SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6227
As of January 19, 2024
Title: An act relating to allowing entry of a civil protection order to protect victims when a person is found not guilty by reason of insanity.
Brief Description: Allowing entry of a civil protection order to protect victims when a person is found not guilty by reason of insanity.
Sponsors: Senators Dhingra, Cleveland, Hasegawa, Keiser, Nobles, Randall, Torres and Wilson, C..
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Law & Justice: 1/23/24.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Allows a court to issue a stand-alone no-contact order to protect a victim when a person is found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed for a period of inpatient treatment or conditional release.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE
Staff: Kevin Black (786-7747)
Background:

Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity. A court or jury may find a person is not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) of a criminal offense if it finds that at the time of the alleged act, as a result of a mental disease or defect, the person was unable to perceive the nature and quality of their action or unable to tell right from wrong.
 
Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity Commitment. A defendant who is found NGRI may be committed for a period of inpatient treatment at a state hospital if a judge or jury finds that the defendant presents a substantial danger to other persons or presents a substantial likelihood of committing criminal acts jeopardizing public safety or security, and there is no less restrictive treatment than detention for inpatient hospitalization. The term of commitment may not exceed the maximum sentence for the offense for which the defendant was acquitted.

 

If the court or jury finds the person does not present a substantial danger to other persons, and does not present a substantial likelihood of committing criminal acts jeopardizing public safety or security, but that the person is in need of control by the court or other persons or institutions, the court must direct the person's conditional release and will retain supervision of the person in the community. 

Summary of Bill:

A court may enter a stand-alone no-contact order to protect a victim when a person is found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed by the court to a period of inpatient treatment or conditional release, or upon application by the prosecuting attorney at any subsequent time during which the court retains supervision over the person. The maximum term of the no-contact order is the person's maximum term of commitment, or until the court orders final release of the person from supervision, whichever comes first. The court must provide a written certified copy of the no-contact order to the victim.

Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.