FINAL BILL REPORT

SB 5972

C 51 L 01

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Releasing juvenile offenders.

Sponsors:  Senator Hargrove; by request of Department of Social and Health Services.

Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections

House Committee on Juvenile Justice

Background:  The Department of Social and Health Services, Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration (JRA) requested this revision in the current statute to eliminate a potential loophole in the sentencing law.  Juvenile offenders who have served their maximum sentence in an institution under a manifest injustice adjudication have challenged the authority of JRA to place them on parole.

Summary:  The department's parole program placement authority for all juvenile offenders under the age of 21, including those who have served their maximum sentence in an institution under a manifest injustice adjudication is clarified.  A manifest injustice adjudication is one in which a court has determined that a sentence within the juvenile offender sentencing standard range, or the chemical dependency disposition alternative would effectuate a manifest injustice.  The court, as a result, must impose a disposition outside the standard range.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate480

House     92 0

Effective:  April 17, 2001