Community Corrections Supervision Bill

ESSB 5288, the bill reducing post-release supervision of dangerous offenders, moved out of the House Ways and Means Committee with some amendments.

Among other things, the amendments:

• remove the provision related to supervision of low and moderate risk offenders and adds supervision of two groups of misdemeanants, domestic violence offenders who have a prior conviction, misdemeanant sex offenders, including misdemeanant offenses for failure to register.

• gives the Department of Corrections authority to issue arrest warrants and pursue sanctions for misdemeanants under its supervision.

• adds supervision for low and moderate level felony sex offenders whose sole offense is failure to register.

• increases the term of community custody for violent offenses that are not considered a serious violent offense from one year to 18 months.

• and a study provision evaluating the effectiveness of this bill, if it becomes law, no later than Dec. 1, 2011.

The amendments mitigating the original SB 5288 came because of the tenacious full-court press and constant presence at the Capitol of Federation Community Corrections members.