Title: An act relating to eliminating the supervision of certain probationers by the department of corrections.

Brief Description: Eliminating the supervision of certain probationers by the department of corrections.

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

• Eliminates the Department of Corrections supervision of certain probationers convicted of misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors.

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 4 members: Representatives O'Brien, Chair; Darneille, Vice Chair; Kagi and Veloria.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 3 members: Representatives Mielke, Ranking Minority Member; Ahern, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; and Pearson.

The Department of Corrections (DOC) supervises felony offenders sentenced to a term of community custody as well as offenders convicted of misdemeanors or gross misdemeanors who were sentenced to a term of probation in Superior Court (probationers).

In 2003, the Legislature passed ESSB 5990, which eliminated the DOC supervision over certain felony offenders subject to a term of community custody. The legislation required the DOC only to supervise offenders who:

• Have a current or prior offense (regardless of risk category) for a sex offense, a violent offense, a crime against persons, felony domestic violence, residential burglary, delivery or possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine (or an attempt, solicitation, or conspiracy to do so), or delivery of a controlled substance to a minor (or an attempt, solicitation, or conspiracy to do so); or

• Have conditions relating to chemical dependency treatment as part of their sentence (regardless of risk category).

The DOC may not supervise any other type of offender. Similar supervision requirements were not imposed on the DOC for probationers.

The criteria imposed by ESSB 5990 regarding the DOC supervision felony offenders are extended to cover probationers under the DOC supervision. The DOC may only supervise such probationers who:

• Have conditions relating to chemical dependency treatment as part of their sentence (regardless of risk category).

The substitute bill has an emergency clause and takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For: This bill applies the same supervision criteria on persons convicted of misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors as are applied to persons convicted of felonies. This can be considered a technical correction. Last year, the Legislature clearly intended to eliminate the DOC supervision on all low risk offenders. The population of unsupervised offenders was selected carefully; only non-violent, non-sex, non-crime against persons, low risk offenders are to be unsupervised. However, the change was only made for felony offenders despite the fact that the budget assumed savings from ending supervision on persons convicted of misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors as well. If this bill does not pass, an additional appropriation will therefore have to be made. Under this bill, the DOC would continue to supervise high risk offenders who have a current or prior conviction for certain crimes.

(In support with concerns) The risk assessment portion of the bill may be unnecessary given the fact that offenders with current or prior convictions for certain crimes must be supervised.

Persons Testifying: (In support) Representative Kagi, prime sponsor; Dick VanWagenen, Governor's Policy Office; and Ann Fiala, Department of Corrections.