SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5320

BYSenators West, Smith, Lee, Amondson and Newhouse

Providing for a regimented inmate discipline program.

Senate Committee on Health Care & Corrections

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 1, 1988

Senate Staff:Kris Zabriskie (786-7439)

AS OF FEBRUARY 1, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Washington has been experiencing overcrowding in several county jails.  In addition, policy makers continue to search for treatment methods which would help prevent offenders from re-offending and encourage productive membership in society.

Within recent years, a few states have developed programs designed wholly or partially after a military boot camp. They 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.

SUMMARY:

A pilot program is created in Benton, Franklin, Kittitas, Klickitat, and Yakima counties and is limited to 30 offenders at a time and 120 in a year.  Legislative intent is to reduce jail overcrowding and to promote the personal development and self discipline of criminal offenders.  The program incorporates military discipline, physical training, counseling, community service, vocational training, and education classes.

The program is directed by the Department of Corrections and lasts 90 days, but may be extended to 120 days for an uncooperative offender.  The judge or department may place offenders meeting the following criteria into the program:  (1) no less than 18 nor more than 25 years of age; (2) convicted of felonies except those classified as a violent offense, a sex offense, or an offense that is the manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance classified as a narcotic drug in Schedule I or II of the sentencing guidelines; (3) not mentally or physically handicapped to the extent that it would endanger the health or inhibit adequate performance in the program.

The department will develop a separate program within existing classification centers to diagnose the eligibility of offenders.  It will adopt rules for the operation and to determine what constitutes successful completion of the program.  The department will keep records, monitor criminal activity and employment placement of the participants to compare with other offenders, and will publish a report by December 31, 1992.

If a participant becomes unmanageable, he or she will be transferred to jail or prison for the remainder of his or her sentence plus any additional penalty that the judge may lawfully impose.  The participant will receive intensive community supervision by the division of community corrections for one year after release from the boot camp program.

Appropriation:    unspecified

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested January 20, 1989