wa-law.org > bill > 2023-24 > HB 1715 > Second Substitute
By January 1, 2025, the department must, through the contractor under subsection (2) of this section, establish the domestic violence lethality hotline to provide an evidence-based standard of practice to prevent intimate partner homicide, increase victim safety, prevent children from being exposed to violence and support children who have been exposed to violence, and enhance collaboration among law enforcement, domestic violence agencies, and service providers across the state.
The department must contract with an organization to operate the hotline. The department must select the organization through a competitive bidding process and ensure that the selected organization has demonstrated financial stability, meets the qualifications for the duties identified in this section, and does not have any conflicts of interest that would interfere with the duties identified in this section. The department may adopt rules for carrying out this section.
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The organization must develop or select a lethality assessment instrument and protocol to be used to determine the likelihood that a homicide will be committed by one intimate partner against another. The lethality determination may not be based exclusively on a numeric score, but must be based on a comprehensive understanding of the situation and the professional determination of the person conducting the assessment. All lethality assessments must be rooted in evidence-based risk factors for domestic homicide. The lethality assessment instrument and protocol must be empirically validated and reassessed at regular intervals to ensure its accuracy and that the results are not racially biased.
Beginning July 1, 2025, the hotline must provide on-call service for completing lethality assessments remotely through victim interviews facilitated by peace officers under RCW 10.99.030 and for petitioners in domestic violence protection order proceedings. The hotline must also assist victims with confidential immediate safety planning and referrals for children exposed to violence. Upon completing a lethality assessment, the hotline must transmit a copy of the assessment to the applicable local law enforcement agency or court unless the victim objects to such transmission. Services under this subsection must be offered statewide, on-demand, 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
The organization must establish policies and procedures for conducting lethality assessments, and develop and provide training to peace officers on best practices for coordinating with the hotline, as required under RCW 10.99.030.
Recognizing that past history of domestic violence is a significant lethality factor, law enforcement agencies and the courts must provide the hotline access to criminal history records and court records to the extent necessary for the hotline to perform lethality assessments under this section.
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The organization must implement a mechanism to place a high lethality designation in law enforcement and court databases if a respondent or defendant is determined to be at high risk of intimate partner homicide under this section, including the Washington state patrol's electronic database accessible to law enforcement agencies and officers, including federally recognized Indian tribes, that have a connection to the Washington state patrol database.
The administrative office of the courts shall develop a standard form to submit the designation to the courts.
The organization shall, in consultation with stakeholders, determine appropriate training requirements for individuals conducting lethality assessments. The training must be competency-based, include a practical application, and include material on domestic violence, domestic violence homicide prevention, and trauma-informed interviewing.
After the lethality assessment is complete, the hotline must provide the victim with immediate safety planning based on the assessment. The hotline staff conducting the lethality assessment may not be the same staff assisting the victim with immediate safety planning. The hotline staff responsible for immediate safety planning must inform the victim of the following:
The level of danger based on the assessment;
That the victim has the right to object to the lethality assessment being shared with law enforcement or the courts and the potential safety implications based on that decision;
If the victim chooses to share the assessment with the courts and law enforcement, the individuals and entities with whom the assessment will be shared, how it will be used in court, safety measures that may be ordered as a result of the assessment, and the extent to which the assessment will be shared with the subject of the assessment;
If the victim does not choose to share the assessment with the courts and law enforcement, that the victim has the right to make a different decision at a later time and how to exercise that change of decision;
That the assessment is exempt from public disclosure; and
That the assessment is confidential unless the victim chooses to share it and that safety planning is confidential under all circumstances.
After conducting immediate safety planning, the hotline must refer the victim to a local community-based domestic violence agency for follow-up. When practicable, the referral must be conducted in a manner that directly connects the victim to the agency in real time, as opposed to only providing contact information.
The hotline shall provide, upon request, a copy of the lethality assessment to a prosecutor or an attorney representing the subject of the assessment.
For the purposes of this section:
"Department" means the department of social and health services; and
"Hotline" means the domestic violence lethality hotline.
The administrative office of the courts must develop a model form for courts to use when granting protection orders or no-contact orders when the respondent or defendant has a high lethality designation under section 101 of this act. The form must include all mandatory conditions for protection orders or no-contact orders with a high lethality designation.
The administrative office of the courts must adopt rules requiring courts to rapidly transmit protection orders and no-contact orders with a high lethality designation under section 101 of this act to the department of licensing.
Conviction records may be disseminated without restriction.
Any criminal history record information which pertains to an incident that occurred within the last twelve months for which a person is currently being processed by the criminal justice system, including the entire period of correctional supervision extending through final discharge from parole, when applicable, may be disseminated without restriction.
Criminal history record information which includes nonconviction data may be disseminated by a criminal justice agency to another criminal justice agency for any purpose associated with the administration of criminal justice, or in connection with the employment of the subject of the record by a criminal justice or juvenile justice agency, except as provided under RCW 13.50.260. A criminal justice agency may respond to any inquiry from another criminal justice agency without any obligation to ascertain the purpose for which the information is to be used by the agency making the inquiry.
Criminal history record information which includes nonconviction data may be disseminated by a criminal justice agency to implement a statute, ordinance, executive order, or a court rule, decision, or order which expressly refers to records of arrest, charges, or allegations of criminal conduct or other nonconviction data and authorizes or directs that it be available or accessible for a specific purpose.
Criminal history record information which includes nonconviction data may be disseminated to individuals and agencies pursuant to a contract with a criminal justice agency to provide services related to the administration of criminal justice. Such contract must specifically authorize access to criminal history record information, but need not specifically state that access to nonconviction data is included. The agreement must limit the use of the criminal history record information to stated purposes and insure the confidentiality and security of the information consistent with state law and any applicable federal statutes and regulations.
Criminal history record information which includes nonconviction data may be disseminated to individuals and agencies for the express purpose of research, evaluative, or statistical activities pursuant to an agreement with a criminal justice agency. Such agreement must authorize the access to nonconviction data, limit the use of that information which identifies specific individuals to research, evaluative, or statistical purposes, and contain provisions giving notice to the person or organization to which the records are disseminated that the use of information obtained therefrom and further dissemination of such information are subject to the provisions of this chapter and applicable federal statutes and regulations, which shall be cited with express reference to the penalties provided for a violation thereof.
Criminal history record information that includes nonconviction data may be disseminated to the domestic violence lethality hotline to the extent necessary for the hotline to perform lethality assessments under section 101 of this act.
Every criminal justice agency that maintains and disseminates criminal history record information must maintain information pertaining to every dissemination of criminal history record information except a dissemination to the effect that the agency has no record concerning an individual. Information pertaining to disseminations shall include:
An indication of to whom (agency or person) criminal history record information was disseminated;
The date on which the information was disseminated;
The individual to whom the information relates; and
A brief description of the information disseminated.
The information pertaining to dissemination required to be maintained shall be retained for a period of not less than one year.
The judicial officer in any felony, misdemeanor, or gross misdemeanor case must, in determining whether there are conditions of release that will reasonably assure the safety of any other person and the community, take into account the available information concerning:
The nature and circumstances of the offense charged, including whether the offense is a crime of violence;
The weight of the evidence against the defendant;
The history and characteristics of the defendant, including:
The defendant's character, physical and mental condition, family ties, employment, financial resources, length of residence in the community, community ties, past conduct, history relating to drug or alcohol abuse, criminal history, and record concerning appearance at court proceedings;
Whether, at the time of the current offense or arrest, the defendant was on community supervision, probation, parole, or on other release pending trial, sentencing, appeal, or completion of sentence for an offense under federal, state, or local law;
The nature and seriousness of the danger to any person or the community that would be posed by the defendant's release; and
The defendant's firearms history, including purchase history, any concealed pistol license history, and the requirements of RCW 9.41.800 regarding issuance of an order to surrender and prohibit weapons; and
In the case of alleged intimate partner domestic violence:
The results of any applicable and available lethality assessment of the defendant performed in connection with the conduct giving rise to the current case; and
Any evidence that the purpose of the alleged offense was to gain or maintain power and control over the victim as part of a broader pattern of intimate terrorism.
The following investigative, law enforcement, and crime victim information is exempt from public inspection and copying under this chapter:
Specific intelligence information and specific investigative records compiled by investigative, law enforcement, and penology agencies, and state agencies vested with the responsibility to discipline members of any profession, the nondisclosure of which is essential to effective law enforcement or for the protection of any person's right to privacy;
Information revealing the identity of persons who are witnesses to or victims of crime or who file complaints with investigative, law enforcement, or penology agencies, other than the commission, if disclosure would endanger any person's life, physical safety, or property. If at the time a complaint is filed the complainant, victim, or witness indicates a desire for disclosure or nondisclosure, such desire shall govern. However, all complaints filed with the commission about any elected official or candidate for public office must be made in writing and signed by the complainant under oath;
Any records of investigative reports prepared by any state, county, municipal, or other law enforcement agency pertaining to sex offenses contained in chapter 9A.44 RCW or sexually violent offenses as defined in RCW 71.09.020, which have been transferred to the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs for permanent electronic retention and retrieval pursuant to RCW 40.14.070(2)(b);
License applications under RCW 9.41.070, except that copies of license applications or information on the applications may be released to law enforcement or corrections agencies or to persons and entities as authorized under RCW 9.41.815;
Information revealing the specific details that describe an alleged or proven child victim of sexual assault under age eighteen, or the identity or contact information of an alleged or proven child victim of sexual assault who is under age eighteen. Identifying information includes the child victim's name, addresses, location, photograph, and in cases in which the child victim is a relative, stepchild, or stepsibling of the alleged perpetrator, identification of the relationship between the child and the alleged perpetrator. Contact information includes phone numbers, email addresses, social media profiles, and user names and passwords;
Information contained in a local or regionally maintained gang database as well as the statewide gang database referenced in RCW 43.43.762;
Data from the electronic sales tracking system established in RCW 69.43.165;
Information submitted to the statewide unified sex offender notification and registration program under RCW 36.28A.040(6) by a person for the purpose of receiving notification regarding a registered sex offender, including the person's name, residential address, and email address;
Personally identifying information collected by law enforcement agencies pursuant to local security alarm system programs and vacation crime watch programs. Nothing in this subsection shall be interpreted so as to prohibit the legal owner of a residence or business from accessing information regarding his or her residence or business;
The felony firearm offense conviction database of felony firearm offenders established in RCW 43.43.822;
The identity of a state employee or officer who has in good faith filed a complaint with an ethics board, as provided in RCW 42.52.410, or who has in good faith reported improper governmental action, as defined in RCW 42.40.020, to the auditor or other public official, as defined in RCW 42.40.020;
The following security threat group information collected and maintained by the department of corrections pursuant to RCW 72.09.745: (a) Information that could lead to the identification of a person's security threat group status, affiliation, or activities; (b) information that reveals specific security threats associated with the operation and activities of security threat groups; and (c) information that identifies the number of security threat group members, affiliates, or associates;
The global positioning system data that would indicate the location of the residence of an employee or worker of a criminal justice agency as defined in RCW 10.97.030;
Body worn camera recordings to the extent nondisclosure is essential for the protection of any person's right to privacy as described in RCW 42.56.050, including, but not limited to, the circumstances enumerated in (a) of this subsection. A law enforcement or corrections agency shall not disclose a body worn camera recording to the extent the recording is exempt under this subsection.
Disclosure of a body worn camera recording is presumed to be highly offensive to a reasonable person under RCW 42.56.050 to the extent it depicts:
i.(A) Any areas of a medical facility, counseling, or therapeutic program office where:
(I) A patient is registered to receive treatment, receiving treatment, waiting for treatment, or being transported in the course of treatment; or
(II) Health care information is shared with patients, their families, or among the care team; or
(B) Information that meets the definition of protected health information for purposes of the health insurance portability and accountability act of 1996 or health care information for purposes of chapter 70.02 RCW;
ii. The interior of a place of residence where a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy;
iii. An intimate image;
iv. A minor;
v. The body of a deceased person;
vi. The identity of or communications from a victim or witness of an incident involving domestic violence as defined in RCW 10.99.020 or sexual assault as defined in RCW 70.125.030, or disclosure of intimate images as defined in RCW 9A.86.010. If at the time of recording the victim or witness indicates a desire for disclosure or nondisclosure of the recorded identity or communications, such desire shall govern; or
vii. The identifiable location information of a community-based domestic violence program as defined in RCW 70.123.020, or emergency shelter as defined in RCW 70.123.020.
b. The presumptions set out in (a) of this subsection may be rebutted by specific evidence in individual cases.
c. In a court action seeking the right to inspect or copy a body worn camera recording, a person who prevails against a law enforcement or corrections agency that withholds or discloses all or part of a body worn camera recording pursuant to (a) of this subsection is not entitled to fees, costs, or awards pursuant to RCW 42.56.550 unless it is shown that the law enforcement or corrections agency acted in bad faith or with gross negligence.
d. A request for body worn camera recordings must:
i. Specifically identify a name of a person or persons involved in the incident;
ii. Provide the incident or case number;
iii. Provide the date, time, and location of the incident or incidents; or
iv. Identify a law enforcement or corrections officer involved in the incident or incidents.
