Brief Description: Creating a joint legislative task force on offenders programs, sentencing, and supervision.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Carrell, Stevens, Regala, Schoesler, Schmidt, Oke and Rasmussen).

Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections
House Committee on Criminal Justice & Corrections

Background: In recent years, Washington legislators have recognized the need to address programs that prepare offenders for successful reentry into society while keeping communities safe. Current laws authorize earned release time for good behavior, as well as mandatory education and work programs for offenders. The Legislature has also directed the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) to conduct several studies on the efficacy of offender programs and policies on reducing recidivism rates.

Evidence-Based Adult Corrections Programs. In January 2006, WSIPP released a report after reviewing 291 evaluations of individual adult corrections programs. WSIPP was able to identify those adult corrections programs that have a demonstrated ability to reduce recidivism rates and those that did not. The report suggests that corrections policy may be shaped to focus resources on effective evidence-based programming and to avoid those that have been identified as ineffective. The final version of WSIPP's report is to be delivered in October 2006 and will present full benefit-cost estimates for each of the programs evaluated.

Options to Stabilize Prison Populations in Washington. Also in January 2006, WSIPP released its interim report in response to the 2005 Legislature's request to identify options that cost-effectively reduce the need for future prison capacity. The report will examine three broad categories of policy options including sentencing options, prevention programs, and intervention programs. The final report is due in October 2006.

Both of WSIPP reports referenced here are available on the WSIPP website at: http://www.wsipp.wa.gov.

Summary: A joint task force is created to review offender programs, sentencing, and supervision of the offenders upon reentry into the community, with the stated goal of increasing public safety, maximizing rehabilitation of the offenders, and lowering recidivism. The task force must review and make recommendations regarding the type of offender that would most benefit from training and education; the type of education and training that would be most beneficial; changes to the sentencing law and policies that recognize "good time" served; changes to the supervision of offenders once released into the community; and methods for evaluating the effectiveness of these programs.

A report must be presented to the Governor and the appropriate committees of the Legislature by November 15, 2006.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      44   0
House      98   0   (House amended)
Senate      42   0   (Senate concurred)

Effective: June 7, 2006