State Legislation

(WA) S.B. 6157

Statewide Reentry Program Inventory, Community Transition Coordination Network, Community Supervision Task Force, and Program Credits

This law requires counties to conduct an inventory of regional reentry services and present this information to a state advisory committee by January 1, 2008. The law calls for a Community Transition Coordination Network program to be piloted in up to four counties for a period of four years. The DOC must also develop an individualized reentry plan for every incarcerated person based on a comprehensive needs assessment.

S.B. 6157 also authorizes up to a 50% earned early release credit for inmates who participate in treatment and services as specified in their individual reentry plans. The law creates a legislative Task Force to review current law and policy related to community custody and community supervision. It also requires the Department of Corrections to conduct an updated community corrections caseload study and report the results of the study to the Governor and the Legislature.

Regarding housing, the law authorizes the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development to develop supportive reentry housing pilot programs. The law also addresses the need to increase available housing to offenders by providing landlords who rent to offenders immunity to civil liability for damages that may result from the criminal conduct of the tenant.

Learn more at
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=6157