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i. A person directly involved in an incident recorded by the requested body worn camera recording, an attorney representing a person directly involved in an incident recorded by the requested body worn camera recording, a person or his or her attorney who requests a body worn camera recording relevant to a criminal case involving that person, or the executive director from either the Washington state commission on African American affairs, Asian Pacific American affairs, or Hispanic affairs, has the right to obtain the body worn camera recording, subject to any exemption under this chapter or any applicable law. In addition, an attorney who represents a person regarding a potential or existing civil cause of action involving the denial of civil rights under the federal or state Constitution, or a violation of a United States department of justice settlement agreement, has the right to obtain the body worn camera recording if relevant to the cause of action, subject to any exemption under this chapter or any applicable law. The attorney must explain the relevancy of the requested body worn camera recording to the cause of action and specify that he or she is seeking relief from redaction costs under this subsection (14)(e).
ii. A law enforcement or corrections agency responding to requests under this subsection (14)(e) may not require the requesting individual to pay costs of any redacting, altering, distorting, pixelating, suppressing, or otherwise obscuring any portion of a body worn camera recording.
iii. A law enforcement or corrections agency may require any person requesting a body worn camera recording pursuant to this subsection (14)(e) to identify himself or herself to ensure he or she is a person entitled to obtain the body worn camera recording under this subsection (14)(e).
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i. A law enforcement or corrections agency responding to a request to disclose body worn camera recordings may require any requester not listed in (e) of this subsection to pay the reasonable costs of redacting, altering, distorting, pixelating, suppressing, or otherwise obscuring any portion of the body worn camera recording prior to disclosure only to the extent necessary to comply with the exemptions in this chapter or any applicable law.
ii. An agency that charges redaction costs under this subsection (14)(f) must use redaction technology that provides the least costly commercially available method of redacting body worn camera recordings, to the extent possible and reasonable.
iii. In any case where an agency charges a requestor for the costs of redacting a body worn camera recording under this subsection (14)(f), the time spent on redaction of the recording shall not count towards the agency's allocation of, or limitation on, time or costs spent responding to public records requests under this chapter, as established pursuant to local ordinance, policy, procedure, or state law.
g. For purposes of this subsection (14):
i. "Body worn camera recording" means a video and/or sound recording that is made by a body worn camera attached to the uniform or eyewear of a law enforcement or corrections officer while in the course of his or her official duties; and
ii. "Intimate image" means an individual or individuals engaged in sexual activity, including sexual intercourse as defined in RCW 9A.44.010 and masturbation, or an individual's intimate body parts, whether nude or visible through less than opaque clothing, including the genitals, pubic area, anus, or postpubescent female nipple.
h. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to restrict access to body worn camera recordings as otherwise permitted by law for official or recognized civilian and accountability bodies or pursuant to any court order.
i. Nothing in this section is intended to modify the obligations of prosecuting attorneys and law enforcement under 373 U.S. 83, 83 S. Ct. 1194, 10 L. Ed. 2d 215 (1963), , 541 U.S. 419, 115 S. Ct. 1555, 131 L. Ed.2d 490 (1995), and the relevant Washington court criminal rules and statutes.
j. A law enforcement or corrections agency must retain body worn camera recordings for at least sixty days and thereafter may destroy the records in accordance with the applicable records retention schedule;
Any records and information contained within the statewide sexual assault kit tracking system established in RCW 43.43.545;
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Survivor communications with, and survivor records maintained by, campus-affiliated advocates.
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to restrict access to records maintained by a campus-affiliated advocate in the event that:
The survivor consents to inspection or copying;
There is a clear, imminent risk of serious physical injury or death of the survivor or another person;
Inspection or copying is required by federal law; or
A court of competent jurisdiction mandates that the record be available for inspection or copying.
"Campus-affiliated advocate" and "survivor" have the definitions in RCW 28B.112.030;
Information and records prepared, owned, used, or retained by the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs and information and records prepared, owned, used, or retained by the Washington state patrol pursuant to chapter 261, Laws of 2017;
Any and all audio or video recordings of child forensic interviews as defined in chapter 26.44 RCW. Such recordings are confidential and may only be disclosed pursuant to a court order entered upon a showing of good cause and with advance notice to the child's parent, guardian, or legal custodian. However, if the child is an emancipated minor or has attained the age of majority as defined in RCW 26.28.010, advance notice must be to the child. Failure to disclose an audio or video recording of a child forensic interview as defined in chapter 26.44 RCW is not grounds for penalties or other sanctions available under this chapter; and
The results of lethality assessments and any records of immediate safety planning conducted under section 101 of this act.
By July 1, 2024, electronic monitoring with victim notification technology services must be available for all courts in all jurisdictions in the state.
By December 1, 2023, the commission must adopt rules:
Requiring local governments to enter into contracts with a monitoring agency to provide electronic monitoring with victim notification technology services under court order, including specifying which entities are responsible for entering into those contracts;
Establishing standards for the operation of electronic monitoring with victim notification technology by monitoring agencies, with the goal of implementing best practices to improve victim safety;
Establishing protocols for implementing court orders that include electronic monitoring with victim notification, including protocols for the installation and removal of monitoring devices to ensure uninterrupted monitoring services following release from detainment or incarceration; and
Establishing any additional requirements necessary to promote compliance with RCW 2.56.260 and 9.94A.736, which may include, but not be limited to, training requirements for court officials, peace officers, 911 dispatchers, local corrections officers and staff, and other appropriate practitioners.
In developing the rules required under this section, the commission must solicit input from courts of general and limited jurisdiction, local governments, monitoring agencies, and statewide associations representing law enforcement leaders, prosecutors, domestic violence victims, and domestic violence agencies.
The commission must develop a model policy on electronic monitoring with victim notification technology based on best practices where the technology is being currently used in Washington. Each law enforcement agency in the state must adopt its own policy based on the model policy.
For the purposes of this section:
"Electronic monitoring" has the meaning provided in RCW 9.94A.030; and
"Monitoring agency" has the meaning provided in RCW 9.94A.736.
The administrative office of the courts must contract with one or more entities to create a website with information about electronic monitoring with victim notification technology, including recorded trainings, brochures or flyers, approved vendors, and specific instructions on how victims may advocate or request electronic monitoring with victim notification technology.
The office of civil legal aid shall propose a plan to standardize and expand statewide access to civil legal assistance for survivors of domestic violence as defined in RCW 7.105.010 in protection order proceedings initiated in superior and district courts. The plan must include the following specific areas of focus:
Exploration of how deployment of publicly funded attorneys could integrate with existing networks of community and nonprofit organizations already providing support for domestic violence survivors;
Strategies for expanding the number of private attorneys available to provide effective civil legal representation to domestic violence survivors;
Strategies for incorporating high quality, culturally responsive, equity and trauma-informed assistance by nonattorneys into delivery systems where appropriate;
A proposed implementation schedule and priorities;
Provisions to ensure effective training, support, technical, and other assistance to ensure equity and trauma-informed legal assistance targeted to survivors at greatest risk of lethal and other aggravated harms;
Any statutory changes necessary to implement the plan, including a description of how expanded access to counsel interacts with the appointment of counsel under RCW 7.105.240; and
Any other information deemed appropriate by the office of civil legal aid.
The office of civil legal aid must report the plan to the appropriate legislative committees by September 30, 2024.
This section expires December 31, 2024.
The legislature recognizes the importance of connecting domestic violence survivors with civil legal counsel. To support this effort for survivors seeking private attorneys for representation, the office of civil legal aid shall contract with a statewide domestic violence survivor advocacy organization to maintain on its website a statewide list of attorneys who represent survivors of domestic violence in protection order proceedings. The list of attorneys must be organized by region of the state and include contact information for the attorneys. An initial list shall be posted by July 1, 2024, and be regularly updated thereafter.
The legislature recognizes that many tribes exercise tribal court civil jurisdiction in domestic violence matters. While principles of tribal sovereignty and commitments made in the centennial accord prohibit the state of Washington from directing tribal court practices or directing that counsel be appointed in tribal court civil protection proceedings, and while the provisions of chapter 7.105 RCW do not apply in tribal courts, it is necessary that indigenous survivors of domestic violence have access to high quality legal assistance in tribal court domestic violence protection proceedings consistent with applicable tribal court rules and practices. To this end, and subject to appropriations for this purpose, the office of civil legal aid must develop a program and implementation plan to provide indigenous-informed, culturally competent legal support for survivors in tribal court domestic violence protection proceedings. The office of civil legal aid must establish a tribal advisory council to inform and guide the development of this program. Initial operation of the tribal court civil protection proceedings program must commence by January 1, 2025.
The legislature hereby respectfully requests the Washington supreme court's gender and justice commission to convene a work group of interested collaborators and professional experts to establish minimum practice and training standards for attorneys representing survivors of domestic violence in protection orders under chapter 7.105 RCW. The work group is also requested to review currently available training for nonlawyers assisting survivors in proceedings under chapter 7.105 RCW and to suggest improvements, additions, and appropriate practice standards. The commission is requested to adopt and forward final standards to the appropriate legislative committees by November 30, 2024.
Subject to funds appropriated for this specific purpose, the office of civil legal aid shall provide staff support to the work group.
This section expires January 1, 2025.
When service is to be completed under this chapter by a law enforcement officer:
The clerk of the court shall have a copy of any order issued under this chapter, the confidential information form, as well as the petition for a protection order and any supporting materials, electronically forwarded on the same judicial day to the law enforcement agency in the county or municipality where the respondent resides, as specified in the order, for service upon the respondent. If the respondent has moved from that county or municipality and personal service is not required, the law enforcement agency specified in the order may serve the order;
Service of an order issued under this chapter must take precedence over the service of other documents by law enforcement unless they are of a similar emergency nature;
Where personal service is required, the first attempt at service must occur within 24 hours of receiving the order from the court unless an emergency situation renders the service infeasible. The law enforcement officer must give priority to orders with a high lethality designation under section 101 of this act. If the first attempt is not successful, no fewer than two additional attempts should be made to serve the order, particularly for respondents who present heightened risk of lethality or other risk of physical harm to the petitioner or petitioner's family or household members. All attempts at service must be documented on a proof of service form and submitted to the court in a timely manner;
The law enforcement officer serving an order under this section must attempt to contact the petitioner before the attempted service so that the petitioner may provide pertinent information related to officer safety considerations, the respondent's behavior, the location and description of the respondent's firearms, and other relevant details;
If service cannot be completed within 10 calendar days, the law enforcement officer shall notify the petitioner. The petitioner shall provide information sufficient to permit notification. Law enforcement shall continue to attempt to complete service unless otherwise directed by the court. In the event that the petitioner does not provide a service address for the respondent or there is evidence that the respondent is evading service, the law enforcement officer shall use law enforcement databases to assist in locating the respondent;
If the respondent is in a protected person's presence at the time of contact for service, the law enforcement officer should take reasonable steps to separate the parties when possible prior to completing the service or inquiring about or collecting firearms. When the order requires the respondent to vacate the parties' shared residence, law enforcement shall take reasonable steps to ensure that the respondent has left the premises and is on notice that the respondent's return is a violation of the terms of the order. The law enforcement officer shall provide the respondent with copies of all forms with the exception of the confidential information form completed by the protected party and the proof of service form;
Any law enforcement officer who serves a protection order on a respondent with the knowledge that the respondent requires special assistance due to a disability, brain injury, or impairment shall make a reasonable effort to accommodate the needs of the respondent to the extent practicable without compromise to the safety of the petitioner;
Proof of service must be submitted to the court on the proof of service form. The form must include the date and time of service and each document that was served in order for the service to be complete, along with any details such as conduct at the time of service, threats, or avoidance of service, as well as statements regarding possession of firearms, including any denials of ownership despite positive purchase history, active concealed pistol license, or sworn statements in the petition that allege the respondent's access to, or possession of, firearms;
Upon service of the order, the law enforcement officer must contact the petitioner to communicate that the order has been served, is now in effect, and can be lawfully enforced. The officer must also convey to the petitioner information regarding the respondent's behavior that may be relevant to the petitioner's safety planning;
If attempts at service were not successful, the proof of service form or the form letter showing that the order was not served, and stating the reason it was not served, must be returned to the court by the next judicial day following the last unsuccessful attempt at service. Each attempt at service must be noted and reflected in computer aided dispatch records, with the date, time, address, and reason service was not completed; or
The law enforcement information sheet may not include the petitioner's residential address.
