Involuntary Commitment of Sexually Violent Predators: Comparing State Laws

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. Since Washington’s enactment, 16 other states have adopted similar laws. Texas requires outpatient treatment rather than confinement; Pennsylvania law pertains only to 20-year-olds “aging out” of the juvenile system.

This paper summarizes key features of the SVP laws, focusing on three questions:

• How many individuals have been held under these laws?
• How many have been released under some form of less restrictive alternative?
• What are the program costs?

Washington’s Dangerous Mentally Ill Offender Law: Was Community Safety Increased?

The 1999 Washington State Legislature passed Substitute Senate Bill 5011 to improve the process of identifying and providing additional mental health treatment for mentally ill offenders who are being released from the Department of Corrections (DOC), who pose a threat to public safety, and agree to participate in the program. A “Dangerous Mentally Ill Offender” (DMIO) is identified in the legislation as a person with a mental disorder who has been determined to be dangerous to self or others. The legislation also directs the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (Institute) and the Washington Institute for Mental Illness Research and Training (WIMIRT) to evaluate the Act to determine:

• Whether criminal recidivism or inpatient hospitalization was reduced;
• Whether mental health, drug/alcohol, case management, housing assistance, and other services were improved;
• Whether the risk assessment tool assessing dangerousness was valid; and
• Whether the state saved money because of early Medicaid enrollment or reduced use of DOC beds.

These outcomes were analyzed by comparing DMIO participants released from prison (DMIO participants) with a similar group of offenders from the Community Transition Study (CTS), who were released in 1996 and 1997. This study covers all offenders admitted to the program during its first two years, and who were followed in the community for 18 months after their release from prison. The DMIO program was designed to serve participants for five years after prison release; this evaluation covers the first 18 months of a 60-month program.

High School Graduation Rates in Washington and the United States: A Long-Run View

This short report presents updated data on Washington's high school graduation rate, along with the national rate. We also highlight results from our recent report on the long-run implications of not graduating from high school.

The Institute's previous findings on graduation rates are in the 1996 publication Trends in At-Risk Behaviors of Youth in Washington.

Long-Term Outcomes of Public Mental Health Clients: Additional Baseline Characteristics

The 2002 Washington State Legislature directed the Institute to conduct a longitudinal study on the outcomes of state-funded mental health clients. A preliminary report provided baseline information on clients' age, gender, race, education enrollment status, employment, living situation, and selected mental health conditions. This report provides additional data on baseline characteristics of Washington’s public mental health clients, including criminal justice involvement, mental health functioning assessment scores, and caseloads of regional support networks. In addition, data are provided on clients’ use of mental health services and their employment status and earnings in 2002. An outcomes report showing changes between 2002 and 2004 will be completed by the end of 2005.

Correctional Industries Programs for Adult Offenders in Prison: Estimates of Benefits and Costs

In recent years, the Washington State Legislature has directed the Institute to identify evidence-based programs that can lower crime and give Washington taxpayers a good return on their money. The purpose of this short report is to update previously published findings pertaining to correctional industries programs for adult prisoners.

Washington's Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative: An Evaluation of Benefits and Costs

The Washington State legislature directed the Institute to evaluate whether the Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative (DOSA) influences recidivism rates and whether the benefits of DOSA outweigh the costs. We analyzed the effects of the legislation by comparing a group of offenders who received DOSA sentences with a similar group of offenders sentenced prior to the 1999 implementation date of DOSA. As described in the report, our overall finding is that DOSA is an effective criminal justice policy for drug offenders but neutral for drug-involved property offenders.

English Language Learners in K-12: Trends, Policies, and Research in Washington State

The 2004 Washington State Legislature directed the Institute to review the state Transitional Bilingual Instructional Program (TBIP). The Institute interviewed TBIP staff at the state and school district levels; analyzed student enrollment and assessment data; and reviewed laws, policies, and research on instruction for English language learners (ELL students) in the public K–12 school system.

Washington State’s Family Integrated Transitions Program for Juvenile Offenders: Outcome Evaluation and Benefit-Cost Analysis

In 2000, the Washington State Legislature initiated a pilot rehabilitation program for juvenile offenders sentenced to a state juvenile justice institution. The program focuses on offenders with “co-occurring” substance abuse and mental health disorders. Offenders with both of these conditions are known to pose a high risk for committing new crimes upon re-entry to the community. The program—called the Family Integrated Transitions (FIT) program—was designed and implemented by Eric Trupin, Ph.D., and David Stewart, Ph.D., from the University of Washington. The program uses a combination of evidence-based approaches tailored to the particular needs of these high-risk youth. In this report, we present findings on the effectiveness of FIT in reducing recidivism, as well as an analysis of the program’s benefits and costs.

Alternative Routes to Teacher Certification in Washington State: Final Report

Washington’s alternative routes to teacher certification were created by the 2001 Legislature. These routes provide an avenue—other than enrolling in a teacher training program at a college or university—for professionals in other fields and classified school staff to become teachers. The Legislature directed the Institute to evaluate the programs created by the law. This final report describes the initial programs as established in 2002–03, outlines major changes that have occurred in the intervening two years, and looks at how well the programs met the legislative objectives.

In-depth descriptions of the individual programs and responses to surveys are published separately in the appendix.

Outcome Evaluations of Washington State's WorkFirst Program: Key Findings

WorkFirst, Washington State’s implementation of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), began in April 1997. TANF is a major change in how the state assists low-income families. The program helps parents look for work and provides employment-specific training and basic education opportunities. A number of independent analyses have attempted to estimate employment, earnings, and other outcomes directly attributable to the overall program or to specific program activities, such as Job Search, Community Jobs, Customized Job Skills Training, and Post-Employment Services. This report summarizes the key findings of these analyses.