Brief Description: Expanding the types of treatment programs provided under the suspended disposition alternative for juveniles.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Human Services (originally sponsored by Representatives Dickerson, Appleton, McCoy, Roberts, Kenney and Kagi).

House Committee on Human Services
Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections

Background:

The Juvenile Justice Act governs the disposition (or sentencing) of juvenile offenders. It contains a sentencing grid with presumptive sanctions based on the seriousness of the offense and prior criminal history. The court has several sentencing options for juvenile offenders – a standard sentencing range (Option A), suspended disposition alternative (Option B), chemical dependency disposition alternative (Option C), manifest injustice (Option D), or the mental health disposition alternative.

Under Option B, the court may impose the standard range and suspend the sentence on condition that the offender comply with one or more local sanctions and any educational or treatment requirements.

When the juvenile offender is ordered into a treatment program under Option B, the treatment programs provided to the offender must be research-based best practice programs as identified by the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) or the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC).

If the offender fails to comply with the suspended disposition conditions, the court may order sanctions or revoke the suspended disposition and order the imposition of the original sentence.

Summary:

Under Option B, a juvenile offender may enter a treatment program that is a research-based best practice program as identified by the WSIPP or the JLARC. In the case of treatment for chemical dependency, the treatment program may be either evidence-based or research-based best practice chemical dependency treatment program. "Evidence-based" is defined as a program or practice that has had multiple site random controlled trials across heterogeneous populations demonstrating that the program or practice is effective for the population. "Research-based" is defined as a program or practice that has some research demonstrating effectiveness, but that does not yet meet the standard of evidence-based practices.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   96   0
Senate   48   0   (Senate amended)
House   94   0   (House concurred)

Effective: June 12, 2008