To help ensure familiarity with the unique nature of protection order proceedings, and an understanding of trauma-informed practices and best practices in the use of new technologies for remote hearings, judicial officers, including persons who serve as judicial officers pro tempore, should receive evidence-based training on procedural justice, trauma-informed practices, gender-based violence dynamics, coercive control, elder abuse, juvenile sex offending, teen dating violence, domestic violence homicide prevention, and requirements and best practices for the surrender of weapons before presiding over protection order hearings. Trainings should be provided on an ongoing basis as best practices, research on trauma, and legislation continue to evolve. As a method of continuous training, court commissioners, including pro tempore commissioners, shall be notified by the presiding judge or court administrator upon revision of any decision made under this chapter.
The administrative office of the courts, in consultation with the supreme court gender and justice commission, should ensure the training required under this section is regularly provided and available remotely and notify judicial officers of the training.
(1) In issuing any type of protection order, other than an ex parte temporary antiharassment protection order as limited by subsection (2) of this section, and other than an extreme risk protection order, the court shall have broad discretion to grant such relief as the court deems proper, including an order that provides relief as follows:
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Whenever a domestic violence protection order, a sexual assault protection order, a stalking protection order, or a vulnerable adult protection order is granted under this chapter, or an order is granted under chapter 9A.40, 9A.44, 9A.46, 9A.88, 9.94A, 10.99, 26.09, 26.26A, or 26.26B RCW, or there is a valid foreign protection order as defined in RCW 26.52.020, or there is a Canadian domestic violence protection order as defined in RCW 26.55.010, and the respondent or person to be restrained knows of the order, a violation of any of the following provisions of the order is a gross misdemeanor, except as provided in subsections (4) and (5) of this section:
The restraint provisions prohibiting acts or threats of violence against, or stalking of, a protected party, or the restraint provisions prohibiting contact with a protected party;
A provision excluding the person from a residence, workplace, school, or day care;
A provision prohibiting the person from knowingly coming within, or knowingly remaining within, a specified distance of a location, a protected party's person, or a protected party's vehicle;
A provision prohibiting interfering with the protected party's efforts to remove a pet owned, possessed, leased, kept, or held by the petitioner, the respondent, or a minor child residing with either the petitioner or the respondent;
A provision requiring the respondent to submit to electronic monitoring; or
Upon conviction, and in addition to any other penalties provided by law, the court:
May require that the respondent submit to electronic monitoring. The court shall specify who must provide the electronic monitoring services and the terms under which the monitoring must be performed. The order also may include a requirement that the respondent pay the costs of the monitoring. The court shall consider the ability of the convicted person to pay for electronic monitoring; and
Shall impose a fine of $15, in addition to any penalty or fine imposed, for a violation of a domestic violence protection order issued under this chapter. Revenue from the $15 fine must be remitted monthly to the state treasury for deposit in the domestic violence prevention account.
A law enforcement officer shall arrest without a warrant and keep in custody until release by a judicial officer on bail, personal recognizance, or court order, a person whom the law enforcement officer has probable cause to believe has violated a domestic violence protection order, a sexual assault protection order, a stalking protection order, or a vulnerable adult protection order, or an order issued under chapter 9A.40, 9A.44, 9A.46, 9A.88, 9.94A, 10.99, 26.09, 26.26A, or 26.26B RCW, or a valid foreign protection order as defined in RCW 26.52.020, or a Canadian domestic violence protection order as defined in RCW 26.55.010, that restrains the person or excludes the person from a residence, workplace, school, or day care, or prohibits the person from knowingly coming within, or knowingly remaining within, a specified distance of a location, a protected party's person, or a protected party's vehicle, if the person restrained knows of the order. Presence of the order in the law enforcement computer-based criminal intelligence information system is not the only means of establishing knowledge of the order. A law enforcement officer is not required to keep in custody a person under this subsection if the person requires immediate medical attention and is admitted to a hospital.
A violation of a domestic violence protection order, a sexual assault protection order, a stalking protection order, or a vulnerable adult protection order, or an order issued under chapter 9A.40, 9A.44, 9A.46, 9A.88, 9.94A, 10.99, 26.09, 26.26A, or 26.26B RCW, or a valid foreign protection order as defined in RCW 26.52.020, or a Canadian domestic violence protection order as defined in RCW 26.55.010, shall also constitute contempt of court, and is subject to the penalties prescribed by law.
Any assault that is a violation of a domestic violence protection order, a sexual assault protection order, a stalking protection order, or a vulnerable adult protection order, or an order issued under chapter 9A.40, 9A.44, 9A.46, 9A.88, 9.94A, 10.99, 26.09, 26.26A, or 26.26B RCW, or a valid foreign protection order as defined in RCW 26.52.020, or a Canadian domestic violence protection order as defined in RCW 26.55.010, and that does not amount to assault in the first or second degree under RCW 9A.36.011 or 9A.36.021 is a class C felony, and any conduct in violation of such an order that is reckless and creates a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury to another person is a class C felony.
A violation of a domestic violence protection order, a sexual assault protection order, a stalking protection order, or a vulnerable adult protection order, or a court order issued under chapter 9A.40, 9A.44, 9A.46, 9A.88, 9.94A, 10.99, 26.09, 26.26A, or 26.26B RCW, or a valid foreign protection order as defined in RCW 26.52.020, or a Canadian domestic violence protection order as defined in RCW 26.55.010, is a class C felony if the offender has at least two previous convictions for violating the provisions of a domestic violence protection order, a sexual assault protection order, a stalking protection order, or a vulnerable adult protection order, or an order issued under chapter 9A.40, 9A.44, 9A.46, 9A.88, 9.94A, 10.99, 26.09, 26.26A, or 26.26B RCW, or a valid foreign protection order as defined in RCW 26.52.020, or a Canadian domestic violence protection order as defined in RCW 26.55.010. The previous convictions may involve the same victim or other victims specifically protected by the orders the offender violated.
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A defendant arrested for violating a domestic violence protection order, sexual assault protection order, stalking protection order, or vulnerable adult protection order, or an order granted under chapter 9A.40, 9A.44, 9A.46, 9A.88, 9.94A, 10.99, 26.09, 26.26A, or 26.26B RCW, or a valid foreign protection order as defined in RCW 26.52.020, or a Canadian domestic violence protection order as defined in RCW 26.55.010, is required to appear in person before a magistrate within one judicial day after the arrest. At the time of the appearance, the court shall determine the necessity of imposing a no-contact order or other conditions of pretrial release.
A defendant who is charged by citation, complaint, or information with violating any protection order identified in (a) of this subsection and not arrested shall appear in court for arraignment in person as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 14 days after the next day on which court is in session following the issuance of the citation or the filing of the complaint or information.
Upon the filing of an affidavit by the petitioner or any law enforcement officer alleging that the respondent has violated a domestic violence protection order, a sexual assault protection order, a stalking protection order, or a vulnerable adult protection order, or an order granted under chapter 9A.40, 9A.44, 9A.46, 9A.88, 9.94A, 10.99, 26.09, 26.26A, or 26.26B RCW, or a valid foreign protection order as defined in RCW 26.52.020, or a Canadian domestic violence protection order as defined in RCW 26.55.010, the court may issue an order to the respondent, requiring the respondent to appear and show cause within 14 days as to why the respondent should not be found in contempt of court and punished accordingly. The hearing may be held in the court of any county or municipality in which the petitioner or respondent temporarily or permanently resides at the time of the alleged violation.
Appearances required under this section are mandatory and cannot be waived.
This section applies to modification or termination of domestic violence protection orders, sexual assault protection orders, stalking protection orders, and antiharassment protection orders.
Upon a motion with notice to all parties and after a hearing, the court may modify the terms of an existing protection order or terminate an existing order.
A respondent's motion to modify or terminate an existing protection order must include a declaration setting forth facts supporting the requested order for modification or termination. The nonmoving parties to the proceeding may file opposing declarations. All motions to modify or terminate shall be based on the written materials and evidence submitted to the court. The court shall set a hearing only if the court finds that adequate cause is established. If the court finds that the respondent established adequate cause, the court shall set a date for hearing the respondent's motion, which must be at least 14 days from the date the court finds adequate cause.
Upon the motion of a respondent, the court may not modify or terminate an existing protection order unless the respondent proves by a preponderance of the evidence that there has been a substantial change in circumstances such that the respondent will not resume, engage in, or attempt to engage in, the following acts against the petitioner or those persons protected by the protection order if the order is terminated or modified:
Acts of domestic violence, in cases involving domestic violence protection orders;
Physical or nonphysical contact, in cases involving sexual assault protection orders;
Acts of stalking, in cases involving stalking protection orders; or
Acts of unlawful harassment, in cases involving antiharassment protection orders.
The petitioner bears no burden of proving that the petitioner has a current reasonable fear of harm by the respondent.
In determining whether there has been a substantial change in circumstances, the court may consider the following unweighted factors, and no inference is to be drawn from the order in which the factors are listed:
Whether the respondent has committed or threatened sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, or other harmful acts against the petitioner or any other person since the protection order was entered;
Whether the respondent has violated the terms of the protection order and the time that has passed since the entry of the order;
Whether the respondent has exhibited suicidal ideation or attempts since the protection order was entered;
Whether the respondent has been convicted of criminal activity since the protection order was entered;
Whether the respondent has either acknowledged responsibility for acts of sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, or behavior that resulted in the entry of the protection order, or successfully completed state-certified perpetrator treatment or counseling since the protection order was entered;
Whether the respondent has a continuing involvement with drug or alcohol abuse, if such abuse was a factor in the protection order;
Whether the petitioner consents to terminating the protection order, provided that consent is given voluntarily and knowingly; or
Other factors relating to a substantial change in circumstances.
In determining whether there has been a substantial change in circumstances, the court may not base its determination on the fact that time has passed without a violation of the order.
Regardless of whether there is a substantial change in circumstances, the court may decline to terminate a protection order if it finds that the acts of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, unlawful harassment, and other harmful acts that resulted in the issuance of the protection order were of such severity that the order should not be terminated.
A respondent may file a motion to modify or terminate an order no more than once in every 12-month period that the order is in effect, starting from the date of the order and continuing through any renewal period.
If a person who is protected by a protection order has a child or adopts a child after a protection order has been issued, but before the protection order has expired, the petitioner may seek to include the new child in the order of protection on an ex parte basis if the child is already in the physical custody of the petitioner. If the restrained person is the legal or biological parent of the child, a hearing must be set and notice given to the restrained person prior to final modification of the full protection order.
(a)(i) Except as provided in (a)(ii) of this subsection, a court must require the respondent to pay the petitioner for costs incurred in responding to a motion to modify or terminate a domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking protection order, including reasonable attorneys' fees.
ii. If the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that an order to pay costs would be manifestly unjust or that the respondent is currently unable to pay the costs and is unlikely to be able to pay the costs in the future, the court may set the costs at a lower amount, enter into a payment plan with the respondent, or decline to order payment of the costs.
Because of the potential for error in protection order proceedings and the danger associated with firearm access in domestic violence situations, in any proceeding in which the court enters a temporary protection order that includes a temporary order to surrender and prohibit weapons, and after the hearing the court denies the petition for a full protection order, the order to surrender and prohibit weapons must remain in effect for 10 calendar days after the court's denial of the petition for a full protection order to provide the petitioner the opportunity to file a motion for reconsideration or revision. If a motion for reconsideration or revision is filed within 10 calendar days, the order to surrender and prohibit weapons must remain in effect until the motion for reconsideration or revision is resolved.
The court must notify the petitioner verbally and provide the petitioner with written information at the hearing in which the court denies the petition for a full protection order explaining the procedures and timelines for filing a motion for reconsideration or a motion for revision. The information must also include contact information for civil legal aid organizations that may assist the petitioner with a motion for reconsideration or a motion for revision.
A motion for reconsideration or a motion for revision must be filed within 10 calendar days of the court's denial of the petition for a full protection order. The petitioner may not file both a motion for reconsideration and a motion for revision. The hearing on the motion must be held within 30 calendar days from the filing of the motion.
Subsection (1) of this section does not apply if allowing the order to surrender and prohibit weapons would be manifestly unjust including, but not limited to, situations where the court finds the temporary protection order was entirely without merit, the petitioner was engaged in abusive use of litigation, or the petitioner was exerting coercive control, as defined in RCW 7.105.010, over the respondent.
