BILL REQ. #:  H-1915.1 

Read first time 02/21/2005.   Referred to Committee on Juvenile Justice & Family Law.

     AN ACT Relating to additional protections for domestic violence victims; and amending RCW 10.99.040.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 10.99.040 and 2000 c 119 s 18 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Because of the serious nature of domestic violence, the court in domestic violence actions:
     (a) Shall not dismiss any charge or delay disposition because of concurrent dissolution or other civil proceedings;
     (b) Shall not require proof that either party is seeking a dissolution of marriage prior to instigation of criminal proceedings;
     (c) Shall waive any requirement that the victim's location be disclosed to any person, other than the attorney of a criminal defendant, upon a showing that there is a possibility of further violence: PROVIDED, That the court may order a criminal defense attorney not to disclose to his or her client the victim's location; and
     (d) Shall identify by any reasonable means on docket sheets those criminal actions arising from acts of domestic violence.
     (2)(a) Because of the likelihood of repeated violence directed at those who have been victims of domestic violence in the past, when any person charged with or arrested for a crime involving domestic violence is released from custody before arraignment or trial on bail or personal recognizance, the court authorizing the release ((may)) shall prohibit that person from having any contact with the victim((. The jurisdiction authorizing the release shall determine whether that person should be prohibited from having any contact with the victim)) unless the court finds good cause why the person arrested or charged should have contact with the victim. If there is no outstanding restraining or protective order prohibiting that person from having contact with the victim, the court authorizing release ((may)) shall issue((, by telephone,)) a no-contact order prohibiting the person charged or arrested from having contact with the victim or from knowingly coming within, or knowingly remaining within, a specified distance of a location, unless the court finds good cause why the person arrested or charged should have contact with the victim. The court may issue the no-contact order by telephone.
     (b) In issuing the order, the court shall consider the provisions of RCW 9.41.800.
     (c) The no-contact order shall also be issued in writing as soon as possible.
     (3) At the time of arraignment the court shall determine whether a no-contact order shall be issued or extended. The no-contact order shall terminate if the defendant is acquitted or the charges are dismissed.
     (4) If a no-contact order is issued or extended, the court ((may)) shall also include in the conditions of release a requirement that the defendant submit to electronic monitoring, unless the court finds good cause why the electronic monitoring should not be ordered. If electronic monitoring is ordered, the court shall specify who shall provide the monitoring services, and the terms under which the monitoring shall be performed. Upon conviction, the court may require as a condition of the sentence that the defendant reimburse the providing agency for the costs of the electronic monitoring.
     (((4))) (5)(a) Willful violation of a court order issued under subsection (2) or (3) of this section is punishable under RCW 26.50.110.
     (b) The written order releasing the person charged or arrested shall contain the court's directives and shall bear the legend: "Violation of this order is a criminal offense under chapter 26.50 RCW and will subject a violator to arrest; any assault, drive-by shooting, or reckless endangerment that is a violation of this order is a felony. You can be arrested even if any person protected by the order invites or allows you to violate the order's prohibitions. You have the sole responsibility to avoid or refrain from violating the order's provisions. Only the court can change the order."
     (c) A certified copy of the order shall be provided to the victim.
     (((5))) (6) If a no-contact order has been issued prior to charging, that order shall expire at arraignment or within seventy-two hours if charges are not filed. Such orders need not be entered into the computer-based criminal intelligence information system in this state which is used by law enforcement agencies to list outstanding warrants.
     (((6))) (7) Whenever a no-contact order is issued, modified, or terminated under subsection (2) or (3) of this section, the clerk of the court shall forward a copy of the order on or before the next judicial day to the appropriate law enforcement agency specified in the order. Upon receipt of the copy of the order the law enforcement agency shall enter the order for one year or until the expiration date specified on the order into any computer-based criminal intelligence information system available in this state used by law enforcement agencies to list outstanding warrants. Entry into the computer-based criminal intelligence information system constitutes notice to all law enforcement agencies of the existence of the order. The order is fully enforceable in any jurisdiction in the state. Upon receipt of notice that an order has been terminated under subsection (3) of this section, the law enforcement agency shall remove the order from the computer-based criminal intelligence information system.