The Center Square: Washington bill would allow highest-risk sex offenders to end state supervision
A Washington bill would allow convicted sex offenders classified at the highest risk of reoffending the opportunity to be released from lifetime community custody.
Feb 2
Proponents of the bill argue that it will allow individuals who no longer pose a threat to the community a chance to reintegrate into society, while critics expressed reservations about the type of sex offenders who would be eligible under the proposal.
Individuals convicted of a sex offenses in Washington are classified based on their risk of reoffending, with level one being low-risk and level three being highest risk of offense. Those classified at level two or three are placed under state supervision known as community custody upon their release from prison. Those deemed to have the greatest risk to reoffend are placed under lifetime custody.
House Bill 2178 sponsored by House Committee on Community Safety, Justice, & Reentry Chair Roger Goodman, D-Kirkland, would allow level two and level three sex offenders to petition to be discharged from lifetime community custody after 10 and 15 years, respectively. Under the proposal, individuals would be eligible if they have not engaged in any “disqualifying event," such as reoffending.
Goodman told colleagues at a Jan. 17 public hearing that the bill is a “starting point” and intended for convicted sex offenders under community custody who are “behaving properly,” but the “burden of being supervised have impaired their life in such a way that is unsupportable.”
The bill stems from recommendations made by the State Sex Offender Policy Board. The board chair Brad Meryhew, a defense attorney for those accused of sex offenses, told the committee that “the legislation before you is thoughtful. It doesn’t guarantee anybody will be removed from community custody.” Meryhew described level three sex offenders as “more predatory” and have committed multiple offenses.
Also testifying in support of the bill was Dr. Karl Hansen with the Society for the Advancement of Actuarial Risk Need Assessment. He told the committee that the risk of reoffending goes down over time. “Even the highest risk cases become very low risk,” he said, adding that “the people exiting by the proposed criteria will be no more at risk of sexually offending than the millions of other men currently living in Washington state.”
Get in touch
-
admin@inv-network.org
About Us
Inv-Network was created to support those who are tasked with the difficult job of protecting children from online child exploitation. Our goal is to provide community, resources, and training to Law Enforcement, District Attorney's, and Parole & Probation Officers.
Copyright © 2023
SEX OFFENDER MANAGEMENT SYMPOSIUM REFUND POLICY
Our Symposium aims to provide the most beneficial and practical experiences for our students. From providing resources, special guest speakers, and also networking and bonding experiences. All of this is costs for us at Intellect-LE. We do our best to cover the travel costs for our instructors as well as resource give aways for students and all of that is paid prior to the course dates. If we have a large amount of students cancel before class, this incurs a large out of pocket expense for use and we would not be able to sustain our course. When you or your agency registers and pays for class we believe you are attending. We understand that circumstances arise so while we do not refund paid seats, we do offer the following options;
1. Your seat may be transferred to another attendee from your agency at no additional cost.
2. Your seat may be moved to our next available training date, even if it is in another location.
3. You can be granted 1 year's worth of access to our skills center and all the training it contains.
1. Your seat may be transferred to another attendee from your agency at no additional cost.
2. Your seat may be moved to our next available training date, even if it is in another location.
3. You can be granted 1 year's worth of access to our skills center and all the training it contains.
SEX OFFENDER MANAGEMENT SYMPOSIUM REFUND POLICY
Our Symposium aims to provide the most beneficial and practical experiences for our students. From providing resources, special guest speakers, and also networking and bonding experiences. All of this is costs for us at Intellect-LE. We do our best to cover the travel costs for our instructors as well as resource give aways for students and all of that is paid prior to the course dates. If we have a large amount of students cancel before class, this incurs a large out of pocket expense for use and we would not be able to sustain our course. When you or your agency registers and pays for class we believe you are attending. We understand that circumstances arise so while we do not refund paid seats, we do offer the following options;
1. Your seat may be transferred to another attendee from your agency at no additional cost.
2. Your seat may be moved to our next available training date, even if it is in another location.
3. You can be granted 1 year's worth of access to our skills center and all the training it contains.