HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2086

As Reported by House Committee On:

Criminal Justice & Corrections

Title: An act relating to alternatives to total confinement.

Brief Description: Authorizing use of an approved community option as an alternative to total confinement.

Sponsors: Representatives O'Brien, Cody, Sullivan, Kagi, Lantz and Chase.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Criminal Justice & Corrections: 3/3/03, 3/5/03 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 7 members: Representatives O'Brien, Chair; Darneille, Vice Chair; Mielke, Ranking Minority Member; Ahern, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Kagi, Lovick and Pearson.

Staff: Jim Morishima (786-7191).

Background:

A court may order an alternative to total confinement for an offender sentenced to one year or less. One day of partial confinement may be substituted for one day of total confinement. For offenders convicted of nonviolent offenses, eight hours of community restitution may be substituted for one day of total confinement (for a maximum of 30 days). For offenders convicted of nonviolent and nonsex offenses, the court may authorize county jails to convert jail confinement to an available county-supervised community option and may require the offender to perform affirmative conditions relating to chemical dependency.

Summary of Bill:

For offenders convicted of nonviolent and nonsex offenses, the court may authorize the county jails to convert jail confinement to an available county-approved community option (instead of a county-supervised community option).

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not Requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: This bill is needed because of our crowded jails. It gives judges the option to sentence offenders to a community option approved by the court.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: Representative O'Brien, prime sponsor.