HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 5651

BYSenate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Pullen, Talmadge, Owen, Nelson, Thorsness and Hayner; by request of Attorney General)

Continuing the homicide information and tracking system.

House Committe on Judiciary

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendments.  (15)

      Signed by Representatives Appelwick, Chair; Crane, Vice Chair; Padden, Ranking Republican Member; Belcher, Brough, Dellwo, P. King, R. Meyers, Moyer, H. Myers, Schmidt, Scott, D. Sommers, Tate and Wineberry.

House Staff:Bill Perry (786-7123)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY MARCH 28, 1989

BACKGROUND:

The Washington State Attorney General's office through a two-year National Institute of Justice grant is conducting research and developing a Homicide Information and Tracking System (HITS).

Current research is focusing on examining each of the 1,400 homicide cases that occurred in the state of Washington between January 1, 1981 and December 31, 1986.  Using the data, an examination is made of the critical factors present in homicide investigations and an identification of the salient characteristics of each murder.  The record information unique to a particular suspect is also being analyzed to determine if a suspect or piece of evidence is associated with murder cases in jurisdictions statewide.

SUMMARY:

BILL AS AMENDED:  Specific authorization is provided for the continued development of the homicide information and tracking system within the Attorney General's office.

The Attorney General is to report to the Legislature by January, 1991, on HITS and on the feasibility of expanding the system to include the crimes of rape, robbery and arson.  The report is also to include an analysis of using the state's current incident based reporting system and the criminal information system.  The report is to contain a plan for transferring HITS to the State Patrol after June 30, 1991.

The Attorney General is to adopt specific rules and procedures for the collection, analysis, storage and use of homicide information in order to provide adequate safeguards and to protect the privacy interest of those affected.

Any criminal justice agency having primary responsibility for the investigation of homicide may furnish information to the Attorney General on any suspected murder.  The agencies are requested to provide information within 30 days of its discovery.  Terminations of investigations should be reported, along with the reasons, within 30 days of termination.  Criminal justice agencies are requested to report information on suspected murders which occurred in the one year prior to the effective date of this act.  Assistance in completing the necessary forms is to be provided by the Attorney General.

The information collected is to be entered into a computerized file, and the Attorney General is to compare the information for the purpose of discovering similarities in criminal methods or characteristics.  If similar methods or characteristics are discovered, the Attorney General is to inform the concerned agency.

The use of data collected under this act is for the sole purpose of providing murder analysis results to criminal justice agencies.

Any federal funds which may be available for the Homicide Information and Tracking System must be spent prior to expending state funds.

The measure is contingent upon funding in the state budget.

AMENDED BILL COMPARED TO SUBSTITUTE:  The amendments require the preparation of a plan for the transfer of HITS to the State Patrol.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Mike Grant, Attorney General's Office.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The system has already demonstrated its value and should be continued and expanded to further assist local law enforcement.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.