Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Human Services Committee

SB 5525

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.

Brief Summary of Bill

Permits the Department of Corrections to provide rental vouchers to an offender for a period not to exceed three months in rental assistance if it will result in an approved release plan.

Background:

An offender incarcerated within a Department of Corrections (DOC) facility may, through a program called earned early release, reduce his or her time of incarceration upon demonstrating good behavior. Depending upon the crime and the offender's risk classification, he or she may receive from 10 to 50 percent of time off his or her sentence.

An offender convicted of a sex offense, a violent offense, a crime against persons, or a drug crime may be eligible to be released to community custody instead of earned early release. The DOC may deny transfer of an offender to community custody if the offender does not have an approved release plan. A release plan must contain a proposed place of residence and living arrangements. If the DOC determines that the proposed plan may violate the offender's condition of sentence, may place the offender at risk to reoffend, or may compromise community safety, the DOC will not approve the plan. In this event, the offender will remain incarcerated until the DOC approves a new release plan or the offender reaches the end of his or her sentence.

Summary of Bill:

The Department of Corrections may provide rental vouchers to an offender for up to three months if rental assistance will enable the offender to have an approved release plan.