BILL REQ. #:  S-0408.1 

Read first time 01/23/2007.   Referred to Committee on Human Services & Corrections.

     AN ACT Relating to creating the probation services task force; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that there is a need to provide statewide standards for adult and juvenile probation officers supervising adult and juvenile misdemeanants.
     RCW 43.101.220 requires the criminal justice training commission to provide training for corrections personnel. The administrative regulation that implements that statute, WAC 139-10-210, requires all employees whose primary job function is the case management of offenders under county or city supervision, such as probation officers, to attend a misdemeanant probation/classification academy, which includes assessment, case planning, counseling, supervision, and monitoring.
     However, while probation officers are required to complete these educational requirements, there are currently no statewide accreditation standards adopted to ensure uniformity in job descriptions statewide. Adoption of statewide standards 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.
     Accordingly, the purpose of this act is to establish a task force to adopt statewide accreditation standards for adult and juvenile probation officers.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) The probation services task force is established.
     (2) The task force shall be composed of the following members:
     (a) A representative of the district and municipal court judges' association;
     (b) A representative of the municipal research and services center of Washington; and
     (c) A representative of the association of Washington cities.
     (3) The task force shall convene by July 1, 2007. Upon convening, the task force shall select a chair to preside over task force meetings and a vice-chair to preside in the chair's absence.
     (4) Staff to the task force shall be provided by the judiciary. Upon request by the task force, any state agency shall provide information within the scope of the task force's work.
     (5) Members of the task force shall be reimbursed for travel expenses under RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   (1) The task force, upon convening, shall review and draft appropriate accreditation standards specifying the functions and duties of probation officers supervising adult and juvenile misdemeanants. The standards, which shall be developed to be applied uniformly throughout the state, shall include but not be limited to the following:
     (a) Define caseload levels appropriate for each level of probation officer;
     (b) Define case management and probation services to offenders referred by a municipal or district court;
     (c) Define the types of probation services that are to be covered by the standards, including alternative sentencing programs such as electronic home monitoring, community service, day reporting, and other types of programs as implemented to effectively manage jail population;
     (d) Specify 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; and
     (e) Define appropriate case management responsibilities of misdemeanant offenders, including meeting with offenders, probationers, 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 pre 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.
     (2) In developing standards, the task force shall review accreditation standards developed by the American correctional association and any other appropriate standards in other states.
     (3) The task force shall report its findings and recommendations to the governor and the relevant committees of the legislature that deal with judiciary issues by December 1, 2007; provided that the task force shall not make any findings or recommendations regarding tort liability standards for probation officers supervising adult or juvenile misdemeanants.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   The task force and its powers and duties shall terminate June 30, 2008.