A victim of domestic violence may maintain, as plaintiff, an action against the perpetrator of the domestic violence if the victim was the intimate partner of the perpetrator.
For purposes of an action maintained under this section, damages may include any damages proximately caused by the domestic violence including, but not limited to, emotional distress, health care costs, lost wages, property damage, and attorneys' fees incurred in order to obtain a protection order or no-contact order against the perpetrator. A plaintiff who prevails under this section is entitled to reasonable attorneys' fees incurred in order to bring an action under this section.
For the purposes of this section, "domestic violence" and "intimate partner" have the meanings provided in RCW 7.105.010.
The following actions shall be commenced within six years:
An action upon a contract in writing, or liability express or implied arising out of a written agreement, except as provided for in RCW 64.04.007(2).
An action upon an account receivable. For purposes of this section, an account receivable is any obligation for payment incurred in the ordinary course of the claimant's business or profession, whether arising from one or more transactions and whether or not earned by performance.
An action for the rents and profits or for the use and occupation of real estate.
An action under section 407 of this act. For purposes of this subsection, the six-year period begins to run upon the termination of the domestic violence relationship.
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.
"Agency" means a general authority Washington law enforcement agency as defined in RCW 10.93.020.
"Association" means the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs.
"Dating relationship" has the same meaning as in RCW 7.105.010.
"Domestic violence" includes but is not limited to any of the following crimes when committed either by (a) one family or household member against another family or household member, or (b) one intimate partner against another intimate partner:
i. Assault in the first degree (RCW 9A.36.011);
ii. Assault in the second degree (RCW 9A.36.021);
iii. Assault in the third degree (RCW 9A.36.031);
iv. Assault in the fourth degree (RCW 9A.36.041);
Reckless endangerment (RCW 9A.36.050);
Coercion (RCW 9A.36.070);
Burglary in the first degree (RCW 9A.52.020);
ix. Burglary in the second degree (RCW 9A.52.030);
Criminal trespass in the second degree (RCW 9A.52.080);
Malicious mischief in the first degree (RCW 9A.48.070);
Malicious mischief in the second degree (RCW 9A.48.080);
Malicious mischief in the third degree (RCW 9A.48.090);
Kidnapping in the first degree (RCW 9A.40.020);
Kidnapping in the second degree (RCW 9A.40.030);
Unlawful imprisonment (RCW 9A.40.040);
Violation of the provisions of a restraining order, no-contact order, or protection order restraining or enjoining the person or restraining the person from going onto the grounds of or entering a residence, workplace, school, or day care, or prohibiting the person from knowingly coming within, or knowingly remaining within, a specified distance of a location, a protected party's person, or a protected party's vehicle (chapter 7.105 RCW, or RCW 10.99.040, 10.99.050, 26.09.300, 26.10.220, 26.26B.050, 26.44.063, 26.44.150, or 26.52.070, or any of the former RCW 26.50.060, 26.50.070, 26.50.130, and 74.34.145);
Rape in the first degree (RCW 9A.44.040);
Rape in the second degree (RCW 9A.44.050);
Residential burglary (RCW 9A.52.025);
Stalking (RCW 9A.46.110); and
Interference with the reporting of domestic violence (RCW 9A.36.150).
"Electronic monitoring" means the same as in RCW 9.94A.030.
"Employee" means any person currently employed with an agency.
"Family or household members" means: (a) Adult persons related by blood or marriage; (b) adult persons who are presently residing together or who have resided together in the past; and (c) persons who have a biological or legal parent-child relationship, including stepparents and stepchildren and grandparents and grandchildren.
"Intimate partners" means: (a) Spouses or domestic partners; (b) former spouses or former domestic partners; (c) persons who have a child in common regardless of whether they have been married or have lived together at any time; (d) adult persons presently or previously residing together who have or have had a dating relationship; (e) persons 16 years of age or older who are presently residing together or who have resided together in the past and who have or have had a dating relationship; or (f) persons 16 years of age or older with whom a person 16 years of age or older has or has had a dating relationship.
"Intimate terrorism" refers to a type of intimate partner violence in which the perpetrator uses violence, threats, coercive control, or other behaviors with the intent to dominate, intimidate or control the victim. If there are criminal acts, those acts simply punctuate a broader pattern of subjugation. In cases of intimate terrorism, the victim is usually fearful of the perpetrator.
"Sworn employee" means a general authority Washington peace officer as defined in RCW 10.93.020, any person appointed under RCW 35.21.333, and any person appointed or elected to carry out the duties of the sheriff under chapter 36.28 RCW.
"Victim" means a family or household member or an intimate partner who has been subjected to domestic violence.
(1) The primary duty of peace officers, when responding to a domestic violence situation, is to enforce the laws allegedly violated and to protect the complaining party victim.
All training relating to the handling of domestic violence complaints by law enforcement officers must stress enforcement of criminal laws in domestic situations, availability of community resources, and protection of the victim. Law enforcement agencies and community organizations with expertise in the issue of domestic violence shall cooperate in all aspects of such training.
The criminal justice training commission shall implement by July 28, 2019, a course of instruction for the training of law enforcement officers in Washington in the handling of domestic violence complaints. The basic law enforcement curriculum of the criminal justice training commission must include at least twenty hours of basic training instruction on the law enforcement response to domestic violence. The course of instruction, the learning and performance objectives, and the standards for the training must be developed by the commission and focus on enforcing the criminal laws, safety of the victim, and holding the perpetrator accountable for the violence. The curriculum must include training on the extent and prevalence of domestic violence, distinguishing situational family violence from intimate terrorism, the importance of criminal justice intervention, techniques for responding to incidents that minimize the likelihood of officer injury and that promote victim safety, investigation and interviewing skills, evidence gathering and report writing, assistance to and services for victims and children, including children exposed to violence, domestic violence homicide prevention, conducting lethality assessments in consultation with the domestic violence lethality hotline under section 101 of this act, the intersection of firearms and domestic violence, best practices for serving and enforcing protection orders, best practices for implementation and enforcement of orders to surrender and prohibit weapons and extreme risk protection orders, understanding the risks of traumatic brain injury posed by domestic violence, verification and enforcement of court orders, liability, and any additional provisions that are necessary to carry out the intention of this subsection.
The criminal justice training commission shall develop and update annually an in-service training program to familiarize law enforcement officers with domestic violence laws. The program must include techniques for handling incidents of domestic violence that minimize the likelihood of injury to the officer and that promote the safety of all parties. The program must also include training on domestic violence homicide prevention, conducting lethality assessments in consultation with the domestic violence lethality hotline under section 101 of this act, the intersection of firearms and domestic violence, best practices for serving and enforcing protection orders, and assistance to and services for victims and children, including children exposed to violence. The commission shall make the training program available to all law enforcement agencies in the state.
Development of the training in subsections (2) and (3) of this section must be conducted in conjunction with agencies having a primary responsibility for serving victims of domestic violence with emergency shelter and other services, and representatives to the statewide organization providing training and education to these organizations and to the general public.
Because of the serious nature of domestic violence, the court in domestic violence actions:
Shall not dismiss any charge or delay disposition because of concurrent dissolution or other civil proceedings;
Shall not require proof that either party is seeking a dissolution of marriage prior to instigation of criminal proceedings;
Shall waive any requirement that the victim's location be disclosed to any person upon a showing that there is a possibility of further violence;
Shall identify by any reasonable means on docket sheets those criminal actions arising from acts of domestic violence; and
Shall not deny issuance of a no-contact order based on the existence of an applicable civil protection order preventing the defendant from contacting the victim.
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Because of the likelihood of repeated violence directed at those who have been victims of domestic violence in the past, when any person charged with or arrested for a crime involving domestic violence is released from custody before arraignment or trial on bail or personal recognizance, the court authorizing the release may prohibit that person from having any contact with the victim. The jurisdiction authorizing the release shall determine whether that person should be prohibited from having any contact with the victim. If there is no outstanding restraining or protective order prohibiting that person from having contact with the victim, the court authorizing release may issue, by telephone, a no-contact order prohibiting the person charged or arrested from having contact with the victim or from knowingly coming within, or knowingly remaining within, a specified distance of a location.
In issuing the order, the court shall consider the provisions of RCW 9.41.800, and shall order the defendant to surrender, and prohibit the person from possessing, all firearms, dangerous weapons, and any concealed pistol license as required in RCW 9.41.800.
The no-contact order shall also be issued in writing as soon as possible, and shall state that it may be extended as provided in subsection (3) of this section. By January 1, 2011, the administrative office of the courts shall develop a pattern form for all no-contact orders issued under this chapter. A no-contact order issued under this chapter must substantially comply with the pattern form developed by the administrative office of the courts.
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At the time of arraignment the court shall determine whether a no-contact order shall be issued or extended. So long as the court finds probable cause, the court may issue or extend a no-contact order even if the defendant fails to appear at arraignment. The no-contact order shall terminate if the defendant is acquitted or the charges are dismissed.
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In issuing the order, the court shall consider any available lethality assessment and all information documented in the incident report concerning the person's possession of and access to firearms and whether law enforcement took temporary custody of firearms at the time of the arrest.
The court may as a condition of release prohibit the defendant from possessing or accessing firearms and order the defendant to immediately surrender all firearms and any concealed pistol license to a law enforcement agency upon release.
In cases with a high lethality designation under section 101 of this act, if the court does not prohibit the defendant from possessing or accessing firearms and order the defendant to immediately surrender all firearms and any concealed pistol license to a law enforcement agency before release, the court shall indicate in writing its reasons for not doing so. Nothing in this subsection (3)(b)(iii) affects the court's discretion under (b)(ii) of this subsection.
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If a no-contact order is issued or extended, the court may also include in the conditions of release a requirement that the defendant submit to electronic monitoring as defined in RCW 9.94A.030. If electronic monitoring is ordered, the court shall specify who shall provide the monitoring services, and the terms under which the monitoring shall be performed. Upon conviction, the court may require as a condition of the sentence that the defendant pay the costs of the electronic monitoring. If a defendant enters into a deferred prosecution or stipulated order of continuance, the applicable order or agreement may require the defendant pay the costs of the electronic monitoring.
Beginning July 1, 2025, in cases where the victim was the defendant's intimate partner and the defendant has a high lethality designation under section 101 of this act, if the court does not order the defendant to submit to electronic monitoring with victim notification technology, it shall indicate in writing its reasons for not doing so. Nothing in this subsection affects the court's discretion to order the defendant to submit to electronic monitoring with victim notification technology in any other circumstances.
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Willful violation of a court order issued under subsection (2), (3), or (7) of this section is punishable under RCW 7.105.450.
The written order releasing the person charged or arrested shall contain the court's directives and shall bear the legend: "Violation of this order is a criminal offense under chapter 7.105 RCW and will subject a violator to arrest; any assault, drive-by shooting, or reckless endangerment that is a violation of this order is a felony. You can be arrested even if any person protected by the order invites or allows you to violate the order's prohibitions. You have the sole responsibility to avoid or refrain from violating the order's provisions. Only the court can change the order."
A certified copy of the order shall be provided to the victim.
If a no-contact order has been issued prior to charging, that order shall expire at arraignment or within seventy-two hours if charges are not filed.
Whenever a no-contact order is issued, modified, or terminated under subsection (2) or (3) of this section, the clerk of the court shall forward a copy of the order on or before the next judicial day to the appropriate law enforcement agency specified in the order. Upon receipt of the copy of the order the law enforcement agency shall enter the order for one year or until the expiration date specified on the order into any computer-based criminal intelligence information system available in this state used by law enforcement agencies to list outstanding warrants. Entry into the computer-based criminal intelligence information system constitutes notice to all law enforcement agencies of the existence of the order. The order is fully enforceable in any jurisdiction in the state. Upon receipt of notice that an order has been terminated under subsection (3) of this section, the law enforcement agency shall remove the order from the computer-based criminal intelligence information system.
All courts shall develop policies and procedures by January 1, 2011, to grant victims a process to modify or rescind a no-contact order issued under this chapter. The administrative office of the courts shall develop a model policy to assist the courts in implementing the requirements of this subsection.
A defendant arrested for an offense involving domestic violence as defined by RCW 10.99.020 shall be required to appear in person before a magistrate within one judicial day after the arrest.
A defendant who is charged by citation, complaint, or information with an offense involving domestic violence as defined by RCW 10.99.020 and not arrested shall appear in court for arraignment in person as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 14 days after the next day on which court is in session following the issuance of the citation or the filing of the complaint or information.
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At the time of the appearances provided in subsection (1) or (2) of this section, the court shall determine the necessity of imposing a no-contact order or other conditions of pretrial release according to the procedures established by court rule for a preliminary appearance or an arraignment. The court may include in the order any conditions authorized under RCW 9.41.800 and 10.99.040.
