2SSB 6497 -
By Senators Johnson, Thibaudeau
WITHDRAWN 02/13/2006
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"Sec. 1 RCW 9.94A.510 and 2002 c 290 s 10 are each amended to
read as follows:
LEVEL | OFFENDER SCORE | |||||||||
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | more | |
SERIOUSNESS LEVEL | OFFENDER SCORE | ||||||||||
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 or more | |
XVI | Life Sentence without Parole/Death Penalty | ||||||||||
XV | 225- | 233- | 243- | 262- | 272- | 289- | 289- | 315- | 345- | 383- | 383- |
335 | 350 | 365 | 370 | 383 | 390 | 439 | 473 | 518 | 576 | 862 | |
XIV | 123- | 134- | 144- | 154- | 165- | 175- | 195- | 216- | 257- | 298- | 298- |
220 | 234 | 244 | 254 | 265 | 275 | 295 | 316 | 357 | 397 | 595 | |
XIII | 115- | 125- | 134- | 144- | 154- | 163- | 182- | 201- | 242- | 277- | 277- |
172 | 187 | 202 | 215 | 230 | 245 | 273 | 301 | 357 | 418 | 624 | |
XII | 88- | 95- | 103- | 112- | 120- | 128- | 151- | 166- | 196- | 222- | 222- |
128 | 143 | 155 | 168 | 180 | 194 | 227 | 248 | 290 | 336 | 500 | |
XI | 73- | 80- | 88- | 95- | 108- | 112- | 136- | 148- | 173- | 196- | 196- |
107 | 120 | 132 | 143 | 150 | 166 | 204 | 222 | 257 | 294 | 442 | |
X | 48- | 53- | 58- | 63- | 68- | 72- | 96- | 102- | 120- | 127- | 127- |
71 | 79 | 86 | 93 | 100 | 107 | 132 | 150 | 180 | 220 | 312 | |
IX | 29- | 34- | 38- | 43- | 48- | 53- | 72- | 83- | 102- | 108- | 108- |
43 | 50 | 57 | 64 | 71 | 79 | 107 | 120 | 150 | 192 | 270 | |
VIII | 20- | 24- | 29- | 34- | 38- | 43- | 63- | 72- | 83- | 90- | 90- |
28 | 36 | 43 | 50 | 57 | 64 | 93 | 107 | 120 | 162 | 225 | |
VII | 14- | 20- | 24- | 29- | 34- | 38- | 53- | 63- | 72- | 72- | 72- |
21 | 28 | 36 | 43 | 50 | 57 | 79 | 93 | 107 | 131 | 180 | |
VI | 10+- | 14- | 20- | 24- | 29- | 34- | 43- | 53- | 63- | 64- | 64- |
16 | 21 | 28 | 36 | 43 | 50 | 64 | 79 | 93 | 115 | 157 | |
V | 6- | 10+- | 12+- | 14- | 21- | 31- | 38- | 48- | 58- | 61- | 61- |
12 | 16 | 18 | 21 | 30 | 45 | 57 | 71 | 86 | 107 | 120 | |
IV | 3- | 6- | 10+- | 12+- | 14- | 21- | 31- | 43- | 49- | 52- | 52- |
9 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 21 | 30 | 45 | 57 | 74 | 95 | 120 | |
III | 1- | 3- | 4- | 9- | 11- | 16- | 21- | 31- | 40- | 43- | 43- |
3 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 17 | 23 | 30 | 45 | 60 | 76 | 120 | |
II | 0-90 | 2- | 3- | 4- | 10+- | 13- | 16- | 21- | 31- | 36- | 36- |
Days | 6 | 9 | 12 | 16 | 19 | 23 | 30 | 45 | 64 | 120 | |
I | 0-60 | 0-90 | 2- | 2- | 3- | 4- | 10+- | 13- | 16- | 17- | 17- |
Days | Days | 5 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 19 | 23 | 34 | 60 |
Sec. 2 RCW 9.94A.535 and 2005 c 68 s 3 are each amended to read
as follows:
The court may impose a sentence outside the standard sentence range
for an offense if it finds, considering the purpose of this chapter,
that there are substantial and compelling reasons justifying an
exceptional sentence. Facts supporting aggravated sentences, other
than the fact of a prior conviction, shall be determined pursuant to
the provisions of RCW 9.94A.537.
