HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1682


This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Reported by House Committee On:
Human Services

Title: An act relating to increasing the length of confinement for a parole violation committed by certain juvenile sex offenders under the jurisdiction of the department of social and health services, juvenile rehabilitation administration.

Brief Description: Increasing the length of confinement for a parole violation committed by certain juvenile sex offenders.

Sponsors: Representatives Dickerson, O'Brien, Roberts, Ormsby and Green; by request of Department of Social and Health Services.

Brief History:

Human Services: 2/6/07, 2/8/07 [DPS].

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill
  • Allows a sex offender who has violated the terms of his or her parole to be sent to a Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration facility for up to 24 weeks of his or her remaining sentence range.


HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 8 members: Representatives Dickerson, Chair; Roberts, Vice Chair; Ahern, Ranking Minority Member; Walsh, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bailey, Darneille, McCoy and O'Brien.

Staff: Sonja Hallum (786-7092).

Background:

If a juvenile is committed to a sentence at a Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration (JRA) facility, he or she may be under parole supervision upon release from the facility.

There are three types of parole in Washington: Intensive, Enhanced, and Sex Offender Parole. Juveniles who have the highest risk of re-offending receive a mandatory six months of supervision through Intensive Parole. Enhanced Parole is for youth who are not eligible for intensive parole. They receive 20 weeks of supervision. Juveniles who commit specific sex offenses receive a mandatory 24 to 36 months of Sex Offender Parole.

If a juvenile violates his or her conditions of parole, the Department of Social and Health Services (Department) may request sanctions including intensified supervision, additional conditions of supervision, up to 30 days confinement in the local detention facility, or request the juvenile to be returned to a JRA facility to complete the remainder of his or her sentence if the sentence included the basic training camp or was one of the following sex offenses:


Summary of Substitute Bill:

Juveniles convicted of a sex offense who violate the terms of their parole after the effective date of this act may be confined in a JRA facility for up to 24 weeks of their remaining sentence.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The substitute bill clarifies that the 24 weeks which may be imposed as a sanction for a violation of parole is limited to the offender's remaining sentence.

The substitute bill also clarifies that the sanction may only be applied to violations that occur after the effective date of the act.

The RCW citation is corrected to refer to the definition of a "sex offense."


Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This bill is part of the Governor's GMAP initiative. Some sex offenders on parole need interventions beyond what is currently allowed. They can currently be revoked for 30 days, but this may not be enough. The reason we want to bring the offender back is for treatment, not punishment. This is a group that has a low rate of reoffending, but a high impact on the community when they do reoffend. This bill allows JRA to return the offender to custody for up to 24 weeks, but the maximum would not be imposed every time. It would depend on the offender.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Dickerson, prime sponsor; Sekou Shabaka, Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration, Department of Social and Health Services.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.