SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5158

BYSenators Madsen, West, Talmadge, Bauer, Warnke, Benitz, Metcalf, Gaspard and Vognild

Establishing a boot camp program for juvenile offenders.

Senate Committee on Health Care & Corrections

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 1, 1989; March 1, 1989

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5158 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators West, Chairman; Smith, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Wojahn.

Senate Staff:Kris Zabriskie (786-7439)

                  March 2, 1989

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE & CORRECTIONS, MARCH 1, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Juvenile offenders now receive sentences ranging from community supervision, to juvenile detention, to being transferred to the adult court for trial and sentencing as an adult offender. Policy makers continue to search for treatment methods which would help prevent offenders from re-offending and to encourage productive membership in society.  Within recent years, a few states have developed programs designed wholly or partially after a military boot camp to accomplish this goal.

These programs generally range in time from 90 to 180 days and incorporate programs that are predominantly military discipline to programs that also include education, community service, counseling, and vocational training.  Most boot camp programs have been directed at adult offenders; however, Florida has passed legislation to include juvenile offenders in the boot camp program.  They have not implemented it yet because no money has been appropriated for the program.

SUMMARY:

A juvenile boot camp is created for offenders between the ages of 12 and 18 who have been committed to the Division of Juvenile Rehabilitation for a crime for which the disposition includes a term of detention of at least 12 weeks.  The program lasts 90 days, but may be extended to 120 days for an uncooperative offender.

The program is designed after a Marine Corps boot camp and provides intensive basic training and rehabilitative programs.  The judge may order a juvenile delinquent into the boot camp program provided he or she does not suffer from any mental or physical problem which could endanger his or her health or drastically affect his or her performance in the program. 

If a juvenile in the program becomes unmanageable or medically ineligible, the department must put him in secure detention until he or she is transferred to an equally restrictive commitment program.  The department may contract with private companies for the operation of the boot camp program.

The legislative intent is to break criminal behavior patterns at an early age, reduce overcrowding in juvenile detention facilities, and promote the personal development and self- discipline of criminal offenders. 

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The substitute brings the minimum age that a juvenile may be sentenced to the boot camp up from 12 years of age to 15 years of age.

The program is no longer fashioned solely after a Marine Corps boot camp, but includes military discipline, physical training, counseling, community service, vocational training, and education classes that emphasize self-discipline, respect toward society and obedience to the law.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: Senator Ken Madsen, Sponsor; Jerry Wasson, Department of Juvenile Rehabilitation; Mike Redman, Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (pro)