BILL REQ. #:  H-1663.1 

Read first time 02/14/2005.   Referred to Committee on Criminal Justice & Corrections.

     AN ACT Relating to examination of offenders to determine sexual dangerousness; and amending RCW 9.95.420.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 9.95.420 and 2002 c 174 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1)(a) Except as provided in (c) of this subsection, before the expiration of the minimum term, as part of the end of sentence review process under RCW 72.09.340, 72.09.345, and where appropriate, 72.09.370, the department shall conduct, and the offender shall participate in, an examination of the offender, incorporating methodologies that are recognized by experts in the prediction of sexual dangerousness, ((and)) including a prediction of the probability that the offender will engage in sex offenses if released, and a determination of whether the offender has a congenital or acquired condition affecting the emotional or volitional capacity which predisposes the offender to the commission of criminal sexual acts in a degree constituting such offender a menace to the health and safety of others.
     (b) The board may contract for an additional, independent examination, subject to the standards in this section.
     (c) If at the time the sentence is imposed by the superior court the offender's minimum term has expired or will expire within one hundred twenty days of the sentencing hearing, the department shall conduct, within ninety days of the offender's arrival at a department of corrections facility, and the offender shall participate in, an examination of the offender, incorporating methodologies that are recognized by experts in the prediction of sexual dangerousness, ((and)) including a prediction of the probability that the offender will engage in sex offenses if released, and a determination of whether the offender has a congenital or acquired condition affecting the emotional or volitional capacity which predisposes the offender to the commission of criminal sexual acts in a degree constituting such offender a menace to the health and safety of others.
     (2) The board shall impose the conditions and instructions provided for in RCW 9.94A.720. The board shall consider the department's recommendations and may impose conditions in addition to those recommended by the department. The board may impose or modify conditions of community custody following notice to the offender.
     (3)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, no later than ninety days before expiration of the minimum term, but after the board receives the results from the end of sentence review process and the recommendations for additional or modified conditions of community custody from the department, the board shall conduct a hearing to determine whether it is more likely than not that the offender will engage in sex offenses if released on conditions to be set by the board. The board may consider an offender's failure to participate in an evaluation under subsection (1) of this section in determining whether to release the offender. The board shall order the offender released, under such affirmative and other conditions as the board determines appropriate, unless the board determines by a preponderance of the evidence that, despite such conditions, it is more likely than not that the offender will commit sex offenses if released. If the board does not order the offender released, the board shall establish a new minimum term, not to exceed an additional two years.
     (b) If at the time the offender's minimum term has expired or will expire within one hundred twenty days of the offender's arrival at a department of correction's facility, then no later than one hundred twenty days after the offender's arrival at a department of corrections facility, but after the board receives the results from the end of sentence review process and the recommendations for additional or modified conditions of community custody from the department, the board shall conduct a hearing to determine whether it is more likely than not that the offender will engage in sex offenses if released on conditions to be set by the board. The board may consider an offender's failure to participate in an evaluation under subsection (1) of this section in determining whether to release the offender. The board shall order the offender released, under such affirmative and other conditions as the board determines appropriate, unless the board determines by a preponderance of the evidence that, despite such conditions, it is more likely than not that the offender will commit sex offenses if released. If the board does not order the offender released, the board shall establish a new minimum term, not to exceed an additional two years.