RCW 72.09.270 Individual reentry plan.

(1) The department of corrections shall develop an individual reentry plan as defined in RCW 72.09.015 for every offender who is committed to the jurisdiction of the department except:

(a) Offenders who are sentenced to life without the possibility of release or sentenced to death under chapter 10.95 RCW; and

(b) Offenders who are subject to the provisions of 8 U.S.C. Sec. 1227.

(2) The individual reentry plan may be one document, or may be a series of individual plans that combine to meet the requirements of this section.

(3) In developing individual reentry plans, the department shall assess all offenders using standardized and comprehensive tools to identify the criminogenic risks, programmatic needs, and educational and vocational skill levels for each offender. The assessment tool should take into account demographic biases, such as culture, age, and gender, as well as the needs of the offender, including any learning disabilities, substance abuse or mental health issues, and social or behavior deficits.

(4)(a) The initial assessment shall be conducted as early as sentencing, but, whenever possible, no later than forty-five days of being sentenced to the jurisdiction of the department of corrections.

(b) The offender's individual reentry plan shall be developed as soon as possible after the initial assessment is conducted, but, whenever possible, no later than sixty days after completion of the assessment, and shall be periodically reviewed and updated as appropriate.

(5) The individual reentry plan shall, at a minimum, include:

(a) A plan to maintain contact with the inmate's children and family, if appropriate. The plan should determine whether parenting classes, or other services, are appropriate to facilitate successful reunification with the offender's children and family;

(b) An individualized portfolio for each offender that includes the offender's education achievements, certifications, employment, work experience, skills, and any training received prior to and during incarceration; and

(c) A plan for the offender during the period of incarceration through reentry into the community that addresses the needs of the offender including education, employment, substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, family reunification, and other areas which are needed to facilitate a successful reintegration into the community.

(6)(a) Prior to discharge of any offender, the department shall:

(i) Evaluate the offender's needs and, to the extent possible, connect the offender with existing services and resources that meet those needs; and

(ii) Connect the offender with a community justice center and/or community transition coordination network in the area in which the offender will be residing once released from the correctional system if one exists.

(b) If the department recommends partial confinement in an offender's individual reentry plan, the department shall maximize the period of partial confinement for the offender as allowed pursuant to RCW 9.94A.728 to facilitate the offender's transition to the community.

(7) The department shall establish mechanisms for sharing information from individual reentry plans to those persons involved with the offender's treatment, programming, and reentry, when deemed appropriate. When feasible, this information shall be shared electronically.

(8)(a) In determining the county of discharge for an offender released to community custody, the department may not approve a residence location that is not in the offender's county of origin unless it is determined by the department that the offender's return to his or her county of origin would be inappropriate considering any court-ordered condition of the offender's sentence, victim safety concerns, negative influences on the offender in the community, or the location of family or other sponsoring persons or organizations that will support the offender.

(b) If the offender is not returned to his or her county of origin, the department shall provide the law and justice council of the county in which the offender is placed with a written explanation.

(c) For purposes of this section, the offender's county of origin means the county of the offender's first felony conviction in Washington.

(9) Nothing in this section creates a vested right in programming, education, or other services.

[ 2008 c 231 § 48; 2007 c 483 § 203.]

NOTES:

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—2007 c 483: "Individual reentry plans are intended to be a tool for the department of corrections to identify the needs of an offender. Individual reentry plans are meant to assist the department in targeting programming and services to offenders with the greatest need and to the extent that those services are funded and available. The state cannot meet every need that may have contributed to every offender's criminal proclivities. Further, an individual reentry plan, and the programming resulting from that plan, are not a guarantee that an offender will not recidivate. Rather, the legislature intends that by identifying offender needs and offering programs that have been proven to reduce the likelihood of reoffense, the state will benefit by an overall reduction in recidivism." [ 2007 c 483 § 201.]

Findings—2007 c 483: See RCW 72.78.005.