For the purposes of (a) of this subsection, the prosecutor shall provide for the court's review:
The defendant's criminal history, if any, that occurred in Washington or any other state;
If available, the defendant's criminal history that occurred in any tribal jurisdiction;
The defendant's individual order history;
The defendant's firearms history, including any purchase or concealed pistol license history;
Any available and applicable domestic violence lethality assessment; and
Any preliminary evidence that the purpose of the alleged offense was to gain or maintain power and control over the victim as part of a broader pattern of intimate terrorism.
For the purposes of (b) of this subsection, criminal history includes all previous convictions and orders of deferred prosecution, as reported through the judicial information system or otherwise available to the court or prosecutor, current to within the period specified in (d) of this subsection before the date of the appearance.
The periods applicable to previous convictions and orders of deferred prosecution are:
One working day, in the case of previous actions of courts that fully participate in the state judicial information system; and
Seven calendar days, in the case of previous actions of courts that do not fully participate in the judicial information system. For the purposes of this subsection, "fully participate" means regularly providing records to and receiving records from the system by electronic means on a daily basis.
If pretrial supervision is available, and the court does not order a defendant with a high lethality designation under section 101 of this act to pretrial supervision at the highest level offered, the court shall indicate in writing its reasons for not doing so. Nothing in this subsection affects the court's discretion to order pretrial supervision in any other circumstances.
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Beginning July 1, 2025, in cases where the defendant carries a high lethality designation under section 101 of this act, if the court does not order electronic monitoring with victim notification technology as a condition for pretrial release, it shall indicate in writing its reasons for not doing so.
The court may order that the defendant pay the costs of electronic monitoring with victim notification technology.
Nothing in this subsection affects the court's discretion to order the defendant to submit to electronic monitoring with victim notification technology in any other circumstances.
If the court uses an entity to make recommendations on conditions for pretrial release, the entity may not make such recommendations before performing a domestic violence lethality assessment in cases involving an intimate partner victim.
Appearances required pursuant to this section are mandatory and cannot be waived.
The no-contact order shall be issued and entered with the law enforcement agency pursuant to the procedures outlined in RCW 10.99.040 (2) and (6).
In sentencing for a crime of domestic violence as defined in this chapter, courts of limited jurisdiction shall consider, among other factors, whether:
The defendant suffered a continuing pattern of coercion, control, or abuse by the victim of the offense and the offense is a response to that coercion, control, or abuse;
The offense was part of an ongoing pattern of psychological, physical, or sexual abuse of a victim or multiple victims manifested by multiple incidents over a prolonged period of time;
The purpose of the offense was to gain or maintain power and control over the victim as part of a broader pattern of intimate terrorism; and
The offense occurred within sight or sound of the victim's or the offender's minor children under the age of eighteen years.
Beginning July 1, 2025, in sentencing for a crime of intimate partner domestic violence with a high lethality designation under section 101 of this act, if a court of limited jurisdiction does not order the defendant to electronic monitoring with victim notification technology, it shall indicate in writing its reasons for not doing so. Nothing in this subsection affects a court of limited jurisdiction's discretion to order the defendant to electronic monitoring with victim notification technology in any other circumstances.
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In sentencing for a crime of domestic violence as defined in this chapter, the prosecutor shall provide for the court's review:
The defendant's criminal history, if any, that occurred in Washington or any other state;
If available, the defendant's prior criminal history that occurred in any tribal jurisdiction; and
The defendant's individual order history.
For the purposes of (a) of this subsection, criminal history includes all previous convictions and orders of deferred prosecution, as reported through the judicial information system or otherwise available to the court or prosecutor, current to within the period specified in (c) of this subsection before the date of sentencing.
The periods applicable to previous convictions and orders of deferred prosecution are:
One working day, in the case of previous actions of courts that fully participate in the state judicial information system; and
Seven calendar days, in the case of previous actions of courts that do not fully participate in the judicial information system. For the purposes of this subsection, "fully participate" means regularly providing records to and receiving records from the system by electronic means on a daily basis.
When sentencing a defendant for the crime of intimate partner domestic violence with a high lethality designation under section 101 of this act, other than a crime that would cause the defendant to be ineligible to possess firearms under RCW 9.41.040, if the court does not order the defendant to surrender all firearms and dangerous weapons before release from any term of confinement, or, if the defendant does not serve a term of confinement, before the conclusion of the sentencing hearing, the court shall indicate in writing its reasons for not doing so. Nothing in this subsection affects the court's discretion to order the defendant to surrender all firearms and dangerous weapons in any other circumstances.
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Each law enforcement agency shall develop a notification protocol that :
Allows a family or household member or intimate partner to use an incident or case number to request to be notified when a law enforcement agency returns a privately owned firearm to the individual from whom it was obtained or to an authorized representative of that person; and
Requires notification to any person identified in a no-contact order, restraining order, or protection order and any identified victim of the crime that resulted in the firearm surrender.
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Notification may be made via telephone, email, text message, or another method that allows notification to be provided without unnecessary delay.
If a law enforcement agency is in possession of more than one privately owned firearm from an individual, notification relating to the return of one firearm shall be considered notification for all privately owned firearms for that person.
A law enforcement agency shall not provide notification to any party other than as authorized or required under subsection (1) of this section.
The information provided by a family or household member or intimate partner pursuant to chapter 130, Laws of 2015, including the existence of the request for notification, is not subject to public disclosure pursuant to chapter 42.56 RCW.
An appointed or elected official, public employee, or public agency as defined in RCW 4.24.470, or combination of units of local government and its employees, as provided in RCW 36.28A.010, are immune from civil liability for damages for any release of information or the failure to release information related to this section, so long as the release or failure was without gross negligence.
An individual who knowingly makes a request for notification under this section based on false information may be held liable under RCW 9A.76.175.
Before a law enforcement agency returns a privately owned firearm, the law enforcement agency must:
Confirm that the individual to whom the firearm will be returned is the individual from whom the firearm was obtained or an authorized representative of that person;
Confirm that the individual to whom the firearm will be returned is eligible to possess a firearm pursuant to RCW 9.41.040;
Ensure that the firearm is not otherwise required to be held in custody or otherwise prohibited from being released; and
Ensure that twenty-four hours have elapsed from the time the firearm was obtained by law enforcement, unless the firearm was seized in connection with a domestic violence call pursuant to RCW 10.99.030, in which case the law enforcement agency must ensure that five business days have elapsed from the time the firearm was obtained.
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Once the requirements in subsections (1) and (3) of this section have been met, a law enforcement agency must release a firearm to the individual from whom it was obtained or an authorized representative of that person upon request without unnecessary delay.
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If a firearm cannot be returned because it is required to be held in custody or is otherwise prohibited from being released, a law enforcement agency must provide written notice to the individual from whom it was obtained within five business days of the individual requesting return of the firearm and specify the reason the firearm must be held in custody.
Notification may be made via email, text message, mail service, or personal service. For methods other than personal service, service shall be considered complete once the notification is sent.
If notification is required under RCW 9.41.340(1)(a) (i) or (ii), a law enforcement agency must:
Provide notice to the family or household member , intimate partner, identified victim, or person identified in a no contact order, restraining order, or a protection order within one business day of verifying that the requirements in subsection (1) of this section have been met; and
Hold the firearm in custody for seventy-two hours from the time notification has been provided.
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A law enforcement agency may not return a concealed pistol license that has been surrendered to, or impounded by, the law enforcement agency for any reason to the licensee until the law enforcement agency determines the licensee is eligible to possess a firearm under state and federal law and meets the other eligibility requirements for a concealed pistol license under RCW 9.41.070.
A law enforcement agency must release a concealed pistol license to the licensee without unnecessary delay, and in no case longer than five business days, after the law enforcement agency determines the requirements of (a) of this subsection have been met.
The provisions of chapter 130, Laws of 2015 and subsection (4) of this section shall not apply to circumstances where a law enforcement officer has momentarily obtained a firearm or concealed pistol license from an individual and would otherwise immediately return the firearm or concealed pistol license to the individual during the same interaction.
Any court when entering an order authorized under chapter 7.105 RCW, RCW 9A.46.080, 10.99.040, 10.99.045, 26.09.050, 26.09.060, 26.26B.020, or 26.26A.470 shall, upon a showing by a preponderance of the evidence, that a party has: Used, displayed, or threatened to use a firearm or other dangerous weapon in a felony, or is ineligible to possess a firearm under the provisions of RCW 9.41.040:
Require that the party immediately surrender all firearms and other dangerous weapons;
Require that the party immediately surrender any concealed pistol license issued under RCW 9.41.070;
Prohibit the party from accessing, having in the party's custody or control, possessing, purchasing, receiving, or attempting to purchase or receive, any firearms or other dangerous weapons;
Prohibit the party from obtaining or possessing a concealed pistol license;
Other than for ex parte temporary protection orders, unless the ex parte temporary protection order was reissued after the party received noticed and had an opportunity to be heard, direct law enforcement to revoke any concealed pistol license issued to the party.
During any period of time that the party is subject to a court order issued under chapter 7.105, 9A.46, 10.99, 26.09, 26.26A, or 26.26B RCW that:
Was issued after a hearing of which the party received actual notice, and at which the party had an opportunity to participate, whether the court then issues a full order or reissues a temporary order. If the court enters an agreed order by the parties without a hearing, such an order meets the requirements of this subsection;
Restrains the party from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner of the party, the protected person, or child of the intimate partner, party, or protected person, or engaging in other conduct that would place an intimate partner or protected person in reasonable fear of bodily injury to the intimate partner, protected person, or child; and
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Includes a finding that the party represents a credible threat to the physical safety of the intimate partner, protected person, or child; or
By its terms, explicitly prohibits the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the intimate partner, protected person, or child that would reasonably be expected to cause bodily injury, the court shall:
(A) Require that the party immediately surrender all firearms and other dangerous weapons;
(B) Require that the party immediately surrender a concealed pistol license issued under RCW 9.41.070;
(C) Prohibit the party from accessing, having in the party's custody or control, possessing, purchasing, receiving, or attempting to purchase or receive, any firearms or other dangerous weapons; and
(D) Prohibit the party from obtaining or possessing a concealed pistol license.
The court may order temporary surrender and prohibit the purchase of all firearms and other dangerous weapons, and any concealed pistol license, without notice to the other party if it finds, on the basis of the moving affidavit or other evidence, that irreparable injury could result if an order is not issued until the time for response has elapsed.
In addition to the provisions of subsections (1) and (3) of this section, the court may enter an order requiring a party to comply with the provisions in subsection (1) of this section if it finds that the possession of a firearm or other dangerous weapon by any party presents a serious and imminent threat to public health or safety, or to the health or safety of any individual.
The requirements of subsections (1) and (4) of this section may be for a period of time less than the duration of the order.
The court shall require the party to surrender all firearms and other dangerous weapons in the party's immediate possession or control or subject to the party's immediate possession or control, and any concealed pistol license issued under RCW 9.41.070, to the local law enforcement agency. The court may order the search for and seizure of any firearm or dangerous weapon at any location where the court has probable cause to believe the firearm or dangerous weapon is located. The court order must state with specificity the reasons for and scope of the search and seizure authorized.
Law enforcement officers shall use law enforcement databases to assist in locating the party in situations where the protected person does not know where the party lives or where there is evidence that the party is trying to evade service.
If the court enters a protection order, restraining order, or no-contact order that includes an order to surrender firearms, dangerous weapons, and any concealed pistol license under this section:
The order must be served by a law enforcement officer; and
Law enforcement must immediately ensure entry of the order to surrender and prohibit weapons and the revocation of any concealed pistol license is made into the appropriate databases making the party ineligible to possess firearms and a concealed pistol license.
Because of the heightened risk of lethality to petitioners when respondents to protection orders become aware of court involvement and continue to have access to firearms, and the frequency of noncompliance with court orders prohibiting possession of firearms, law enforcement and judicial processes must emphasize swift and certain compliance with court orders prohibiting access, possession, and ownership of all firearms.