Whenever a sentence outside the standard sentence range is imposed,
the court shall set forth the reasons for its decision in written
findings of fact and conclusions of law. A sentence outside the
standard sentence range shall be a determinate sentence.
If the sentencing court finds that an exceptional sentence outside
the standard sentence range should be imposed, the sentence is subject
to review only as provided for in RCW 9.94A.585(4).
A departure from the standards in RCW 9.94A.589 (1) and (2)
governing whether sentences are to be served consecutively or
concurrently is an exceptional sentence subject to the limitations in
this section, and may be appealed by the offender or the state as set
forth in RCW 9.94A.585 (2) through (6).
(1) Mitigating Circumstances - Court to Consider
The court may impose an exceptional sentence below the standard
range if it finds that mitigating circumstances are established by a
preponderance of the evidence. The following are illustrative only and
are not intended to be exclusive reasons for exceptional sentences.
(a) To a significant degree, the victim was an initiator, willing
participant, aggressor, or provoker of the incident.
(b) Before detection, the defendant compensated, or made a good
faith effort to compensate, the victim of the criminal conduct for any
damage or injury sustained.
(c) The defendant committed the crime under duress, coercion,
threat, or compulsion insufficient to constitute a complete defense but
which significantly affected his or her conduct.
(d) The defendant, with no apparent predisposition to do so, was
induced by others to participate in the crime.
(e) The defendant's capacity to appreciate the wrongfulness of his
or her conduct, or to conform his or her conduct to the requirements of
the law, was significantly impaired. Voluntary use of drugs or alcohol
is excluded.
(f) The offense was principally accomplished by another person and
the defendant manifested extreme caution or sincere concern for the
safety or well-being of the victim.
(g) The operation of the multiple offense policy of RCW 9.94A.589
results in a presumptive sentence that is clearly excessive in light of
the purpose of this chapter, as expressed in RCW 9.94A.010.
(h) The defendant or the defendant's children suffered a continuing
pattern of physical or sexual abuse by the victim of the offense and
the offense is a response to that abuse.
(i) The offender score due to other current offenses, as opposed to
prior offenses, results in a presumptive sentence that is clearly
excessive.
(2) Aggravating Circumstances - Considered and Imposed by the Court
The trial court may impose an aggravated exceptional sentence
without a finding of fact by a jury under the following circumstances:
(((a))) The defendant and the state both stipulate that justice is
best served by the imposition of an exceptional sentence outside the
standard range, and the court finds the exceptional sentence to be
consistent with and in furtherance of the interests of justice and the
purposes of the sentencing reform act.
(((b) The defendant's prior unscored misdemeanor or prior unscored
foreign criminal history results in a presumptive sentence that is
clearly too lenient in light of the purpose of this chapter, as
expressed in RCW 9.94A.010.))
(c) The defendant has committed multiple current offenses and the
defendant's high offender score results in some of the current offenses
going unpunished.
(d) The failure to consider the defendant's prior criminal history
which was omitted from the offender score calculation pursuant to RCW
9.94A.525 results in a presumptive sentence that is clearly too
lenient.
(3) Aggravating Circumstances - Considered by a Jury - Imposed by
the Court
Except for circumstances listed in subsection (2) of this section,
the following circumstances are an exclusive list of factors that can
support a sentence above the standard range. Such facts should be
determined by procedures specified in RCW 9.94A.537.
(a) The defendant's conduct during the commission of the current
offense manifested deliberate cruelty to the victim.
(b) The defendant knew or should have known that the victim of the
current offense was particularly vulnerable or incapable of resistance.
(c) The current offense was a violent offense, and the defendant
knew that the victim of the current offense was pregnant.
(d) The current offense was a major economic offense or series of
offenses, so identified by a consideration of any of the following
factors:
(i) The current offense involved multiple victims or multiple
incidents per victim;
(ii) The current offense involved attempted or actual monetary loss
substantially greater than typical for the offense;
(iii) The current offense involved a high degree of sophistication
or planning or occurred over a lengthy period of time; or
(iv) The defendant used his or her position of trust, confidence,
or fiduciary responsibility to facilitate the commission of the current
offense.
