SB 5759 - DIGEST

(SUBSTITUTED FOR - SEE 1ST SUB)

     Provides that, for offenders classified as risk level I, the agency shall share information with other appropriate law enforcement agencies and may disclose upon request, relevant and necessary information to any victim or witness to the offense and to any individual community member who lives near the residence where the offender resides, expects to reside, or is regularly found.

     Provides that, for offenders classified as risk level II, the agency may also disclose relevant and necessary information to public and private schools, child day care centers, family day care providers, businesses and organizations that serve primarily children, women, or vulnerable adults, and neighbors and community groups near the residence where the offender resides, expects to reside, or is regularly found.

     Provides that, for offenders classified as risk level III, the agency may also disclose relevant and necessary information to the general public.

     Requires the secretary to issue to appropriate law enforcement agencies narrative notices regarding the pending release of sex offenders from the department's facilities.  The narrative notices shall, at a minimum, describe the identity and criminal history behavior of the offender and shall include the department's risk level classification for the offender and the reasons underlying the classification.

     Requires the secretary to establish and administer an end-of-sentence review committee for the purposes of assigning risk levels, reviewing available release plans, and making appropriate referrals for sex offenders.  The committee shall assess, on a case-by-case basis, the public risk posed by sex offenders who are:  (a) Preparing for their release from confinement; and

     (b) accepted from another state under a reciprocal agreement under the interstate compact authorized in chapter 72.74 RCW.

     Provides that, by December 1, 1997, the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs shall develop a model policy for law enforcement agencies to follow when they disclose information about sex offenders to the public under RCW 4.24.550.

     Requires the department of social and health services, the department of corrections, and the indeterminate sentence review board to each prepare and deliver to the legislature, by December 1, 1998, a report indicating the number of sex offenders released after the effective date of this act and classified in each level of risk category.