victim" may also include a known parent or guardian of a victim who is a minor child unless the parent or guardian is the perpetrator of the offense.

(6) RCW 13.40.193 shall govern the disposition of any juvenile adjudicated of possessing a firearm in violation of RCW 9.41.040(1)((~~(e)~~))(b)(iv) or any crime in which a special finding is entered that the juvenile was armed with a firearm.

(7) Whenever a juvenile offender is entitled to credit for time spent in detention prior to a dispositional order, the dispositional order shall specifically state the number of days of credit for time served.

(8) Except as provided for in subsection (4)(b) or (5) of this section or RCW 13.40.125, the court shall not suspend or defer the imposition or the execution of the disposition.

(9) In no case shall the term of confinement imposed by the court at disposition exceed that to which an adult could be subjected for the same offense.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 4.24 RCW to read as follows:

A parent or legal guardian is liable for any monetary damages or penalties awarded or approved by a court in any civil or criminal matter that are incurred by or result from the conduct of an unemancipated minor or dependent child. Liability may include actual damages and reasonable attorneys' fees and court costs unless otherwise restricted by law.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 13.40 RCW to read as follows:

The state and its political subdivisions shall provide written notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, to a parent or legal guardian of a minor or dependent child of any arrest, detention, or penalty imposed under color of law upon the minor or dependent child by the state or any of its political subdivisions.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. Sections 1, 3, and 4 of this act apply only to offenses committed on or after the effective date of this act.