(e) The current offense was a major violation of the Uniform
Controlled Substances Act, chapter 69.50 RCW (VUCSA), related to
trafficking in controlled substances, which was more onerous than the
typical offense of its statutory definition: The presence of ANY of
the following may identify a current offense as a major VUCSA:
(i) The current offense involved at least three separate
transactions in which controlled substances were sold, transferred, or
possessed with intent to do so;
(ii) The current offense involved an attempted or actual sale or
transfer of controlled substances in quantities substantially larger
than for personal use;
(iii) The current offense involved the manufacture of controlled
substances for use by other parties;
(iv) The circumstances of the current offense reveal the offender
to have occupied a high position in the drug distribution hierarchy;
(v) The current offense involved a high degree of sophistication or
planning, occurred over a lengthy period of time, or involved a broad
geographic area of disbursement; or
(vi) The offender used his or her position or status to facilitate
the commission of the current offense, including positions of trust,
confidence or fiduciary responsibility (e.g., pharmacist, physician, or
other medical professional).
(f) The current offense included a finding of sexual motivation
pursuant to RCW 9.94A.835.
(g) The offense was part of an ongoing pattern of sexual abuse of
the same victim under the age of eighteen years manifested by multiple
incidents over a prolonged period of time.
(h) The current offense involved domestic violence, as defined in
RCW 10.99.020, and one or more of the following was present:
(i) The offense was part of an ongoing pattern of psychological,
physical, or sexual abuse of the victim manifested by multiple
incidents over a prolonged period of time;
(ii) The offense occurred within sight or sound of the victim's or
the offender's minor children under the age of eighteen years; or
(iii) The offender's conduct during the commission of the current
offense manifested deliberate cruelty or intimidation of the victim.
(i) The offense resulted in the pregnancy of a child victim of
rape.
(j) The defendant knew that the victim of the current offense was
a youth who was not residing with a legal custodian and the defendant
established or promoted the relationship for the primary purpose of
victimization.
(k) The offense was committed with the intent to obstruct or impair
human or animal health care or agricultural or forestry research or
commercial production.
(l) The current offense is trafficking in the first degree or
trafficking in the second degree and any victim was a minor at the time
of the offense.
(m) The offense involved a high degree of sophistication or
planning.
(n) The defendant used his or her position of trust, confidence, or
fiduciary responsibility to facilitate the commission of the current
offense.
(o) The defendant committed a current sex offense, has a history of
sex offenses, and is not amenable to treatment.
(p) The offense involved an invasion of the victim's privacy.
(q) The defendant demonstrated or displayed an egregious lack of
remorse.
(r) The offense involved a destructive and foreseeable impact on
persons other than the victim.
(s) The defendant committed the offense to obtain or maintain his
or her membership or to advance his or her position in the hierarchy of
an organization, association, or identifiable group.
(t) The defendant committed the current offense shortly after being
released from incarceration.
(u) The current offense is a burglary and the victim of the
burglary was present in the building or residence when the crime was
committed.
(v) The offense was committed against a law enforcement officer who
was performing his or her official duties at the time of the offense,
the offender knew that the victim was a law enforcement officer, and
the victim's status as a law enforcement officer is not an element of
the offense.
(w) The defendant committed the offense against a victim who was
acting as a good samaritan.
(x) The defendant committed the offense against a public official
or officer of the court in retaliation of the public official's
performance of his or her duty to the criminal justice system.
(y) The victim's injuries substantially exceed the level of bodily
harm necessary to satisfy the elements of the offense. This aggravator
is not an exception to RCW 9.94A.530(2).
(z) The defendant's prior unscored misdemeanor or prior unscored
foreign criminal history results in a presumptive sentence that is
clearly too lenient in light of the purpose of this chapter, as
expressed in RCW 9.94A.010.
(aa) The defendant has committed multiple current offenses and the
defendant's high offender score results in some of the current offenses
going unpunished.
(bb) The failure to consider the defendant's prior criminal history
which was omitted from the offender score calculation pursuant to RCW
9.94A.525 results in a presumptive sentence that is clearly too
lenient.
Sec. 3 RCW 9.94A.537 and 2005 c 68 s 4 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1) At any time prior to trial or entry of the guilty plea if
substantial rights of the defendant are not prejudiced, the state may
give notice that it is seeking a sentence above the standard sentencing
range. The notice shall state aggravating circumstances upon which the
requested sentence will be based.
