Rolfes bill gives crime victims say in offender’s work release

February 13, 2008

Olympia, WA - State Representative Christine Rolfes wants to protect crime victims from being victimized once again when their offender is released back into their neighborhood.

Her proposal, HB 2436, which received unanimous support in the state House of Representatives Monday, requires the Department of Corrections to consider a victim’s perspective when deciding whether to allow their offender into the work release program.

“Victims – or their families – often have information about an offender that DOC does not have,” said Rolfes. “That information needs to be taken into account when a work release decision is made.”

The DOC already notifies victims of the pending work release, yet despite their efforts, victims have had little say in the decision-making process until now.

“By allowing victims to have some input, we’ll be giving some empowerment to those whose lives already been upended once.”

Rolfes hopes the Senate will take quick action to ensure the safety of victims living in the vicinity of a work release program, especially in smaller communities around the state.

“It is a horrifying and traumatic experience for a crime victim to unexpectedly run into their perpetrator on the street,” said Rolfes, “but it occurs far too often in our state.”

HB 2436 now moves to the state Senate for further consideration.

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