BILL REQ. #:  S-2086.2 

READ FIRST TIME 02/23/07.   

     AN ACT Relating to statewide standards for adult and juvenile probation officers; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that there is a need to consider statewide standards for adult and juvenile probation officers supervising adult misdemeanant and juvenile offenders.
     While probation officers are required to complete training and educational requirements provided by the criminal justice and training commission, currently there are no statewide standards for probation and no accreditation program in use. The adoption of statewide standards or an accreditation program for adult and juvenile probation officers may help to provide improved staff training and development, better defense against lawsuits through improved documentation, improved staff morale and professionalism, a safer environment for staff and offenders, and potentially reduced liability insurance costs.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) The Washington administrative office of the courts is requested to convene and staff a work group to review alternatives and recommend statewide standards or an accreditation program for probation officers who supervise adult misdemeanant offenders.
     (2) The work group should be composed of representatives from:
     (a) The district and municipal court judges' association;
     (b) The Washington state association of counties;
     (c) The association of Washington cities;
     (d) The misdemeanant corrections association;
     (e) The criminal justice training commission; and
     (f) Liability insurance providers for local government.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   (1) The Washington administrative office of the courts is requested to convene and staff a work group to review alternatives and recommend statewide standards or an accreditation program for probation officers who supervise juvenile offenders.
     (2) The work group should be composed of representatives from:
     (a) The Washington association of juvenile court administrators;
     (b) The superior court judges' association;
     (c) The Washington state association of counties;
     (d) The criminal justice training commission; and
     (e) Liability insurance providers for local government.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   In reviewing standards or accreditation options, the work groups should consider:
     (1) Defining caseload levels appropriate for each level of probation officer;
     (2) Defining case management and probation services to offenders referred by a municipal court, district court, or juvenile court;
     (3) Defining the types of probation services that are to be covered, including alternative sentencing programs, such as electronic home monitoring, community service, day reporting, and other types of programs as implemented to effectively manage jail or juvenile detention population;
     (4) Specifying appropriate supervisory work responsibilities for each level of probation officer, including distribution of caseload functions and court referrals, workload organization and assignment, monitoring of work completion, recommendations of work procedures, assisting with hiring and evaluation processes, recommendations for corrective action, and formulating and making recommendations to the court on the dispensation of referred cases based on judgment of individual circumstances;
     (5) Defining appropriate case management responsibilities of adult and juvenile probation officers, including meeting with offenders, attorneys, and other interested parties; developing individual treatment plans; performing skills assessment; identifying problems; performing counseling; assisting probationers with participation in positive activities; assessing social and psychological dysfunctions; providing referrals to community services where appropriate; monitoring compliance and investigating potential or actual violations; conducting presentencing and postsentencing investigations and reports for the court; testifying in court regarding probationer status as necessary; and maintaining records and documentation required by the court or statutes;
     (6) Accreditation standards developed by the American correctional association and any other appropriate standards in other states; and
     (7) Curricula and training needs of adult and juvenile probation officers to meet proposed standards or accreditation.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   The work groups are requested to report their findings and recommendations to the governor and the relevant committees of the legislature that deal with judiciary issues by December 1, 2008.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2007, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   This act expires December 30, 2008.