(2) The facts supporting aggravating circumstances shall be proved
to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt. The jury's verdict on the
aggravating factor must be unanimous, and by special interrogatory. If
a jury is waived, proof shall be to the court beyond a reasonable
doubt, unless the defendant stipulates to the aggravating facts. A
jury may be empaneled to find aggravating facts if the defendant pleads
guilty to the underlying crime but not to the aggravating factor.
(3) Evidence regarding any facts supporting aggravating
circumstances under RCW 9.94A.535(3) (a) through (y) shall be presented
to the jury during the trial of the alleged crime, unless the state
alleges the aggravating circumstances listed in RCW 9.94A.535(3)
(e)(iv), (h)(i), (o), or (t). If one of these aggravating
circumstances is alleged, the trial court may conduct a separate
proceeding if the evidence supporting the aggravating fact is not part
of the res geste of the charged crime, if the evidence is not otherwise
admissible in trial of the charged crime, and if the court finds that
the probative value of the evidence to the aggravated fact is
substantially outweighed by its prejudicial effect on the jury's
ability to determine guilt or innocence for the underlying crime.
(4) If the court conducts a separate proceeding to determine the
existence of aggravating circumstances, the proceeding shall
immediately follow the trial on the underlying conviction, if possible.
If any person who served on the jury is unable to continue, the court
shall substitute an alternate juror.
(5) If the jury finds, unanimously and beyond a reasonable doubt,
one or more of the facts alleged by the state in support of an
aggravated sentence, the court may sentence the offender pursuant to
RCW 9.94A.535 to a term of confinement up to the maximum allowed under
RCW 9A.20.021 for the underlying conviction if it finds, considering
the purposes of this chapter, that the facts found are substantial and
compelling reasons justifying an exceptional sentence.
(6) If the defendant enters a guilty plea to the charged crime or
the case is remanded for a new sentencing hearing, the court may
empanel a jury for the purpose of considering any aggravating
circumstances alleged by the state. The trial on the aggravating
circumstances should occur within ninety days of the entry of the
guilty plea, or the filing of an appellate court mandate. Upon a
showing of good cause, the court may extend the time for the trial on
aggravating circumstances. The time limit for holding a sentencing
hearing, set forth in RCW 9.94A.500, shall not begin to run until the
jury renders a verdict on the aggravating circumstances.
Sec. 4 RCW 9.94A.190 and 2001 2nd sp.s. c 12 s 313 are each
amended to read as follows:
(1) A sentence that includes a term or terms of confinement
totaling more than one year, or a sentence set under RCW 9.94A.510
based on a sentence range with a minimum sentence of more than ten
months, shall be served in a facility or institution operated, or
utilized under contract, by the state. Except as provided in this
subsection or subsection (3) or (5) of this section, a sentence of not
more than one year of confinement shall be served in a facility
operated, licensed, or utilized under contract, by the county, or if
home detention or work crew has been ordered by the court, in the
residence of either the offender or a member of the offender's
immediate family.
(2) If a county uses a state partial confinement facility for the
partial confinement of a person sentenced to confinement for not more
than one year, the county shall reimburse the state for the use of the
facility as provided in this subsection. The office of financial
management shall set the rate of reimbursement based upon the average
per diem cost per offender in the facility. The office of financial
management shall determine to what extent, if any, reimbursement shall
be reduced or eliminated because of funds provided by the legislature
to the department for the purpose of covering the cost of county use of
state partial confinement facilities. The office of financial
management shall reestablish reimbursement rates each even-numbered
year.
(3) A person who is sentenced for a felony to a term of not more
than one year, and who is committed or returned to incarceration in a
state facility on another felony conviction, either under the
indeterminate sentencing laws, chapter 9.95 RCW, or under this chapter
shall serve all terms of confinement, including a sentence of not more
than one year, in a facility or institution operated, or utilized under
contract, by the state, consistent with the provisions of RCW
9.94A.589.
(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a sentence
imposed pursuant to RCW 9.94A.660 which has a standard sentence range
of over one year, regardless of length, shall be served in a facility
or institution operated, or utilized under contract, by the state.
