The bill seeks to enhance the authority and operational practices of the Office of Independent Investigations (OII) in Washington State, while also improving public disclosure requirements and protecting individual privacy. Key amendments include redefining terms such as "involved agency" and "involved officer" to clarify the agency employing the officer in question. The OII's jurisdiction is expanded to cover investigations of any death occurring during or after a use of force by an involved officer, contingent on new evidence emerging from previous investigations. The bill mandates thorough and transparent investigations of police use of force incidents, prioritizing cases based on available resources, and emphasizes the importance of preserving evidence at incident scenes.

Additionally, the legislation introduces new provisions regarding the confidentiality of investigative records, exempting them from public inspection until a case is referred to the prosecutor for potential criminal charges. It also specifies that sensitive information, such as details about child victims of sexual assault and body-worn camera recordings, is exempt from public disclosure to protect privacy rights. The bill outlines the conditions under which body-worn camera recordings may be disclosed and the rights of individuals involved in recorded incidents to access these recordings. Overall, the legislation aims to balance the need for transparency in law enforcement with the protection of individual privacy rights, while also detailing the responsibilities of law enforcement agencies in managing access to recorded materials.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 9A.04.110, 43.102.080, 43.102.120
Substitute bill: 9A.04.110, 43.102.080, 43.102.120
Engrossed substitute: 9A.04.110, 43.102.080, 43.102.120
Bill as passed Legislature: 9A.04.110, 43.102.080, 43.102.120