BILL REQ. #:  Z-0564.1 

Read first time 01/29/09.   Referred to Committee on Human Services & Corrections.

     AN ACT Relating to establishing search and arrest authority provisions of offenders by department of corrections personnel; and amending RCW 9.94A.631.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 9.94A.631 and 1984 c 209 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:
     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, an offender may be required to submit to a search and seizure of the offender's person, residence, automobile, or other personal property. 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 present on department premises or vehicles. Pat searches of female offenders shall only be conducted by female staff, except in emergency situations. 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.