(5) Sentences imposed pursuant to RCW 9.94A.712 shall be served in
a facility or institution operated, or utilized under contract, by the
state.
Sec. 5 RCW 9.94A.850 and 2005 c 282 s 19 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1) A sentencing guidelines commission is established as an agency
of state government.
(2) The legislature finds that the commission, having accomplished
its original statutory directive to implement this chapter, and having
expertise in sentencing practice and policies, shall:
(a) Evaluate state sentencing policy, to include whether the
sentencing ranges and standards are consistent with and further:
(i) The purposes of this chapter as defined in RCW 9.94A.010; and
(ii) The intent of the legislature to emphasize confinement for the
violent offender and alternatives to confinement for the nonviolent
offender.
The commission shall provide the governor and the legislature with
its evaluation and recommendations under this subsection not later than
December 1, 1996, and every two years thereafter;
(b) Recommend to the legislature revisions or modifications to the
standard sentence ranges, state sentencing policy, prosecuting
standards, and other standards. If implementation of the revisions or
modifications would result in exceeding the capacity of correctional
facilities, then the commission shall accompany its recommendation with
an additional list of standard sentence ranges which are consistent
with correction capacity;
(c) Study the existing criminal code and from time to time make
recommendations to the legislature for modification;
(d)(i) Serve as a clearinghouse and information center for the
collection, preparation, analysis, and dissemination of information on
state and local adult and juvenile sentencing practices; (ii) develop
and maintain a computerized adult and juvenile sentencing information
system by individual superior court judge consisting of offender,
offense, history, and sentence information entered from judgment and
sentence forms for all adult felons; and (iii) conduct ongoing research
regarding adult and juvenile sentencing guidelines, use of total
confinement and alternatives to total confinement, plea bargaining, and
other matters relating to the improvement of the adult criminal justice
system and the juvenile justice system;
(e) Assume the powers and duties of the juvenile disposition
standards commission after June 30, 1996;
(f) Evaluate the effectiveness of existing disposition standards
and related statutes in implementing policies set forth in RCW
13.40.010 generally, specifically review the guidelines relating to the
confinement of minor and first-time offenders as well as the use of
diversion, and review the application of current and proposed juvenile
sentencing standards and guidelines for potential adverse impacts on
the sentencing outcomes of racial and ethnic minority youth;
(g) Solicit the comments and suggestions of the juvenile justice
community concerning disposition standards, and make recommendations to
the legislature regarding revisions or modifications of the standards.
The evaluations shall be submitted to the legislature on December 1 of
each odd-numbered year. The department of social and health services
shall provide the commission with available data concerning the
implementation of the disposition standards and related statutes and
their effect on the performance of the department's responsibilities
relating to juvenile offenders, and with recommendations for
modification of the disposition standards. The administrative office
of the courts shall provide the commission with available data on
diversion, including the use of youth court programs, and dispositions
of juvenile offenders under chapter 13.40 RCW; and
(h) Not later than December 1, 1997, and at least every two years
thereafter, based on available information, report to the governor and
the legislature on:
(i) Racial disproportionality in juvenile and adult sentencing,
and, if available, the impact that diversions, such as youth courts,
have on racial disproportionality in juvenile prosecution,
adjudication, and sentencing;
(ii) The capacity of state and local juvenile and adult facilities
and resources; and
(iii) Recidivism information on adult and juvenile offenders.
(3) Each of the commission's recommended standard sentence ranges
shall include one or more of the following: Total confinement, partial
confinement, community supervision, community restitution, and a fine.
(4) The standard sentence ranges of total and partial confinement
under this chapter, except as provided in RCW 9.94A.517, are subject to
the following limitations:
(a) If the maximum term in the range is one year or less, the
minimum term in the range shall be no less than one-third of the
maximum term in the range, except that if the maximum term in the range
is ninety days or less, the minimum term may be less than one-third of
the maximum;
(b) If the maximum term in the range is greater than one year, the
minimum term in the range shall be no less than ((seventy-five)) sixty
percent of the maximum term in the range, except that for murder in the
second degree in seriousness level XIV under RCW 9.94A.510, the minimum
term in the range shall be no less than fifty percent of the maximum
term in the range and except that for any offense with an offender
score of ten or more, the minimum term in the range shall be no less
than twenty-five percent of the maximum term in the range; and
(c) The maximum term of confinement in a range may not exceed the
statutory maximum for the crime as provided in RCW 9A.20.021.
