Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness Committee

HB 1689

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.

Background:

Each city and county jail located in Washington is required to maintain a jail register which is open to the public. The law enforcement officer who is charged with being responsible for the operation of the jail must enter, on a timely basis, the name of each person held in confinement, the reason for confinement, when the person was confined, and the time and the manner in which the person was discharged.

Generally, all other records regarding a person confined in jail are confidential and may only be released to a criminal justice agency or upon the written consent of the person being confined. Law enforcement may use the booking photographs of a person arrested and confined in a jail or prison to assist in conducting criminal investigations. Certain information and photographs of persons convicted of a sex offense may be released to the public for community protection purposes.

Summary of Bill:

Each county and city jail must include booking photographs or electronic images of each person confined in jail as part of its jail register.

Various technical changes are made, including the deletion of a provision of the act that was repealed by the Legislature in 1987, and adding the authorization to release records relating to kidnappers which is consistent with current statute under RCW 4.24.550.