Bill to track commitment center calls clears committee

Kelley wants McNeil Island sex offenders’ calls logged to prevent abuse

February 1, 2008

OLYMPIA – When Rep. Troy Kelley (D-University Place) toured the state’s Special Commitment Center on McNeil Island, staff informed him the sex offenders living there have free rein when making phone calls.

“Allowing sex offenders to continue preying on children and other victims is unacceptable,” Kelley said.  “It’s a false sense of safety for our community, having them locked up there, but able to continue violating kids.”

Staff alerted Kelley and other members during a tour of the center.  They suspected residents of making these types of calls and they could do nothing about it, due to the balance the center has to strike in terms of outside access.

The same issue developed in January when offenders were found with child pornography.

Kelley’s bill, House Bill 2756, would create a log of every outgoing phone call made by the sex offenders.  The number they call, the length of the call, and the date and time they call would all be supervised by the state.

“If these sex offenders are there for treatment, then we need to start doing a better job making sure they’re not just honing their predatory skills for when they get out,” Kelley said.  “We need additional protections for our community while they’re in there, but also the knowledge that they were actually helped if they’re released.”

The House Human Services Committee Thursday recommended the bill for floor action unanimously.  It now remains in Rules Committee awaiting action on the House floor.