(5)(a) Not later than December 31, 1999, the commission shall
propose to the legislature the initial community custody ranges to be
included in sentences under RCW 9.94A.715 for crimes committed on or
after July 1, 2000. Not later than December 31 of each year, the
commission may propose modifications to the ranges. The ranges shall
be based on the principles in RCW 9.94A.010, and shall take into
account the funds available to the department for community custody.
The minimum term in each range shall not be less than one-half of the
maximum term.
(b) The legislature may, by enactment of a legislative bill, adopt
or modify the community custody ranges proposed by the commission. If
the legislature fails to adopt or modify the initial ranges in its next
regular session after they are proposed, the proposed ranges shall take
effect without legislative approval for crimes committed on or after
July 1, 2000.
(c) When the commission proposes modifications to ranges pursuant
to this subsection, the legislature may, by enactment of a bill, adopt
or modify the ranges proposed by the commission for crimes committed on
or after July 1 of the year after they were proposed. Unless the
legislature adopts or modifies the commission's proposal in its next
regular session, the proposed ranges shall not take effect.
(6) The commission shall exercise its duties under this section in
conformity with chapter 34.05 RCW.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 6 (1) Savings to the state general fund
resulting from reductions in sentencing as a result of sections 1 and
5 of this act, shall be deposited in the criminal justice treatment
account. All moneys deposited pursuant to this act shall be
appropriated to the division of alcohol and substance abuse for
distribution pursuant to RCW 70.96A.350(5).
(2) Moneys allocated under this section shall be used to
supplement, not supplant, other federal, state, and local funds used
for substance abuse treatment.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 7 It is the intent of the legislature to
restore the ability to impose an aggravated sentence lost by the
superior court as a result of the decision of the United States supreme
court in Blakely v. State of Washington, 542 U.S. 296 (2004). The
legislature finds that as the seriousness level of the crime and the
criminal history of the offender increase, the need for an
individualized and informed assessment of the circumstances of the
crime, the offender, and the victim, by the judiciary, is necessary for
justice to be obtained. The legislature further finds that the
exercise of the judiciary's sentencing discretion over a broader range
based upon the assessment of these circumstances is consistent with the
policies supporting Washington's sentencing reform act.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 8 A new section is added to chapter 9.94A RCW
to read as follows:
(1) For offenders convicted of a violent offense, the upper limit
of the standard sentencing range shall be advisory only. However,
without limiting the sentencing discretion of the judge, in cases in
which the prosecutor seeks a sentence above the standard range, the
prosecutor must assert a statutory aggravating factor. Notwithstanding
any other law, the maximum sentence that a court may impose for a
violent offense where the lower limit of the standard sentencing range
is more than twelve months is the maximum sentence for the current
offense under chapter 9A.20 RCW, or twice the upper limit of the
standard sentencing range, whichever is less; the maximum sentence that
a court may impose for all other violent offenses is twice the upper
limit of the standard range or twelve months, whichever is less. This
provision shall not apply to any offender sentenced under RCW
9.94A.712.
(2) In making its determination of the sentence length to be
imposed, the court shall consider the risk assessment prepared by the
department of corrections, if any, the presentence report, if any, and
other materials provided by the offender, and any information provided
by the victim or victims of the crime. Nothing in this section
requires the department of corrections to prepare a risk assessment or
presentence report prior to sentencing.
(3) A sentence imposed under this section shall be a determinate
sentence unless it is imposed on an offender sentenced under RCW
9.94A.712. The sentence may be appealed by the offender or the state
as set forth in RCW 9.94A.585 (2) through (6).
(4) Nothing in this section prohibits an aggravated exceptional
sentence from being imposed on an offender under RCW 9.94A.535 or
9.94A.537 up to the statutory maximum sentence as defined in RCW
9.94A.030.
