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Washington
Megan's
Law and Victim's Rights
(1)The right to respect
(2)The right to be informed
(3)The right to be present
(4)The right to be heard
35. RIGHTS OF CRIME VICTIMS.
Effective law enforcement depends on cooperation from victims of crime. To
ensure victims a meaningful role in the criminal justice system and to accord
them due dignity and respect, victims of crime are hereby granted the following
basic and fundamental rights.
Upon notifying the prosecuting attorney, a victim of a crime charged as a
felony shall have the right to be informed of and, subject to the discretion of
the individual presiding over the trial or court proceedings, attend trial and
all other court proceedings the defendant has the right to attend, and to make a
statement at sentencing and at any proceeding where the defendant's release is
considered, subject to the same rules of procedure which govern the defendant's
rights. In the event the victim is deceased, incompetent, a minor, or otherwise
unavailable, the prosecuting attorney may identify a representative to appear to
exercise the victim's rights. This provision shall not constitute a basis for
error in favor of a defendant in a criminal proceeding nor a basis for providing
a victim or the victim's representative with court appointed counsel.
| Contact Person: |
Sex/Kidnapping Offender Registration Team (360) 705-5108 or (360)
705-5106 |
| Offenders Required to Register: |
Any adult of juvenile residing whether or not the person has a
fixed residence, is employed, or carries on a vocation in this state who has
been found to have committed or has been convicted of any sex offense or
kidnapping offense, or who has been found not guilty by reason of insanity of
committing any sex offense or kidnapping offense. |
| Information Collected: |
Registrants full name, Last name, First name, and suffix (SR, JR,
111, etc.) address, date and place of birth, place of employment, crime for
which convicted, date and place of conviction, aliases used, social security
number, photograph and fingerprints. |
| Administrating Agency: |
Washington State Patrol, Department of Corrections and
Registering County Sheriff Office. |
| Timeframe for Registration: |
Within 24 hours of release, immediately if not confined; 30 days
of becoming new state resident; within 24 hours days of moving to a new
county. |
| Applies to Out of State Offenders: |
Yes, and to those convicted under laws of foreign country,
federal or military statutes. |
| Duration of Requirement: |
Life if Class A felony; 15 years if Class B felony; 10 years if
Class C felony. |
| Verification of Address: |
Yes, annually. |
| Penalties for Non-Compliance: |
A class C felony if the crime for which the individual was
convicted was a felony sex offense or a federal or out-of-state conviction for
an offense that under the laws of this state would be a felony kidnapping
offense. If the crime was other than a felony or a federal or out-of-state
conviction for an offense that under the laws of this state would be other than
a felony, violation of this section is a gross misdemeanor. |
| Access to Information: |
Risk Level 1: Local law enforcement agencies shall share
information with other appropriate law enforcement agencies and may disclose,
upon request, relevant, necessary, and accurate information to any victim or
witness to the offense and to any individual community member who lives near the
residence where the offender resides, expects to reside, or is regularly found.
Risk Level 2: Local law enforcement may also disclose relevant, necessary and
accurate information to public and private schools, child day care centers,
family day care providers, businesses and organizations that serve primarily
children, women, or vulnerable adults, and neighbors and community groups near
the residence where the offender resides, expects to reside, or is regularly
found. Risk Level 3: Local law enforcement may also disclose relevant,
necessary, and accurate information to the public at large. |
| Confidentiality Provision: |
Conviction records may be disseminated without
restriction. |
| Number Registered: |
16,559 as of 7/29/02 |
| Percent Compliance: |
Not known. |
| Internet Access: |
Bellevue:
http://www.ci.bellevue.wa.us/police/sexoffenders/default.htm
Bellingham:
http://www.cob.org/police/source/htm/sexoffenderscurrentlevel3.htm
Benton:
http://www.co.benton.wa.us/sex_offenders.htm
Clark County:
http://www.co.clark.wa.us/sheriff/community/offenders.html
Cowlitz County:
http://www.co.cowlitz.wa.us/sheriff/rso/
Island County:
http://www.islandcounty.net/sheriff/sex-map.htm
King County:
http://www.metrokc.gov/sheriff/sosch.htm
Kitsap County:
http://www.kitsapgov.com/sheriff/sex_bb.htm
Longview:
http://www.ci.longview.wa.us/police/Services/notification.htm
Okanogan County:
http://okanogancounty.org/Sheriff/
Pierce County:
http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/PC/abtus/ourorg/sheriff/
Renton:
http://www.ci.renton.wa.us/police/sexlevl3.htm
Snohomish
http://www.co.snohomish.wa.us/sheriff/rso
Spokane
http://www.spokanesheriff.org
TriCities:
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/sexoffenders/
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