Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Appropriations Committee |
HB 2217
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 Description: Concerning the state's use of the juvenile offender basic training camp program.
Sponsors: Representatives Hunter, Sullivan and Carlyle.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 4/20/15
Staff: Mary Mulholland (786-7391).
Background:
Chapter 7, Laws of 1994 (E2SHB 2319) required the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to establish a medium-security juvenile offender basic training camp (JOBTC). The JOBTC was designed to be a 120-day program that emphasized building a juvenile offender's self-esteem, confidence, and discipline through a structured curriculum including educational, vocational, rehabilitative, and physical training components.
Pursuant to Chapter 13.40.320 RCW and DSHS Juvenile Justice and Rehabilitation Administration (JJRA) policy, a juvenile offender must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the JOBTC:
have an aggregate minimum sentence of less than 65 weeks;
have a minimum of 29 weeks remaining until maximum sentence upon admission to the JOBTC;
not be assessed as a high-risk offender by JJRA's Risk Assessment Recidivism tool;
not have a violent or sex offense on his or her current commitment;
not have any prior serious violent offense as defined by RCW 9.94A.030(45); and
not have mental or physical health problems that could endanger his or her health or drastically affect his or her performance in the JOBTC.
Juvenile offenders whom meet the above eligibility criteria and successfully graduate from the JOBTC spend the remainder of their disposition under parole supervision in the community.
When the JJRA opened the JOBTC in 1997, the JJRA had a caseload of approximately 1,400 youth and the JOBTC was funded for 48 beds. By fiscal year (FY) 2014, the JJRA caseload had declined to 533 youth and the JOBTC was funded for 16 beds. The actual average daily population of the JOBTC over the FY 2012-FY 2014 period was 11 youth. The JJRA has reported that youth today infrequently meet the original JOBTC eligibility criteria.
The JOBTC is located in Connell and is currently operated through a contract with Pioneer Human Services.
Summary of Bill:
Current law is amended to read that the DSHS "may" establish a JOBTC rather than the DSHS "shall" establish a JOBTC.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.