72.09.370 - Offenders with mental illness who are believed to be dangerous -- Plan for postrelease treatment and support services -- Rules.

Offenders with mental illness who are believed to be dangerous — Plan for postrelease treatment and support services — Rules.

(1) The offender reentry community safety program is established to provide intensive services to offenders identified under this subsection and to thereby promote public safety. The secretary shall identify offenders in confinement or partial confinement who: (a) Are reasonably believed to be dangerous to themselves or others; and (b) have a mental disorder. In determining an offender's dangerousness, the secretary shall consider behavior known to the department and factors, based on research, that are linked to an increased risk for dangerousness of offenders with mental illnesses and shall include consideration of an offender's chemical dependency or abuse.

     (2) Prior to release of an offender identified under this section, a team consisting of representatives of the department of corrections, the division of mental health, and, as necessary, the indeterminate sentence review board, other divisions or administrations within the department of social and health services, specifically including the division of alcohol and substance abuse and the division of developmental disabilities, the appropriate regional support network, and the providers, as appropriate, shall develop a plan, as determined necessary by the team, for delivery of treatment and support services to the offender upon release. In developing the plan, the offender shall be offered assistance in executing a mental health directive under chapter 71.32 RCW, after being fully informed of the benefits, scope, and purposes of such directive. The team may include a school district representative for offenders under the age of twenty-one. The team shall consult with the offender's counsel, if any, and, as appropriate, the offender's family and community. The team shall notify the crime victim/witness program, which shall provide notice to all people registered to receive notice under RCW 72.09.712 of the proposed release plan developed by the team. Victims, witnesses, and other interested people notified by the department may provide information and comments to the department on potential safety risk to specific individuals or classes of individuals posed by the specific offender. The team may recommend: (a) That the offender be evaluated by the designated mental health professional, as defined in chapter 71.05 RCW; (b) department-supervised community treatment; or (c) voluntary community mental health or chemical dependency or abuse treatment.

     (3) Prior to release of an offender identified under this section, the team shall determine whether or not an evaluation by a designated mental health professional is needed. If an evaluation is recommended, the supporting documentation shall be immediately forwarded to the appropriate designated mental health professional. The supporting documentation shall include the offender's criminal history, history of judicially required or administratively ordered involuntary antipsychotic medication while in confinement, and any known history of involuntary civil commitment.

     (4) If an evaluation by a designated mental health professional is recommended by the team, such evaluation shall occur not more than ten days, nor less than five days, prior to release.

     (5) A second evaluation by a designated mental health professional shall occur on the day of release if requested by the team, based upon new information or a change in the offender's mental condition, and the initial evaluation did not result in an emergency detention or a summons under chapter 71.05 RCW.

     (6) If the designated mental health professional determines an emergency detention under chapter 71.05 RCW is necessary, the department shall release the offender only to a state hospital or to a consenting evaluation and treatment facility. The department shall arrange transportation of the offender to the hospital or facility.

     (7) If the designated mental health professional believes that a less restrictive alternative treatment is appropriate, he or she shall seek a summons, pursuant to the provisions of chapter 71.05 RCW, to require the offender to appear at an evaluation and treatment facility. If a summons is issued, the offender shall remain within the corrections facility until completion of his or her term of confinement and be transported, by corrections personnel on the day of completion, directly to the identified evaluation and treatment facility.

     (8) The secretary shall adopt rules to implement this section.

[2009 c 319 § 3; 2009 c 28 § 36; 2001 2nd sp.s. c 12 § 362; 1999 c 214 § 2.]

Notes: Reviser's note: This section was amended by 2009 c 28 § 36 and by 2009 c 319 § 3, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).

Effective date -- 2009 c 28: See note following RCW 2.24.040.

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.

Intent -- 1999 c 214: "The legislature intends to improve the process of identifying, and providing additional mental health treatment for, persons: (1) Determined to be dangerous to themselves or others as a result of a mental disorder or a combination of a mental disorder and chemical dependency or abuse; and (2) under, or being released from, confinement or partial confinement of the department of corrections.

     The legislature does not create a presumption that any person subject to the provisions of this act is dangerous as a result of a mental disorder or chemical dependency or abuse. The legislature intends that every person subject to the provisions of this act retain the amount of liberty consistent with his or her condition, behavior, and legal status and that any restraint of liberty be done solely on the basis of forensic and clinical practices and standards." [1999 c 214 § 1.]

Effective date -- 1999 c 214: "Sections 1, 2, and 4 through 9 of this act take effect March 15, 2000." [1999 c 214 § 12.]