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A law enforcement officer serving a protection order, no-contact order, or restraining order that includes an order to surrender all firearms, dangerous weapons, and a concealed pistol license under RCW 9.41.800 shall inform the respondent that the order is effective upon service and the respondent must immediately surrender all firearms and dangerous weapons in the respondent's custody, control, or possession and any concealed pistol license issued under RCW 9.41.070, and conduct any search permitted by law for such firearms, dangerous weapons, and concealed pistol license. The law enforcement officer shall take possession of all firearms, dangerous weapons, and any concealed pistol license belonging to the respondent that are surrendered, in plain sight, or discovered pursuant to a lawful search. If the order is entered in open court and the respondent appears in person, the respondent shall be provided a copy and further service is not required. If the respondent refuses to receive a copy, an agent of the court may indicate on the record that the respondent refused to receive a copy of the order. If the respondent appears remotely for the hearing, or leaves the hearing before a final ruling is issued or order signed, and the court believes the respondent has sufficient notice such that additional service is not necessary, the order must recite that the respondent appeared before the court, has actual notice of the order, the necessity for further service is waived, and proof of service of the order is not necessary. The court shall enter the service and receipt into the record. A copy of the order and service shall be transmitted immediately to law enforcement. The respondent must immediately surrender all firearms, dangerous weapons, and any concealed pistol license in a safe manner to the control of the local law enforcement agency on the day of the hearing at which the respondent was present in person or remotely.
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Because of the heightened risk of serious violence after arrest for a crime of domestic violence, when there is a high lethality designation under section 101 of this act and the court has probable cause to believe that a person serving a term of confinement for an offense requiring the surrender of firearms or other dangerous weapons continues to possess such firearms or dangerous weapons, if the court does not order a law enforcement officer to accompany the person to the location where the court has probable cause to believe the firearms or dangerous weapons are stored, it shall indicate in writing its reasons for not doing so. Nothing in this subsection affects the court's discretion to enter such an order in any other circumstances.
If a court does order a law enforcement officer to accompany the person to the location where the court has probable cause to believe the firearms or dangerous weapons are stored, the law enforcement officer must immediately take possession of any firearms or dangerous weapons the officer finds at the location.
At the time of surrender, a law enforcement officer taking possession of firearms, dangerous weapons, and any concealed pistol license shall issue a receipt identifying all firearms, dangerous weapons, and any concealed pistol license that have been surrendered and provide a copy of the receipt to the respondent. The law enforcement agency shall file the original receipt with the court within 24 hours after service of the order and retain a copy of the receipt, electronically whenever electronic filing is available.
Upon the sworn statement or testimony of the petitioner or of any law enforcement officer alleging that the respondent has failed to comply with the surrender of firearms or dangerous weapons as required by an order issued under RCW 9.41.800 or 10.99.100, the court shall determine whether probable cause exists to believe that the respondent has failed to surrender all firearms and dangerous weapons in their possession, custody, or control. If probable cause exists that a crime occurred, the court shall issue a warrant describing the firearms or dangerous weapons and authorizing a search of the locations where the firearms and dangerous weapons are reasonably believed to be and the seizure of all firearms and dangerous weapons discovered pursuant to such search.
If a person other than the respondent claims title to any firearms or dangerous weapons surrendered pursuant to this section, and the person is determined by the law enforcement agency to be the lawful owner of the firearm or dangerous weapon, the firearm or dangerous weapon shall be returned to the lawful owner, provided that:
The firearm or dangerous weapon is removed from the respondent's access, custody, control, or possession and the lawful owner agrees by written document signed under penalty of perjury to store the firearm or dangerous weapon in a manner such that the respondent does not have access to or control of the firearm or dangerous weapon;
The firearm or dangerous weapon is not otherwise unlawfully possessed by the owner; and
The requirements of RCW 9.41.345 are met.
Courts shall develop procedures to verify timely and complete compliance with orders to surrender and prohibit weapons under RCW 9.41.800 or 10.99.100, including compliance review hearings to be held as soon as possible upon receipt from law enforcement of proof of service. The court must set a review hearing to occur as soon as possible at which the respondent must be present and provide proof of compliance with the court's order. Courts shall make available forms that petitioners may complete and submit to the court in response to a respondent's declaration of whether the respondent has surrendered weapons.
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If a court finds at the compliance review hearing, or any other hearing where compliance with the order to surrender and prohibit weapons is addressed, that there is probable cause to believe the respondent was aware of and failed to fully comply with the order, failed to appear at the compliance review hearing, or violated the order after the court entered findings of compliance, pursuant to its authority under chapter 7.21 RCW, the court must issue an arrest warrant and initiate a contempt proceeding to impose remedial sanctions on its own motion, or upon the motion of the prosecutor, city attorney, or the petitioner's counsel, and issue an order requiring the respondent to appear, provide proof of compliance with the order, and show cause why the respondent should not be held in contempt of court.
If the respondent is not present in court at the compliance review hearing or if the court issues an order to appear and show cause after a compliance review hearing, the clerk of the court shall electronically transmit a copy of the order to show cause to the law enforcement agency where the respondent resides for personal service or service in the manner provided in the civil rules of superior court or applicable statute. Law enforcement shall also serve a copy of the order to show cause on the petitioner, either electronically or in person, at no cost.
The order to show cause served upon the respondent shall state the date, time, and location of the hearing and shall include a warning that the respondent may be held in contempt of court if the respondent fails to promptly comply with the terms of the order to surrender and prohibit weapons and a warning that an arrest warrant could be issued if the respondent fails to appear on the date and time provided in the order.
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At the show cause hearing, the respondent must be present and provide proof of compliance with the underlying court order to surrender and prohibit weapons and demonstrate why the relief requested should not be granted.
The court shall take judicial notice of the receipt filed with the court by the law enforcement agency pursuant to subsection (3) of this section. The court shall also provide sufficient notice to the law enforcement agency of the hearing. Upon receiving notice pursuant to this subsection, a law enforcement agency must:
(A) Provide the court with a complete list of firearms and other dangerous weapons surrendered by the respondent or otherwise belonging to the respondent that are in the possession of the law enforcement agency; and
(B) Provide the court with verification that any concealed pistol license issued to the respondent has been surrendered and the agency with authority to revoke the license has been notified.
iii. If the law enforcement agency has a reasonable suspicion that the respondent is not in full compliance with the terms of the order, the law enforcement agency must submit the basis for its belief to the court, and may do so through the filing of a declaration.
e. If the court finds the respondent in contempt, the court may impose remedial sanctions designed to ensure swift compliance with the order to surrender and prohibit weapons.
f. The court may order a respondent found in contempt of the order to surrender and prohibit weapons to pay for any losses incurred by a party in connection with the contempt proceeding, including reasonable attorneys' fees, service fees, and other costs. The costs of the proceeding shall not be borne by the petitioner.
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To help ensure that accurate and comprehensive information about firearms compliance is provided to judicial officers, a representative from either the prosecuting attorney's office or city attorney's office, or both, from the relevant jurisdiction may appear and be heard or submit written information at any hearing that concerns compliance with an order to surrender and prohibit weapons issued in connection with another type of protection order.
Either the prosecuting attorney's office or city attorney's office, or both, from the relevant jurisdiction may designate an advocate or a staff person from their office who is not an attorney to appear on behalf of their office. Such appearance does not constitute the unauthorized practice of law.
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An order to surrender and prohibit weapons issued pursuant to RCW 9.41.800 must state that the act of voluntarily surrendering firearms or weapons, or providing testimony relating to the surrender of firearms or weapons, pursuant to such an order, may not be used against the respondent in any criminal prosecution under this chapter, chapter 7.105 RCW, or RCW 9A.56.310.
To provide relevant information to the court to determine compliance with the order, the court may allow the prosecuting attorney or city attorney to question the respondent regarding compliance.
All law enforcement agencies must have policies and procedures to provide for the acceptance, storage, and return of firearms, dangerous weapons, and concealed pistol licenses that a court requires must be surrendered under RCW 9.41.800. A law enforcement agency holding any firearm or concealed pistol license that has been surrendered under RCW 9.41.800 shall comply with the provisions of RCW 9.41.340 and 9.41.345 before the return of the firearm or concealed pistol license to the owner or individual from whom it was obtained.
The administrative office of the courts shall create a statewide pattern form to assist the courts in ensuring timely and complete compliance in a consistent manner with orders issued under this chapter. The administrative office of the courts shall report annually on the number of orders issued under this chapter by each court, the degree of compliance, and the number of firearms obtained, and may make recommendations regarding additional procedures to enhance compliance and victim safety.
Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, a party ordered to surrender firearms, dangerous weapons, and the party's concealed pistol license under RCW 9.41.800 must file with the clerk of the court a proof of surrender and receipt form or a declaration of nonsurrender form within five judicial days of the entry of the order.
A person ordered to surrender firearms or dangerous weapons under RCW 10.99.100 must file with the clerk of the court a proof of surrender and receipt form or a declaration of nonsurrender form before the defendant is released from any term of confinement, or, if the defendant is not sentenced to a term of confinement, before the conclusion of the hearing regarding the entry of the order.
Upon the issuance of any extreme risk protection order under this chapter, including a temporary extreme risk protection order:
The court shall:
Order the respondent to surrender to the local law enforcement agency all firearms in the respondent's custody, control, or possession, and any concealed pistol license issued under RCW 9.41.070; and
Other than for ex parte temporary protection orders, direct law enforcement to revoke any concealed pistol license issued to the respondent;
The court may order the search for and seizure of any firearm or dangerous weapon at any location where the court has probable cause to believe the firearm or dangerous weapon is located. The court order must state with specificity the reasons for and scope of the search and seizure authorized.
The law enforcement officer serving any extreme risk protection order under this chapter, including a temporary extreme risk protection order, shall request that the respondent immediately surrender all firearms in the respondent's custody, control, or possession, and any concealed pistol license issued under RCW 9.41.070, and conduct any search permitted by law for such firearms. The law enforcement officer shall take possession of all firearms belonging to the respondent that are surrendered, in plain sight, or discovered pursuant to a lawful search. If the order is entered in open court and the respondent appears in person, the respondent must be provided a copy and further service is not required. If the respondent refuses to accept a copy, an agent of the court may indicate on the record that the respondent refused to accept a copy of the order. If the respondent appears remotely for the hearing, or leaves the hearing before a final ruling is issued or order signed, and the court believes the respondent has sufficient notice such that additional service is not necessary, the order must recite that the respondent appeared before the court, has actual notice of the order, the necessity for further service is waived, and proof of service of the order is not necessary. The court shall enter the service and receipt into the record. A copy of the order and service must be transmitted immediately to law enforcement. The respondent must immediately surrender all firearms and any concealed pistol license, not previously surrendered, in a safe manner to the control of the local law enforcement agency on the day of the hearing at which the respondent was present in person or remotely. If the respondent is in custody, arrangements to recover the firearms must be made prior to release. Alternatively, if personal service by a law enforcement officer is not possible, and the respondent did not appear in person or remotely at the hearing, the respondent shall surrender the firearms in a safe manner to the control of the local law enforcement agency within 24 hours of being served with the order by alternate service.
At the time of surrender, a law enforcement officer taking possession of a firearm or concealed pistol license shall issue a receipt identifying all firearms that have been surrendered and provide a copy of the receipt to the respondent. Within 72 hours after service of the order, the officer serving the order shall file the original receipt with the court and shall ensure that the officer's law enforcement agency retains a copy of the receipt.
Upon the sworn statement or testimony of the petitioner or of any law enforcement officer alleging that the respondent has failed to comply with the surrender of firearms as required by an order issued under this chapter, the court shall determine whether probable cause exists to believe that the respondent has failed to surrender all firearms in the respondent's possession, custody, or control. If probable cause for a violation of the order exists, the court shall issue a warrant describing the firearms and authorizing a search of the locations where the firearms are reasonably believed to be and the seizure of any firearms discovered pursuant to such search.
If a person other than the respondent claims title to any firearms surrendered pursuant to this section, and that person is determined by the law enforcement agency to be the lawful owner of the firearm, the firearm must be returned to that person, provided that:
The firearm is removed from the respondent's custody, control, or possession, and the lawful owner provides written verification to the court regarding how the lawful owner will safely store the firearm in a manner such that the respondent does not have access to, or control of, the firearm for the duration of the order;
The court advises the lawful owner of the penalty for failure to do so; and
The firearm is not otherwise unlawfully possessed by the owner.
Upon the issuance of a one-year extreme risk protection order, the court shall order a new compliance review hearing date and require the respondent to appear not later than three judicial days from the issuance of the order. The court shall require a showing that the respondent has surrendered any firearms in the respondent's custody, control, or possession, and any concealed pistol license issued under RCW 9.41.070 to a law enforcement agency. The compliance review hearing is not required upon a satisfactory showing on which the court can otherwise enter findings on the record that the respondent has timely and completely surrendered all firearms in the respondent's custody, control, or possession, and any concealed pistol license issued under RCW 9.41.070 to a law enforcement agency, and is in compliance with the order. If the court does not have a sufficient record before it on which to make such a finding, the court must set a review hearing to occur as soon as possible, at which the respondent must be present and provide proof of compliance with the court's order.
