This bill amends Washington state law to improve the involvement of victims in hearings held by the indeterminate sentence review board. Key changes include a requirement for offender evaluations to assess not only the likelihood of reoffending but also whether the offender has fulfilled conditions of restorative justice as defined by the board. Victims of crimes are granted the right to intervene and object to the release of offenders, with the board required to give significant weight to these objections and document their findings. The bill also ensures that victims and survivors can present statements during hearings, emphasizing public safety in the board's decisions and establishing a framework for monitoring released offenders.

Furthermore, the bill modifies existing laws concerning the supervision of individuals with conditional pardons, enhancing the role of the indeterminate sentence review board in evaluating pardon applications. It allows victims to object to pardon applications, requiring the board to consider these objections seriously and document them in its recommendations to the governor. The legislation also reinforces the rights of victims, survivors, and witnesses by ensuring their statements are heard during parole or community custody hearings, with the board mandated to maintain comprehensive minutes of these proceedings, including any victim objections, thereby promoting transparency in the decision-making process.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 9.95.420, 10.95.030, 9.94A.730, 7.69.032, 9.95.422