BILL REQ. #:  S-0419.1 

Read first time 01/17/2005.   Referred to Committee on Human Services & Corrections.

     AN ACT Relating to studying electronic monitoring as an alternative to incarceration; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature believes that electronic monitoring, as an alternative to incarceration, is a proper and cost-effective method of punishment and supervision for many criminal offenders. The legislature further finds that advancements in electronic monitoring technology have made the technology more common and acceptable to criminal justice system personnel, policymakers, and the general public.
      In an effort to reduce prison and jail populations, many states are increasing their utilization of electronic monitoring. However, Washington state's use of electronic monitoring has been relatively stagnate.
     The intent of this act is to determine what electronic monitoring policies and programs have been implemented in the other forty-nine states, in order that Washington state can learn from the other states' experiences.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) The Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs shall conduct a comprehensive study on electronic monitoring in every state. The study shall review and analyze each state's activity regarding electronic monitoring. Specifically, the study shall include:
     (a) How often electronic monitoring is used;
     (b) A description of laws and circumstances of when an offender is placed on electronic monitoring;
     (c) The discovery and analysis of specific programs used to promote electronic monitoring and how they are operated;
     (d) The type of electronic monitoring technology used;
     (e) Evaluation of offender pay programs and the amount of money recovered from these programs;
     (f) Overall perceptions of electronic monitoring from the criminal justice community, and any real or perceived problems or concerns with electronic monitoring;
     (g) Estimates on savings realized by utilizing electronic monitoring.
     (2) The findings and any recommendations from the study shall be placed into a final report and presented to the legislature no later than December 31, 2005.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   This act expires December 31, 2005.