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If a court finds at the compliance review hearing, or any other hearing where compliance with the order is addressed, that there is probable cause to believe the respondent was aware of, and failed to fully comply with, the order, failed to appear at the compliance review hearing, or violated the order after the court entered findings of compliance, pursuant to its authority under chapter 7.21 RCW, the court may initiate a contempt proceeding on its own motion, or upon the motion of the prosecutor, city attorney, or the petitioner's counsel, to impose remedial sanctions, and issue an order requiring the respondent to appear, provide proof of compliance with the order, and show cause why the respondent should not be held in contempt of court.
If the respondent is not present in court at the compliance review hearing or if the court issues an order to appear and show cause after a compliance review hearing, the clerk of the court shall electronically transmit a copy of the order to show cause to the law enforcement agency where the respondent resides for personal service or service in the manner provided in the civil rules of superior court or applicable statute.
The order to show cause served upon the respondent shall state the date, time, and location of the hearing, and shall include a warning that the respondent may be held in contempt of court if the respondent fails to promptly comply with the terms of the extreme risk protection order and a warning that an arrest warrant could be issued if the respondent fails to appear on the date and time provided in the order to show cause.
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At the show cause hearing, the respondent must be present and provide proof of compliance with the extreme risk protection order and demonstrate why the relief requested should not be granted.
The court shall take judicial notice of the receipt filed with the court by the law enforcement agency pursuant to subsection (3) of this section. The court shall also provide sufficient notice to the law enforcement agency of the hearing. Upon receiving notice pursuant to this subsection, a law enforcement agency must:
(A) Provide the court with a complete list of firearms surrendered by the respondent or otherwise belonging to the respondent that are in the possession of the law enforcement agency; and
(B) Provide the court with verification that any concealed pistol license issued to the respondent has been surrendered and that a law enforcement agency with authority to revoke the license has been notified.
iii. If the law enforcement agency has a reasonable suspicion that the respondent is not in full compliance with the terms of the order, the law enforcement agency must submit the basis for its belief to the court, and may do so through the filing of an affidavit.
e. If the court finds the respondent in contempt, the court may impose remedial sanctions designed to ensure swift compliance with the order to surrender and prohibit weapons.
f. The court may order a respondent found in contempt of the order to pay for any losses incurred by a party in connection with the contempt proceeding, including reasonable attorneys' fees, service fees, and other costs. The costs of the proceeding must not be borne by the petitioner.
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To help ensure that accurate and comprehensive information about firearms compliance is provided to judicial officers, a representative from either the prosecuting attorney's office or city attorney's office, or both, from the relevant jurisdiction may appear and be heard or submit written information at any hearing that concerns compliance with an extreme risk protection order.
Either the prosecuting attorney's office or city attorney's office, or both, from the relevant jurisdiction may designate an advocate or a staff person from their office who is not an attorney to appear on behalf of their office. Such appearance does not constitute the unauthorized practice of law.
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An extreme risk protection order must state that the act of voluntarily surrendering firearms, or providing testimony relating to the surrender of firearms, pursuant to such an order, may not be used against the respondent in any criminal prosecution under this chapter, chapter 9.41 RCW, or RCW 9A.56.310.
To provide relevant information to the court to determine compliance with the order, the court may allow the prosecuting attorney or city attorney to question the respondent regarding compliance.
All law enforcement agencies must develop and implement policies and procedures regarding the acceptance, storage, and return of firearms required to be surrendered under this chapter. Any surrendered firearms must be handled and stored properly to prevent damage or degradation in appearance or function, and the condition of the surrendered firearms documented, including by digital photograph. A law enforcement agency holding any surrendered firearm or concealed pistol license shall comply with the provisions of RCW 9.41.340 and 9.41.345 before the return of the firearm or concealed pistol license to the owner or individual from whom it was obtained.
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An adult person, a parent or guardian acting on behalf of a minor, or a guardian acting on behalf of an incapacitated person, (b) any election official as described in RCW 9A.90.120 who is a target for threats or harassment prohibited under RCW 9A.90.120(2)(b) (iii) or (iv), and any person residing with them, and (c) any criminal justice participant as defined in RCW 9A.46.020 who is a target for threats or harassment prohibited under RCW 9A.46.020(2)(b) (iii) or (iv) and any criminal justice participant as defined in RCW 9A.90.120 who is a target for threats or harassment prohibited under RCW 9A.90.120(2)(b) (iii) or (iv), and any person residing with them, may apply to the secretary of state to have an address designated by the secretary of state serve as the person's address or the address of the minor or incapacitated person. The secretary of state shall approve an application if it is filed in the manner and on the form prescribed by the secretary of state and if it contains:
A sworn statement, under penalty of perjury, by the applicant that the applicant has good reason to believe (A) that the applicant, or the minor or incapacitated person on whose behalf the application is made, is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, or stalking and that the applicant fears for the applicant's safety or the applicant's children's safety, or the safety of the minor or incapacitated person on whose behalf the application is made (B) that the applicant, as an election official as described in RCW 9A.90.120, is a target for threats or harassment prohibited under RCW 9A.90.120(2)(b) (iii) or (iv); or (C) that the applicant, as a criminal justice participant as defined in RCW 9A.46.020, is a target for threats or harassment prohibited under RCW 9A.46.020(2)(b) (iii) or (iv), or that the applicant, as a criminal justice participant as defined in RCW 9A.90.120 is a target for threats or harassment prohibited under RCW 9A.90.120(2)(b) (iii) or (iv);
If applicable, a sworn statement, under penalty of perjury, by the applicant, that the applicant has reason to believe they are a victim of (A) domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking perpetrated by an employee of a law enforcement agency, or (B) threats or harassment prohibited under RCW 9A.90.120(2)(b) (iii) or (iv) or 9A.46.020(2)(b) (iii) or (iv);
A designation of the secretary of state as agent for purposes of service of process and for the purpose of receipt of mail;
The residential address and any telephone number where the applicant can be contacted by the secretary of state, which shall not be disclosed because disclosure will increase the risk of (A) domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, or stalking, or (B) threats or harassment prohibited under RCW 9A.90.120(2)(b) (iii) or (iv) or 9A.46.020(2)(b) (iii) or (iv);
The signature of the applicant and of any individual or representative of any office designated in writing under RCW 40.24.080 who assisted in the preparation of the application, and the date on which the applicant signed the application.
Applications shall be filed with the office of the secretary of state.
Upon filing a properly completed application, the secretary of state shall certify the applicant as a program participant. Applicants shall be certified for four years following the date of filing unless the certification is withdrawn or invalidated before that date. The secretary of state shall by rule establish a renewal procedure.
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During the application process, the secretary of state shall provide each applicant a form to direct the department of licensing to change the address of registration for vehicles or vessels solely or jointly registered to the applicant and the address associated with the applicant's driver's license or identicard to the applicant's address as designated by the secretary of state upon certification in the program. The directive to the department of licensing is only valid if signed by the applicant. The directive may only include information required by the department of licensing to verify the applicant's identity and ownership information for vehicles and vessels. This information is limited to the:
Applicant's full legal name;
Applicant's Washington driver's license or identicard number;
Applicant's date of birth;
Vehicle identification number and license plate number for each vehicle solely or jointly registered to the applicant; and
Hull identification number or vessel document number and vessel decal number for each vessel solely or jointly registered to the applicant.
Upon certification of the applicants, the secretary of state shall transmit completed and signed directives to the department of licensing.
Within 30 days of receiving a completed and signed directive, the department of licensing shall update the applicant's address on registration and licensing records.
Applicants are not required to sign the directive to the department of licensing to be certified as a program participant.
A person who knowingly provides false or incorrect information upon making an application or falsely attests in an application that disclosure of the applicant's address would endanger (a) the applicant's safety or the safety of the applicant's children or the minor or incapacitated person on whose behalf the application is made, (b) the safety of any election official as described in RCW 9A.90.120 who is a target for threats or harassment prohibited under RCW 9A.90.120(2)(b) (iii) or (iv), or (c) the safety of any criminal justice participant as defined in RCW 9A.46.020 who is a target for threats or harassment prohibited under RCW 9A.46.020(2)(b) (iii) or (iv) or of any criminal justice participant as defined in RCW 9A.90.120 who is a target for threats or harassment prohibited under RCW 9A.90.120(2)(b) (iii) or (iv), or any family members residing with them, shall be punished under RCW 40.16.030 or other applicable statutes.
The statement of financial affairs required by RCW 42.17A.700 shall disclose the following information for the reporting individual and each member of the reporting individual's immediate family:
Occupation, name of employer, and business address;
Each bank account, savings account, and insurance policy in which a direct financial interest was held that exceeds twenty thousand dollars at any time during the reporting period; each other item of intangible personal property in which a direct financial interest was held that exceeds two thousand dollars during the reporting period; the name, address, and nature of the entity; and the nature and highest value of each direct financial interest during the reporting period;
The name and address of each creditor to whom the value of two thousand dollars or more was owed; the original amount of each debt to each creditor; the amount of each debt owed to each creditor as of the date of filing; the terms of repayment of each debt; and the security given, if any, for each such debt. Debts arising from a "retail installment transaction" as defined in chapter 63.14 RCW (retail installment sales act) need not be reported;
Every public or private office, directorship, and position held as trustee; except that an elected official or executive state officer need not report the elected official's or executive state officer's service on a governmental board, commission, association, or functional equivalent, when such service is part of the elected official's or executive state officer's official duties;
All persons for whom any legislation, rule, rate, or standard has been prepared, promoted, or opposed for current or deferred compensation. For the purposes of this subsection, "compensation" does not include payments made to the person reporting by the governmental entity for which the person serves as an elected official or state executive officer or professional staff member for the person's service in office; the description of such actual or proposed legislation, rules, rates, or standards; and the amount of current or deferred compensation paid or promised to be paid;
The name and address of each governmental entity, corporation, partnership, joint venture, sole proprietorship, association, union, or other business or commercial entity from whom compensation has been received in any form of a total value of two thousand dollars or more; the value of the compensation; and the consideration given or performed in exchange for the compensation;
The name of any corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, union, or other entity in which is held any office, directorship, or any general partnership interest, or an ownership interest of ten percent or more; the name or title of that office, directorship, or partnership; the nature of ownership interest; and: (i) With respect to a governmental unit in which the official seeks or holds any office or position, if the entity has received compensation in any form during the preceding twelve months from the governmental unit, the value of the compensation and the consideration given or performed in exchange for the compensation; and (ii) the name of each governmental unit, corporation, partnership, joint venture, sole proprietorship, association, union, or other business or commercial entity from which the entity has received compensation in any form in the amount of ten thousand dollars or more during the preceding twelve months and the consideration given or performed in exchange for the compensation. As used in (g)(ii) of this subsection, "compensation" does not include payment for water and other utility services at rates approved by the Washington state utilities and transportation commission or the legislative authority of the public entity providing the service. With respect to any bank or commercial lending institution in which is held any office, directorship, partnership interest, or ownership interest, it shall only be necessary to report either the name, address, and occupation of every director and officer of the bank or commercial lending institution and the average monthly balance of each account held during the preceding twelve months by the bank or commercial lending institution from the governmental entity for which the individual is an official or candidate or professional staff member, or all interest paid by a borrower on loans from and all interest paid to a depositor by the bank or commercial lending institution if the interest exceeds two thousand four hundred dollars;
A list, including legal or other sufficient descriptions as prescribed by the commission, of all real property in the state of Washington, the assessed valuation of which exceeds ten thousand dollars in which any direct financial interest was acquired during the preceding calendar year, and a statement of the amount and nature of the financial interest and of the consideration given in exchange for that interest;
A list, including legal or other sufficient descriptions as prescribed by the commission, of all real property in the state of Washington, the assessed valuation of which exceeds ten thousand dollars in which any direct financial interest was divested during the preceding calendar year, and a statement of the amount and nature of the consideration received in exchange for that interest, and the name and address of the person furnishing the consideration;
A list, including legal or other sufficient descriptions as prescribed by the commission, of all real property in the state of Washington, the assessed valuation of which exceeds ten thousand dollars in which a direct financial interest was held. If a description of the property has been included in a report previously filed, the property may be listed, for purposes of this subsection (1)(j), by reference to the previously filed report;
A list, including legal or other sufficient descriptions as prescribed by the commission, of all real property in the state of Washington, the assessed valuation of which exceeds twenty thousand dollars, in which a corporation, partnership, firm, enterprise, or other entity had a direct financial interest, in which corporation, partnership, firm, or enterprise a ten percent or greater ownership interest was held;
A list of each occasion, specifying date, donor, and amount, at which food and beverage in excess of fifty dollars was accepted under RCW 42.52.150(5);
A list of each occasion, specifying date, donor, and amount, at which items specified in RCW 42.52.010(9) (d) and (f) were accepted; and
Such other information as the commission may deem necessary in order to properly carry out the purposes and policies of this chapter, as the commission shall prescribe by rule.
