Brief Description: Creating a statewide automated victim information and notification system.

Sponsors: Senators Roach, Prentice and Rasmussen.

Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections
Senate Committee on Ways & Means
House Committee on Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness
House Committee on Appropriations

Background: The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) implements and operates a statewide central booking and reporting system. The system contains the following:

• charging information;
• descriptive information regarding persons who are arrested, such as names, vital

      statistics, addresses, and photographs;

• information regarding the medical conditions and behavior problems of incarcerated

      individuals; and

• statistical data on jails and prisons in the state.

The system is part of the Washington Justice Information Network and is capable of
communicating electronically with all criminal justice agencies located in Washington. Pierce, King, and Snohomish counties have implemented a local automated victim notification system. WASPC has applied for a federal grant to implement the victim notification technology.

Summary: WASPC must integrate a victim notification system into its electronic statewide central booking and reporting system. Crime victims may subscribe to the system and indicate whether they would like to receive notice by e-mail, telephone, or post.

The system must provide victims of crime, who have made a notification request, notification of the release, transfer, discharge, or escape of the person convicted in their case. The system would verify service of protective orders if requested by the victim. These provisions apply when the person convicted of a crime against a person who has requested notification is detained in any Washington State, county, or city jail or prison.

The system would also be required to provide notice of upcoming court hearings at which the victim may be present, such as parole or pardon hearings. A change in parole or probation status, a change in supervision status, and a change in the offender's address are also information that is to be made available to the victims of crime. Victims of sex offenses would receive notification of updated profile information in the sex offender registry or non-compliance with the registry.

WASPC must provide 24-hour live operator assistance, the ability to register online or via an 800 number, and frequent updates to ensure the reliability of the posted information. Immunity from civil liability is provided for government officers and employees who release or fail to release information in error, so long as the release was without gross negligence. In order to facilitate technology improvements, the Department of Corrections is not required to provide information until January 10, 2010.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      47   0
House      97   0   (House amended)
Senate      47   0   (Senate concurred)

Effective:   July 22, 2007