Wash. Rev. Code § 9.94A.660

Current through the 2024 Regular Session

Section 9.94A.660 - [Effective 1/1/2026] Drug offender sentencing alternative-Prison-based or residential alternative

(1) An offender is eligible for the special drug offender sentencing alternative if:

(a) The offender is convicted of a felony that is not a violent offense and the violation does not involve a sentence enhancement under RCW 9.94A.533 (3) or (4);

(b) The offender is convicted of a felony that is not a felony driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug under RCW 46.61.502(6) or felony physical control of a vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug under RCW 46.61.504(6);

(c) The offender has no current or prior convictions for a sex offense for which the offender is currently or may be required to register pursuant to RCW 9A.44.130;

(d) The offender has no prior convictions in this state, and no prior convictions for an equivalent out-of-state or federal offense, for the following offenses during the following time frames:

(i) Robbery in the second degree that did not involve the use of a firearm and was not reduced from robbery in the first degree within seven years before conviction of the current offense; or

(ii) Any other violent offense within 10 years before conviction of the current offense;

(e) For a violation of the uniform controlled substances act under chapter 69.50 RCW or a criminal solicitation to commit such a violation under chapter 9A.28 RCW, the offense involved only a small quantity of the particular controlled substance as determined by the judge upon consideration of such factors as the weight, purity, packaging, sale price, and street value of the controlled substance;

(f) The offender has not been found by the United States attorney general to be subject to a deportation detainer or order and does not become subject to a deportation order during the period of the sentence; and

(g) The offender has not received a drug offender sentencing alternative under this section, or a drug offender sentencing alternative for driving under the influence under RCW 9.94A.661, more than once in the prior 10 years before the current offense.

(2) A motion for a special drug offender sentencing alternative may be made by the court, the offender, or the state.

(3) If the sentencing court determines that the offender is eligible for an alternative sentence under this section and that the alternative sentence is appropriate, the court shall waive imposition of a sentence within the standard sentence range and impose a sentence consisting of either a prison-based alternative under RCW 9.94A.662 or a residential substance use disorder treatment-based alternative under RCW 9.94A.664. The residential substance use disorder treatment-based alternative is only available if the midpoint of the standard sentence range is 26 months or less.

(4)

(a) To assist the court in making its determination, the court may order the department to complete either or both a risk assessment report and a substance use disorder screening report as provided in RCW 9.94A.500.

(b) To assist the court in making its determination in domestic violence cases, the court shall order the department to complete a presentence investigation and a chemical dependency screening report as provided in RCW 9.94A.500, unless otherwise specifically waived by the court.

(5) If the court is considering imposing a sentence under the residential substance use disorder treatment-based alternative, the court may order an examination of the offender by the department. The examination must be performed by an agency licensed or certified by the department of health to provide substance use disorder services. The examination shall, at a minimum, address the following issues:

(a) Whether the offender suffers from a substance use disorder;

(b) Whether effective treatment for the offender's substance use disorder is available from a provider that has been licensed or certified by the department of health, and where applicable, whether effective domestic violence perpetrator treatment is available from a state-certified domestic violence treatment provider pursuant to RCW 43.20A.735; and

(c) Whether the offender and the community will benefit from the use of the alternative.

(6) When a court imposes a sentence of community custody under this section:

(a) The court may impose conditions as provided in RCW 9.94A.703 and may impose other affirmative conditions as the court considers appropriate. In addition, an offender may be required to pay $30 per month while on community custody to offset the cost of monitoring for alcohol or controlled substances, or in cases of domestic violence for monitoring with global positioning system technology for compliance with a no-contact order.

(b) The department may impose conditions and sanctions as authorized in RCW 9.94A.704 and 9.94A.737.

(7)

(a) The court may bring any offender sentenced under this section back into court at any time on its own initiative to evaluate the offender's progress in treatment or to determine if any violations of the conditions of the sentence have occurred.

