Scott Matson, Roxanne Lieb - October 2007

Nine states have statutes that authorize the confinement and treatment of highly dangerous sex offenders following completion of their criminal sentence: Arizona, California, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin. These laws are commonly referred to as “sexual predator” laws. Other statutes authorize commitment and treatment for sex offenders as an alternative to sentencing. This paper reviews the four principle categories of civil commitment laws for dangerous sex offenders. Summaries of individual state statutes are also included.

Roxanne Lieb, Steve Aos, Annie Pennucci - September 2007

This initial report to the task force provides background information and presents an overview of trends in student outcomes in Washington State; the October 2007 revision adds details about the research tasks assigned to the Institute.

Mason Burley - September 2007

The Foster Care To College Partnership (FCTCP) is a multi-year, grant-funded initiative aimed at improving rates of college entry for long-term state-dependent youth. Children’s Administration asked the Institute to conduct an evaluation of the activities funded by the FCTCP. This preliminary report provides a program overview and outlines the research plan.

Jim Mayfield - September 2007

This presentation was given to the Joint Task Force on the Underground Construction Economy on September 26, 2007.

Kathy Gookin - August 2007

In 1990, the Washington State Legislature passed a new form of involuntary commitment for sex offenders identified as “sexually violent predators” (SVPs). This law permits the state to retain custody of individuals found by a judge or jury to pose risks for reoffending.

This report updates the Institute’s 2005 study, “Involuntary Commitment of Sexually Violent Predators: Comparing State Laws,” and compares the now 20 states that have enacted or are planning to implement SVP laws. The 2005 report covered data through 2004; this report extends the timeframe through 2006 and includes information on the number of residents, discharges, and program costs.

Lucy Berliner - August 2007

This report explores the views of child victims and their parents in sex offense cases from three Washington State counties: Benton, King, and Snohomish. All offenses were eligible for the Special Sex Offender Sentencing Alternative (SSOSA), a sentencing option that incorporates a jail sentence followed by outpatient treatment and supervision.

Elizabeth Drake - August 2007

The 2007 Legislature established a pilot program called Community Transition Coordination Networks for offenders reentering the community from confinement (ESSB 6157). The Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED) was tasked to review county proposals and select up to four CTCN pilot projects to receive grant funding. The Legislature directed the Washington State Institute for Public Policy, by September 1, 2007, to recommend criteria for assisting CTED during the grant review process.

Robert Barnoski - August 2007

In 1975, the Washington State Legislature established a deferred prosecution option for offenders arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and/or impairing drugs (DUI). This option was intended to encourage individuals to seek appropriate treatment. Under this option, defendants with a significant alcohol or drug dependence problem may petition the court to defer disposition of their charge until they have completed intensive substance dependence treatment and met other conditions required by the court.

Another option invoked to encourage treatment is prosecutor diversion, which allows the court to maintain supervision over defendants and impose conditions, including treatment and victim restitution.

In 2005, the legislature authorized the Washington Traffic Safety Commission to use federal funds to contract with the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (Institute) to evaluate the impact on recidivism of deferred prosecution, including prosecutor diversion, for DUI cases. In addition, this report examines whether DUI recidivism rates changed after 1998, when legislation was passed limiting eligibility and lengthening the supervision period for the deferred prosecution program.

Robert Barnoski - August 2007

This report focuses on the relative effectiveness of different Promoting Academic Success (PAS) summer school strategies used to help students meet standard on the WASL in August 2006.

Robert Barnoski, Wade Cole - August 2007

The 2006 Legislature directed the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) to conduct a “review and statistical analysis of Washington assessment of student learning [WASL] data” in order to “identify possible barriers to student success or possible causes of the lack of success.” This report examines the relationship between student performance on multiple-choice and open-ended questions on the 10th-grade WASL in spring 2006 by gender, race/ethnicity, language use, poverty status, and enrollment in special education.