HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESB 6093

BYSenators Pullen, Talmadge, Garrett, Nelson, Johnson, Rasmussen, McMullen and von Reichbauer; by request of Department of Corrections

Providing for presentence reports on sexual offenders.

House Committe on Judiciary

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (14)

      Signed by Representatives Armstrong, Chair; Crane, Vice Chair; Appelwick, Belcher, Brough, P. King, Lewis, Meyers, Padden, Patrick, Schmidt, Scott, Wang and Wineberry.

House Staff:Bill Perry (786-7123)

Rereferred House Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (21)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Belcher, Braddock, Brekke, Brough, Butterfield, Ebersole, Fuhrman, Grant, Grimm, Hine, Holland, McLean, Nealey, Peery, Sayan, H. Sommers, Spanel, Sprenkle, Wang and B. Williams.

House Staff:      Maureen Morris (786-7136)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 3, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Presentence investigations of convicted felony offenders assist the court in determining sentencing options and form the basis for case management decisions throughout the offender's period of incarceration.  Special sentencing options exist for certain sex offenders.

SUMMARY:

The department of corrections must send a presentence report on a convicted sex offender to the court before sentencing.  The department is directed to give priority to preparing presentence reports on sex offenders.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Judiciary)  Mike Redman, Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys; James Thatcher, Department of Corrections.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  Tana Wood, Department of Corrections.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Judiciary)  None Presented.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Judiciary)  Presentence reports are particularly important with sex offenders because of the sentencing options that are available.  The department can handle this requirement without additional personnel.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  Some judges do not request presentence reports for sex offenders.  This may preclude consideration of some sentencing options.  Presentence reports are an important part of the Department of Corrections sex offender program.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Judiciary)  None Presented.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  None Presented.