(b) If the offender is brought back to court, the court may modify the conditions of the community custody or impose sanctions under (c) of this subsection.

(c) The court may order the offender to serve a term of total confinement within the standard sentence range of the offender's current offense at any time during the period of community custody if the offender violates the conditions or requirements of the sentence or if the offender is failing to make satisfactory progress in treatment.

(d) An offender ordered to serve a term of total confinement under (c) of this subsection shall receive credit for time previously served in total or partial confinement and inpatient treatment under this section, and shall receive 50 percent credit for time previously served in community custody under this section.

(8) In serving a term of community custody imposed upon failure to complete, or administrative termination from, the special drug offender sentencing alternative program, the offender shall receive no credit for time served in community custody prior to termination of the offender's participation in the program.

(9) An offender sentenced under this section shall be subject to all rules relating to earned release time with respect to any period served in total confinement.

(10) The Washington state institute for public policy shall submit a report to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature by November 1, 2022, analyzing the effectiveness of the drug offender sentencing alternative in reducing recidivism among various offender populations. An additional report is due November 1, 2028, and every five years thereafter. The Washington state institute for public policy may coordinate with the department and the caseload forecast council in tracking data and preparing the report.

RCW 9.94A.660

Amended by 2024 c 306,§ 9, eff. 1/1/2026.

Amended by 2021 c 215,§ 102, eff. 7/1/2022.

Amended by 2020 c 252,§ 1, eff. 1/1/2021.

Amended by 2019 c 263,§ 502, eff. 1/1/2021.

Amended by 2019 c 325,§ 5002, eff. 1/1/2020.

Amended by 2016SP1 c 29,§ 524, eff. 4/1/2016.

2009 c 389 § 3; (2009 c 389 § 2 expired August 1, 2009); 2008 c 231 § 30; 2006 c 339 § 302; 2006 c 73 § 10; 2005 c 460 § 1. Prior: 2002 c 290 § 20; 2002 c 175 § 10; 2001 c 10 § 4; 2000 c 28 § 19.

Effective date- 2024 c 306 : See note following RCW 9.94A.661.

Effective date- 2022 c 268; 2021 c 215 : See note following RCW 7.105.900.

Effective date- 2020 c 252 : "This act takes effect January 1, 2021." [2020 c 252 s 5.]

Effective date- 2019 c 325 : See note following RCW 71.24.011.

Findings-Intent- 2019 c 263 s s 202-803: See note following RCW 10.01.240.

Effective date- 2019 c 263 s s 501-504, 601, 602, and 701-708: See note following RCW 9.94A.500.

Effective dates-2016 sp.s. c 29: See note following RCW 71.05.760.

Short title-Right of action-2016 sp.s. c 29: See notes following RCW 71.05.010.

Effective date- 2009 c 389 s s 1 and 3-5: See note following RCW 9.94A.505.

Effective date- 2009 c 389 s 2: "Section 2 of this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately [May 7, 2009]." [2009 c 389 s 7.]

Expiration date- 2009 c 389 s 2: "Section 2 of this act expires August 1, 2009." [2009 c 389 s 9.]

Intent-Application-Application of repealers-Effective date-2008 c 231: See notes following RCW 9.94A.701.

Severability-2008 c 231: See note following RCW 9.94A.500.

Intent-Part headings not law-2006 c 339: See notes following RCW 74.34.020.

Effective date-2006 c 73: See note following RCW 46.61.502.

Application-2005 c 460: "This act applies to sentences imposed on or after October 1, 2005." [ 2005 c 460 s 2.]

Effective date-2005 c 460: "This act takes effect October 1, 2005." [ 2005 c 460 s 3.]

Effective date-2002 c 290 ss 7-11 and 14-23: See note following RCW 9.94A.515.

Intent-2002 c 290: See note following RCW 9.94A.517.

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

Intent-Effective date-2001 c 10: See notes following RCW 9.94A.505.

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

This section is set out more than once due to postponed, multiple, or conflicting amendments.