RCW 9.94A.670
Special sex offender sentencing alternative.

(1) Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this subsection apply to this section only.

(a) "Sex offender treatment provider" or "treatment provider" means a certified sex offender treatment provider as defined in RCW 18.155.020.

(b) "Victim" means any person who has sustained emotional, psychological, physical, or financial injury to person or property as a result of the crime charged. "Victim" also means a parent or guardian of a victim who is a minor child unless the parent or guardian is the perpetrator of the offense.

(2) An offender is eligible for the special sex offender sentencing alternative if:

(a) The offender has been convicted of a sex offense other than a violation of RCW 9A.44.050 or a sex offense that is also a serious violent offense;

(b) The offender has no prior convictions for a sex offense as defined in RCW 9.94A.030 or any other felony sex offenses in this or any other state; and

(c) The offender's standard sentence range for the offense includes the possibility of confinement for less than eleven years.

(3) If the court finds the offender is eligible for this alternative, the court, on its own motion or the motion of the state or the offender, may order an examination to determine whether the offender is amenable to treatment.

(a) The report of the examination shall include at a minimum the following:

(i) The offender's version of the facts and the official version of the facts;

(ii) The offender's offense history;

(iii) An assessment of problems in addition to alleged deviant behaviors;

(iv) The offender's social and employment situation; and

(v) Other evaluation measures used.

The report shall set forth the sources of the examiner's information.

(b) The examiner shall assess and report regarding the offender's amenability to treatment and relative risk to the community. A proposed treatment plan shall be provided and shall include, at a minimum:

(i) Frequency and type of contact between offender and therapist;

(ii) Specific issues to be addressed in the treatment and description of planned treatment modalities;

(iii) Monitoring plans, including any requirements regarding living conditions, lifestyle requirements, and monitoring by family members and others;

(iv) Anticipated length of treatment; and

(v) Recommended crime-related prohibitions.

(c) The court on its own motion may order, or on a motion by the state shall order, a second examination regarding the offender's amenability to treatment. The examiner shall be selected by the party making the motion. The offender shall pay the cost of any second examination ordered unless the court finds the defendant to be indigent in which case the state shall pay the cost.

(4) After receipt of the reports, the court shall consider whether the offender and the community will benefit from use of this alternative and consider the victim's opinion whether the offender should receive a treatment disposition under this section. If the court determines that this alternative is appropriate, the court shall then impose a sentence or, pursuant to RCW 9.94A.712, a minimum term of sentence, within the standard sentence range. If the sentence imposed is less than eleven years of confinement, the court may suspend the execution of the sentence and impose the following conditions of suspension:

(a) The court shall place the offender on community custody for the length of the suspended sentence, the length of the maximum term imposed pursuant to RCW 9.94A.712, or three years, whichever is greater, and require the offender to comply with any conditions imposed by the department under RCW 9.94A.720.

(b) The court shall order treatment for any period up to three years in duration. The court, in its discretion, shall order outpatient sex offender treatment or inpatient sex offender treatment, if available. A community mental health center may not be used for such treatment unless it has an appropriate program designed for sex offender treatment. The offender shall not change sex offender treatment providers or treatment conditions without first notifying the prosecutor, the community corrections officer, and the court. If any party or the court objects to a proposed change, the offender shall not change providers or conditions without court approval after a hearing.

(5) As conditions of the suspended sentence, the court may impose one or more of the following:

(a) Up to six months of confinement, not to exceed the sentence range of confinement for that offense;

(b) Crime-related prohibitions;

(c) Require the offender to devote time to a specific employment or occupation;

(d) Remain within prescribed geographical boundaries and notify the court or the community corrections officer prior to any change in the offender's address or employment;

(e) Report as directed to the court and a community corrections officer;

(f) Pay all court-ordered legal financial obligations as provided in RCW 9.94A.030;

(g) Perform community restitution work; or

(h) Reimburse the victim for the cost of any counseling required as a result of the offender's crime.

(6) At the time of sentencing, the court shall set a treatment termination hearing for three months prior to the anticipated date for completion of treatment.

(7) The sex offender treatment provider shall submit quarterly reports on the offender's progress in treatment to the court and the parties. The report shall reference the treatment plan and include at a minimum the following: Dates of attendance, offender's compliance with requirements, treatment activities, the offender's relative progress in treatment, and any other material specified by the court at sentencing.

(8) Prior to the treatment termination hearing, the treatment provider and community corrections officer shall submit written reports to the court and parties regarding the offender's compliance with treatment and monitoring requirements, and recommendations regarding termination from treatment, including proposed community custody conditions. Either party may request, and the court may order, another evaluation regarding the advisability of termination from treatment. The offender shall pay the cost of any additional evaluation ordered unless the court finds the offender to be indigent in which case the state shall pay the cost. At the treatment termination hearing the court may: (a) Modify conditions of community custody, and either (b) terminate treatment, or (c) extend treatment for up to the remaining period of community custody.

(9) If a violation of conditions occurs during community custody, the department shall either impose sanctions as provided for in *RCW 9.94A.737(2)(a) or refer the violation to the court and recommend revocation of the suspended sentence as provided for in subsections (6) and (8) of this section.

(10) The court may revoke the suspended sentence at any time during the period of community custody and order execution of the sentence if: (a) The offender violates the conditions of the suspended sentence, or (b) the court finds that the offender is failing to make satisfactory progress in treatment. All confinement time served during the period of community custody shall be credited to the offender if the suspended sentence is revoked.

(11) Examinations and treatment ordered pursuant to this subsection shall only be conducted by sex offender treatment providers certified by the department of health pursuant to chapter 18.155 RCW unless the court finds that:

(a) The offender has already moved to another state or plans to move to another state for reasons other than circumventing the certification requirements; or

(b)(i) No certified providers are available for treatment within a reasonable geographical distance of the offender's home; and

(ii) The evaluation and treatment plan comply with this section and the rules adopted by the department of health.

(12) If the offender is less than eighteen years of age when the charge is filed, the state shall pay for the cost of initial evaluation and treatment.

[2002 c 175 § 11; 2001 2nd sp.s. c 12 § 316; 2000 c 28 § 20.]

NOTES:

*Reviser's note: This RCW reference has been corrected to reflect the reorganization of chapter 9.94A RCW by 2001 c 10 § 6.

Effective date -- 2002 c 175: See note following RCW 7.80.130.

Intent -- Severability -- Effective dates -- 2001 2nd sp.s. c 12: See notes following RCW 71.09.250.

Application -- 2001 2nd sp.s. c 12 §§ 301-363: See note following RCW 9.94A.030.

Technical correction bill -- 2000 c 28: See note following RCW 9.94A.015.