HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS
SB 5664
Title: An act relating to community service.
Brief Description: Renaming, with regard to adult and juvenile offenders, "community service" as "community restitution."
Sponsors: Senators Costa, Long, Kline, Hargrove, Thibaudeau, Wojahn, Franklin and Jacobsen.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND CORRECTIONS
Staff: Dianne Ramerman (786-7172).
Background:
Under the Sentencing Reform Act (SRA) of 1981, Acommunity service@ means compulsory service, without compensation, performed for the benefit of the community by the offender.
Under current statutory law dealing with juvenile offenders, Acommunity service@ means compulsory service, without compensation, performed for the benefit of the community by the offender as punishment for committing an offense. Community service may be performed through public or private organizations or through work crews.
Generally, community service is a sentencing option that the court may impose. For example, for adults there is a statutory alternative to the standard range for certain first-time offenders, i.e. the First-time Offender Waiver. Choices available to the court include, but are not limited to, requiring up to two years of community supervision which, in addition to crime-related prohibitions, may include requirements that the offender perform some community service work. The court may also impose community service as part of the Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative and for a variety of other reasons.