SENATE BILL REPORT

ESB 6093

BYSenators Pullen, Talmadge, Garrett, Nelson, Johnson, Rasmussen, McMullen and von Reichbauer; by request of Department of Corrections

Providing for presentence reports on sexual offenders.

Senate Committee on Law & Justice

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 20, 1988; January 21, 1988

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended and refer to Committee on Ways and Means.

      Signed by Senators Pullen, Chairman; McCaslin, Vice Chairman; Halsan, Madsen, Nelson, Newhouse, Niemi, Talmadge.

Senate Staff:Cliff Petersen (786-74757)

                  January 21, 1988

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 1, 1988

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended by Committee on Law & Justice.

      Signed by Senators McDonald, Chairman; Craswell, Vice Chairman; Bauer, Bluechel, Cantu, Deccio, Fleming, Gaspard, Hayner, Johnson, Lee, Newhouse, Saling, Smith, Talmadge, Vognild, Warnke, Williams, Wojahn, Zimmerman.

Senate Staff:Kevin Johnson (786-7715)

                  February 10, 1988

AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 9, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Presentence investigations of convicted felony offenders assist the court in determining sentencing options and form the basis for case management decisions throughout the offender's period of incarceration.

Currently, presentence investigations for felony sex offenders are not consistently ordered.  The lack of pertinent information otherwise supplied by a presentence investigation can result in the omission of appropriate treatment or monitoring requirements.

SUMMARY:

The Sentencing Reform Act is modified to require the sentencing court to order the Department of Corrections to complete a presentence report on all defendants convicted of a felony sexual offense.

The Department of Corrections is required to give priority to presentence investigations for sexual offenders.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Senate Committee - Testified: LAW & JUSTICE:  Tana Wood, Department of Corrections; Mike Redman, Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys; Roxanne Park, Sentencing Guidelines Commission

Senate Committee - Testified: WAYS & MEANS:  No one