SHB 1792 -
By Representative Pearson
WITHDRAWN 03/05/2009
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"Sec. 1 RCW 9.94A.631 and 1984 c 209 s 11 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) If an offender violates any condition or requirement of a
sentence, a community corrections officer may arrest or cause the
arrest of the offender without a warrant, pending a determination by
the court or a department of corrections hearing officer. If there is
reasonable cause to believe that an offender has violated a condition
or requirement of the sentence, a community corrections officer may
require an offender ((may be required)) to submit to a search and
seizure of the offender's person, residence, automobile, or other
personal property.
(2)(a) Because it is reasonable that the safety of department staff
and offenders themselves require offenders serving their sentences in
total confinement be subject to random, unannounced inspections without
violating the Washington state and United States Constitutions, it is
reasonable that offenders serving their sentences on community custody
have the same expectation of privacy as do offenders in total
confinement, and that the safety of the public and department staff
require offenders serving their sentences on community custody be
subject to random, unannounced inspections without violating the
Washington state and United States Constitutions.
(b) An offender may be required to submit to a random, unannounced
inspection of the offender's person, residence, automobile, or other
personal property, without reasonable cause to believe that he or she
has violated a condition or requirement of his or her sentence.
(c) For the safety and security of department staff, an offender
may be required to submit to pat searches, or other limited security
searches, by community corrections officers, correctional officers, and
other agency approved staff, without reasonable cause, when in or on
department premises, grounds, facilities, or vehicles, or while
preparing to enter department premises, grounds, facilities, or
vehicles. Pat searches of offenders shall be conducted only by staff
who are the same gender as the offender, except in emergency
situations.
(d) For the safety and security of the public and department staff,
a community corrections officer may perform a random, unannounced
inspection of an offender's person, residence, automobile, or other
personal property of the offender, without reasonable cause to believe
that he or she has violated a condition or requirement of his or her
sentence.
(3) A community corrections officer may also arrest an offender
for any crime committed in his or her presence. The facts and
circumstances of the conduct of the offender shall be reported by the
community corrections officer, with recommendations, to the court or
department of corrections hearing officer.
If a community corrections officer arrests or causes the arrest of
an offender under this section, the offender shall be confined and
detained in the county jail of the county in which the offender was
taken into custody, and the sheriff of that county shall receive and
keep in the county jail, where room is available, all prisoners
delivered to the jail by the community corrections officer, and such
offenders shall not be released from custody on bail or personal
recognizance, except upon approval of the court or authorized
department staff, pursuant to a written order."
EFFECT: (1) Shifts from passive to active the requirement that an
offender submit to search and seizure of his or her person, residence,
automobile, or other personal property if there is reasonable cause to
believe that an offender has violated a condition or requirement of his
or her sentence. The Substitute Bill provided that an offender "may be
required" to submit to a search and seizure. The amendment states that
the Community Corrections Officer (CCO) "may require" the offender to
submit to a search and seizure.
(2) Provides that it is a reasonable requirement for the safety of
Department of Corrections (DOC) staff and offenders themselves that
offenders serving sentences in total confinement can be subject to
random, unannounced inspections without violating the United States
Constitution or the Washington state Constitution. Further, it
provides that it is reasonable that offenders on community custody have
the same expectation of privacy as an offender in total confinement and
that the safety of the public and the DOC staff requires that these
offenders are subject to random, unannounced inspections.
(3) Permits an offender to be required to submit to a random,
unannounced inspection of his or her person, residence, automobile, or
other personal property without reasonable cause to believe that he or
she has violated a condition or requirement of his or her sentence.
(4) Expands the scope of locations and circumstances under which
the Department of Corrections (DOC) staff may conduct pat down searches
without reasonable cause to believe that an offender has violated a
condition or requirement of his or her sentence. In addition to
allowing a pat search when in or on DOC premises or entering or
preparing to enter a DOC vehicle, an offender may be searched while
preparing to enter DOC premises, grounds, or facilities.
(5) Requires that pat searches of all offenders shall be conducted
only by staff of the same gender as the offender, except in emergency
situations.
(6) Permits a CCO, for the safety and security of the public and
DOC staff, to perform a random, unannounced inspection of an offender's
person, residence, automobile, or other personal property without
reasonable cause to believe that he or she has violated a condition or
requirement of his or her sentence.