Victim Services Program updates

How New Laws Impact Supervision of Offenders

As a result of new state laws that went into effect July 26, 2009, the Department of Corrections (DOC) will supervise fewer offenders in the community .  The following changes apply to offenders currently in prison or on community supervision as well as to those sentenced in the future.

DOC can no longer supervise most offenders who are classified as posing a low- or moderate-risk to re-offend. The following offenders will continue to be supervised regardless of their risk level:

  • Offenders whose current conviction is a sex offense (felony or misdemeanor)
  • Offenders whose current conviction is a Serious Violent Offense
  • Offenders classified as Dangerous Mentally Ill Offenders
  • Offenders under the jurisdiction of the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board
  • Offenders being supervised in this state under the Interstate Compact
  • Offenders sentenced under the Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative, the Special Sex Offender Sentencing Alternative, or the First time Offender Waiver
  • Offenders convicted and sentenced in superior court to supervision for the misdemeanor offenses of either Assault in the Fourth Degree or Violation of a Domestic Violence Court Order, AND who have a prior conviction for one or more of the following:
    • A sex offense; a violent offense; a crime against a person as defined in RCW 9.94A.411; Assault in the Fourth Degree; or Violation of a Domestic Violence Court Order.

DOC will continue to supervise all felony offenders who are classified as posing a high risk to re-offend if supervision was imposed by the court and DOC’s jurisdiction has not expired.

The length of time that offenders who are released from prison will be supervised in the community – other than those under the jurisdiction of the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board – also changed as a result of new laws. The duration of supervision for offenders who have completed their prison sentences is:

  • 36 months for sex offenses and serious violent offenses;
  • 18 months for violent offenses;
  • 12 months for crimes against persons, drug offenses, and offenses involving unlawful possession of firearms by gang members.
  • The duration of supervision for offenders sentenced under the Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative, the Special Sex Offender Sentencing Alternative, or the First-Time Offender Waiver are unchanged.

If you have questions, please contact the Victim Services Program at (800) 322-2201.

Implementation of a New Global Positioning System (GPS) Monitoring Policy

Victims, witnesses and others who have asked to be notified when offenders leave secure facilities will be notified by telephone as soon as DOC has verified that offenders on GPS monitoring have absconded and Secretary’s Warrants are issued. The telephone calls will be followed by letters confirming the telephone information.

In addition to providing notification, the Victim Services Program offers community members assistance with safety planning and referrals to other resources that may help. Enrollees in the Victim Services Program can include victims, witnesses, family members of deceased victims and guardians of minor children.

GPS devices are not monitored in real time; correctional officers check the offender’s movements of the previous day. There are other reasons the signal may stop: like a cell phone, the GPS unit might be out of power; tall buildings, heavy snow, being in a car or in a building can interfere with the signal.

The first step when a signal has stopped and/or reports the device has been removed is for correctional officers to attempt to find the offender.  If they cannot, they request a Secretary’s Warrant and the issuance of the warrant triggers the warning to the victim.

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