Sec. 9 RCW 9.94A.480 and 2002 c 290 s 16 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1) A current, newly created or reworked judgment and sentence
document for each felony sentencing shall record any and all
recommended sentencing agreements or plea agreements and the sentences
for any and all felony crimes kept as public records under RCW
9.94A.475 shall contain the clearly printed name and legal signature of
the sentencing judge. The judgment and sentence document as defined in
this section shall also provide additional space for the sentencing
judge's reasons, if any, for going either above or below the
presumptive or advisory sentence range for any and all felony crimes
covered as public records under RCW 9.94A.475. Both the sentencing
judge and the prosecuting attorney's office shall each retain or
receive a completed copy of each sentencing document as defined in this
section for their own records.
(2) The sentencing guidelines commission shall be sent a completed
copy of the judgment and sentence document upon conviction for each
felony sentencing under subsection (1) of this section and shall
compile a yearly and cumulative judicial record of each sentencing
judge in regards to his or her sentencing practices for any and all
felony crimes involving:
(a) Any violent offense as defined in this chapter;
(b) Any most serious offense as defined in this chapter;
(c) Any felony with any deadly weapon special verdict under RCW
9.94A.602;
(d) Any felony with any deadly weapon enhancements under RCW
9.94A.533 (3) or (4), or both; and/or
(e) The felony crimes of possession of a machine gun, possessing a
stolen firearm, drive-by shooting, theft of a firearm, unlawful
possession of a firearm in the first or second degree, and/or use of a
machine gun in a felony.
(3) The sentencing guidelines commission shall compare each
individual judge's sentencing practices to the standard ((or)),
presumptive, or advisory sentence range for any and all felony crimes
listed in subsection (2) of this section for the appropriate offense
level as defined in RCW 9.94A.515 or 9.94A.518, offender score as
defined in RCW 9.94A.525, and any applicable deadly weapon enhancements
as defined in RCW 9.94A.533 (3) or (4), or both. These comparative
records shall be retained and made available to the public for review
in a current, newly created or reworked official published document by
the sentencing guidelines commission.
(4) Any and all felony sentences which are either above or below
the standard ((or)), presumptive, or advisory sentence range in
subsection (3) of this section shall also mark whether the prosecuting
attorney in the case also recommended a similar sentence, if any, which
was either above or below the standard, presumptive, or advisory
sentence range and shall also indicate if the sentence was in
conjunction with an approved alternative sentencing option including a
first-time offender waiver, sex offender sentencing alternative, or
other prescribed sentencing option.
(5) If any completed judgment and sentence document as defined in
subsection (1) of this section is not sent to the sentencing guidelines
commission as required in subsection (2) of this section, the
sentencing guidelines commission shall have the authority and shall
undertake reasonable and necessary steps to assure that all past,
current, and future sentencing documents as defined in subsection (1)
of this section are received by the sentencing guidelines commission.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 10 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."
2SSB 6497 -
By Senators Johnson, Thibaudeau
WITHDRAWN 02/13/2006
On page 1, line 1 of the title, after "sentences;" strike the remainder of the title and insert "amending RCW 9.94A.510, 9.94A.535, 9.94A.537, 9.94A.190, 9.94A.850, and 9.94A.480; adding a new section to chapter 9.94A RCW; creating new sections; and prescribing penalties."
EFFECT: The sentencing ranges under columns zero through nine of the sentencing guidelines grid are modified so that the expansion of the sentencing ranges are symmetrical throughout the grid. The sentencing ranges are expanded up and down in equal proportion. No changes are made to the sentencing ranges under column ten. An intent section is added to provide that the purpose of the bill is to restore the ability to impose an aggravated sentence lost by the superior court as a result of the decision of the United States Supreme Court in Blakely v. State of Washington. For offenders convicted of a violent offense, the upper limit of the standard sentencing range is advisory only. In cases in which the prosecutor seeks a sentence above the standard range, the prosecutor must assert a statutory aggravating factor. The maximum sentence that a court may impose for a violent offense where the lower limit of the standard sentencing range is more than twelve months is the maximum sentence for the current offense, or twice the upper limit of the standard sentencing range, whichever is less. The maximum sentence that a court may impose for all other violent offenses is twice the upper limit of the standard range or twelve months, whichever is less. In making its determination of the sentence length to be imposed, the court is to consider the risk assessment prepared by the Department of Corrections, if any, the presentence report, if any, materials provided by the offender, and any materials provided by the victim. Nothing in the bill prevents an offender from receiving an aggravated exceptional sentence.