OLYMPIA, Wash. -- A bill that would stop the home detention release of suspects in violent or sex crimes passed a vote in the state House of Representatives, 96-1.
It is now headed to the Senate for a vote.
"The system is broken and public safety is at risk because there's no accountability," said Rep. Matt Shea (R-Spokane Valley) who is the prime sponsor.
HB 1943 prohibits "pretrial home detention for offenders who have a prior conviction for a violent, sex or escape offense."
The bill also establishes new law for private home monitoring companies that track offenders on behalf of courts. It says that offenders must stay in their homes while on detention, unless release is authorized by the court. Under the proposed law, monitoring companies that do not follow the rules can face civil fines for the first time.
The bill followed a year-long series of KING 5 Investigations called "Home Free." They showed how suspects with serious criminal records where being released on home detention and were free – in some cases – to commit more crimes.
The series also examined the private home monitoring industry, which is largely unregulated. As an example, Northwest Home Monitoring allowed an offender to travel to the beach for a vacation while on home detention. The judge and the prosecutor's office were not told of the excursion.
If the bill passes a vote in the Senate, Governor Jay Inslee will decide whether to sign in into law.
