Z-1117.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2512

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     2000 Regular Session

By Representatives Ballasiotes, Lovick, O'Brien, Haigh and Hurst; by request of Department of Corrections

Read first time 01/14/2000.  Referred to Committee on Criminal Justice & Corrections.

Creating a criminal investigations unit within the department of corrections.

    AN ACT Relating to criminal investigations and information gathering within department of corrections facilities; adding a new section to chapter 72.09 RCW; creating a new section; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that there is a need for the department of corrections to establish an investigations unit to investigate and prevent crimes within department of corrections facilities and to facilitate sharing and receiving of information with other criminal justice agencies.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 72.09 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) There is hereby created in the department of corrections a criminal investigations unit.

    (2) The secretary shall commission investigators and such commission shall be considered that of a limited authority Washington peace officer pursuant to RCW 10.93.020.  This commission shall be limited to arrest and detention in state correctional institutions as defined in RCW 9.94.049.

    (3) The criminal investigations unit is authorized to share with other criminal justice agencies criminal history record information and other criminal justice information that can be lawfully disseminated to a criminal justice agency and may receive such information from other criminal justice agencies.  The criminal investigations unit shall be considered a law enforcement agency authorized to receive investigative and intelligence information for the purposes of RCW 43.43.854 and 43.43.856.

    (4) The criminal investigations unit shall, in cooperation with local law enforcement, conduct investigations for the purposes of enforcing criminal laws, conduct intelligence gathering within department facilities, and provide assistance to other criminal justice agencies.

    (5) The criminal investigations unit shall:

    (a) Coordinate with other criminal justice agencies in the state concerning violations of the criminal laws within department facilities;

    (b) Provide a communications network capable of interconnecting all offices and investigators of the unit.

    (6) In order to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of state resources, the criminal investigations unit shall, where feasible, use existing facilities and systems.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.

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