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When judges, prosecutors, sheriffs, participants in the address confidentiality program under RCW 40.24.030, or their immediate family members are required to disclose real property that is the personal residence of the judge, prosecutor, sheriff, or address confidentiality program participant, the requirements of subsection (1)(h) through (k) of this section may be satisfied for that property by substituting:
The city or town;
The type of residence, such as a single-family or multifamily residence, and the nature of ownership; and
Such other identifying information the commission prescribes by rule for the mailing address where the property is located.
Nothing in this subsection relieves the judge, prosecutor, or sheriff of any other applicable obligations to disclose potential conflicts or to recuse oneself.
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b.
Code A
Less than thirty thousand dollars;
Code B
At least thirty thousand dollars, but less than sixty thousand dollars;
Code C
At least sixty thousand dollars, but less than one hundred thousand dollars;
Code D
At least one hundred thousand dollars, but less than two hundred thousand dollars;
Code E
At least two hundred thousand dollars, but less than five hundred thousand dollars;
Code F
At least five hundred thousand dollars, but less than seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars;
Code G
At least seven hundred fifty thousand dollars, but less than one million dollars; or
Code H
One million dollars or more.
c. An amount of stock may be reported by number of shares instead of by market value. No provision of this subsection may be interpreted to prevent any person from filing more information or more detailed information than required.
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If a tenant notifies the landlord in writing that the tenant or a household member was a victim of an act that constitutes a crime of domestic violence, sexual assault, unlawful harassment, or stalking, and either (a)(i) or (ii) of this subsection applies, then subsection (2) of this section applies:
The tenant or the household member has a domestic violence protection order, sexual assault protection order, stalking protection order, or antiharassment protection order under chapter 7.105 RCW, or a valid order for protection under one or more of the following: Chapter 26.26A or 26.26B RCW, or any of the former chapters 7.90 and 26.50 RCW, or RCW 9A.46.040, 9A.46.050, 10.99.040 (2) or (3), or 26.09.050, or former RCW 10.14.080; or
The tenant or the household member has reported the domestic violence, sexual assault, unlawful harassment, or stalking to a qualified third party acting in the party's official capacity and the qualified third party has provided the tenant or the household member a written record of the report signed by the qualified third party.
When a copy of a valid order for protection or a written record of a report signed by a qualified third party, as required under (a) of this subsection, is made available to the landlord, the tenant may terminate the rental agreement and quit the premises without further obligation under the rental agreement or under this chapter. A record of the report to a qualified third party that is provided to the tenant or household member shall consist of a document signed and dated by the qualified third party stating: (i) That the tenant or the household member notified the qualified third party that the tenant or household member was a victim of an act or acts that constitute a crime of domestic violence, sexual assault, unlawful harassment, or stalking; (ii) the time and date the act or acts occurred; (iii) the location where the act or acts occurred; (iv) a brief description of the act or acts of domestic violence, sexual assault, unlawful harassment, or stalking; and (v) that the tenant or household member informed the qualified third party of the name of the alleged perpetrator of the act or acts. The record of the report provided to the tenant or household member shall not include the name of the alleged perpetrator of the act or acts of domestic violence, sexual assault, unlawful harassment, or stalking. The qualified third party shall keep a copy of the record of the report and shall note on the retained copy the name of the alleged perpetrator of the act or acts of domestic violence, sexual assault, unlawful harassment, or stalking. The record of the report to a qualified third party may be accomplished by completion of a form provided by the qualified third party, in substantially the following form:
[Name of organization, agency, clinic, professional service provider]
I and/or my . . . . . . (household member) am/is a victim of
. . . domestic violence as defined by RCW 7.105.010.
. . . sexual assault as defined by RCW 70.125.030.
. . . stalking as defined by RCW 9A.46.110.
. . . unlawful harassment as defined by RCW 59.18.570.
Briefly describe the incident of domestic violence, sexual assault, unlawful harassment, or stalking:
The incident(s) that I rely on in support of this declaration occurred on the following date(s) and time(s) and at the following location(s): .
The incident(s) that I rely on in support of this declaration were committed by the following person(s):
I state under penalty of perjury under the laws of the state of Washington that the foregoing is true and correct. Dated at . . . . . . . . . . (city) . ., Washington, this . . . day of . . . ., . . . . (year)
Signature of Tenant or
Household Member
I verify that I have provided to the person whose signature appears above the statutes cited in RCW 59.18.575 and that the individual was a victim of an act that constitutes a crime of domestic violence, sexual assault, unlawful harassment, or stalking, and that the individual informed me of the name of the alleged perpetrator of the act. I further verify that I have informed the person whose signature appears above that information about the landlord mitigation program can be found on the website established pursuant to RCW 43.31.605(11), including the form developed pursuant to RCW 43.31.605(1)(d)(iv).
Dated this . . . day of . . . ., . . . . (year)
Signature of authorized officer/employee of (Organization, agency, clinic, professional service provider)
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A tenant who terminates a rental agreement under this section is discharged from the payment of rent for any period following the last day of the month of the quitting date. The tenant shall remain liable for the rent for the month in which the tenant terminated the rental agreement unless the termination is in accordance with RCW 59.18.200(1).
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Notwithstanding lease provisions that allow for forfeiture of a deposit for early termination, a tenant who terminates under this section is entitled to the return of the full deposit, subject to RCW 59.18.020 and 59.18.280.
If the landlord seeks reimbursement for damages from the landlord mitigation program pursuant to RCW 43.31.605(1)(d), the landlord is prohibited from retaining any portion of the tenant's damage or security deposit or proceeding against the tenant who terminates under this section to recover sums exceeding the amount of the tenant's damage or security deposit for damage to the property.
Other tenants who are parties to the rental agreement, except household members who are the victims of sexual assault, stalking, unlawful harassment, or domestic violence, are not released from their obligations under the rental agreement or other obligations under this chapter.
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Notwithstanding any other provision under this section, if a tenant or a household member is a victim of sexual assault, stalking, or unlawful harassment by a landlord, the tenant may terminate the rental agreement and quit the premises without further obligation under the rental agreement or under this chapter prior to making a copy of a valid order for protection or a written record of a report signed by a qualified third party available to the landlord, provided that:
The tenant must deliver a copy of a valid order for protection or written record of a report signed by a qualified third party to the landlord by mail, fax, or personal delivery by a third party within seven days of quitting the tenant's dwelling unit; and
A written record of a report signed by the qualified third party must be substantially in the form specified under subsection (1)(b) of this section. The record of the report provided to the landlord must not include the name of the alleged perpetrator of the act. On written request by the landlord, the qualified third party shall, within seven days, provide the name of the alleged perpetrator of the act to the landlord only if the alleged perpetrator was a person meeting the definition of the term "landlord" under RCW 59.18.570.
A tenant who terminates a rental agreement under this subsection is discharged from the payment of rent for any period following the latter of: (i) The date the tenant vacates the unit; or (ii) the date the record of the report of the qualified third party and the written notice that the tenant has vacated are delivered to the landlord by mail, fax, or personal delivery by a third party. The tenant is entitled to a pro rata refund of any prepaid rent and must receive a full and specific statement of the basis for retaining any of the deposit together with any refund due in accordance with RCW 59.18.280.
If a tenant or a household member is a victim of sexual assault, stalking, or unlawful harassment by a landlord, the tenant may change or add locks to the tenant's dwelling unit at the tenant's expense. If a tenant exercises the tenant's rights to change or add locks, the following rules apply:
Within seven days of changing or adding locks, the tenant must deliver to the landlord by mail, fax, or personal delivery by a third party: (i) Written notice that the tenant has changed or added locks; and (ii) a copy of a valid order for protection or a written record of a report signed by a qualified third party. A written record of a report signed by a qualified third party must be substantially in the form specified under subsection (1)(b) of this section. The record of the report provided to the landlord must not include the name of the alleged perpetrator of the act. On written request by the landlord, the qualified third party shall, within seven days, provide the name of the alleged perpetrator to the landlord only if the alleged perpetrator was a person meeting the definition of the term "landlord" under RCW 59.18.570.
After the tenant provides notice to the landlord that the tenant has changed or added locks, the tenant's rental agreement shall terminate on the ninetieth day after providing such notice, unless:
Within sixty days of providing notice that the tenant has changed or added locks, the tenant notifies the landlord in writing that the tenant does not wish to terminate the rental agreement. If the perpetrator has been identified by the qualified third party and is no longer an employee or agent of the landlord or owner and does not reside at the property, the tenant shall provide the owner or owner's designated agent with a copy of the key to the new locks at the same time as providing notice that the tenant does not wish to terminate the rental agreement. A tenant who has a valid protection, antiharassment, or other protective order against the owner of the premises or against an employee or agent of the landlord or owner is not required to provide a key to the new locks until the protective order expires or the tenant vacates; or
The tenant exercises the tenant's rights to terminate the rental agreement under subsection (3) of this section within sixty days of providing notice that the tenant has changed or added locks.
After a landlord receives notice that a tenant has changed or added locks to the tenant's dwelling unit under (a) of this subsection, the landlord may not enter the tenant's dwelling unit except as follows:
In the case of an emergency, the landlord may enter the unit if accompanied by a law enforcement or fire official acting in an official capacity. If the landlord reasonably concludes that the circumstances require immediate entry into the unit, the landlord may, after notifying emergency services, use such force as necessary to enter the unit if the tenant is not present; or
The landlord complies with the requirements of RCW 59.18.150 and clearly specifies in writing the time and date that the landlord intends to enter the unit and the purpose for entering the unit. The tenant must make arrangements to permit access by the landlord.
The exercise of rights to change or add locks under this subsection does not discharge the tenant from the payment of rent until the rental agreement is terminated and the tenant vacates the unit.
The tenant may not change any locks to common areas and must make keys for new locks available to other household members.
Upon vacating the dwelling unit, the tenant must deliver the key and all copies of the key to the landlord by mail or personal delivery by a third party.
A tenant's remedies under this section do not preempt any other legal remedy available to the tenant.
The provision of verification of a report under subsection (1)(b) of this section does not waive the confidential or privileged nature of the communication between a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking with a qualified third party pursuant to RCW 5.60.060, 70.123.075, or 70.125.065. No record or evidence obtained from such disclosure may be used in any civil, administrative, or criminal proceeding against the victim unless a written waiver of applicable evidentiary privilege is obtained, except that the verification itself, and no other privileged information, under subsection (1)(b) of this section may be used in civil proceedings brought under this section.
Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the commission must administer a grant program for establishing a statewide resource prosecutor for domestic violence cases.
The grant recipient must be a statewide organization or association representing prosecuting attorneys. The grant recipient must hire a resource prosecutor for the following purposes:
To provide technical assistance and research to prosecutors for prosecuting domestic violence cases;
To provide training on implementation and enforcement of orders to surrender and prohibit weapons, extreme risk protection orders, first appearances, case resolution, duties regarding recovery of firearms at the scene of domestic violence incidents, service of orders to surrender weapons and extreme risk protection orders, and firearm rights restoration petitions for domestic violence perpetrators;
To provide additional training and resources to prosecutors to support a trauma-informed, victim-centered approach to prosecuting domestic violence cases;
To meet regularly with law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to explain legal issues and prosecutorial approaches to domestic violence cases and provide and receive feedback to improve case outcomes;
To provide additional training and resources related to electronic monitoring with victim notification technology to prosecutors, law enforcement officers, judges, domestic violence agencies, attorneys representing domestic violence survivors, and others deemed appropriate after consultation with the commission;
To consult with the commission with respect to developing and implementing best practices for prosecuting domestic violence cases across the state; and
To comply with other requirements established by the commission under this section.
The commission may establish additional appropriate conditions for any grant awarded under this section. The commission may adopt necessary policies and procedures to implement and administer the grant program, including monitoring the use of grant funds and compliance with the grant requirements.
Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the department shall administer a pilot program to implement domestic violence high risk teams. A domestic violence high risk team must, at a minimum, include the following four elements:
Early identification of the most dangerous cases through evidence-based lethality assessments;
Increased access to supportive services for high-risk victims;
Increased perpetrator monitoring and accountability; and
A coordinated response to high-risk cases through a multidisciplinary team.
A domestic violence program must be the lead or co-lead of the domestic violence high risk teams.
When there is a high lethality designation under section 101 of this act in a civil or criminal domestic violence proceeding, the court must refer the case to a domestic violence high risk team, if a team is available in the relevant jurisdiction. If potentially high risk cases are identified through other means, such as shots fired programs or other reports or investigations, those cases may also be referred to a domestic violence high risk team.
The department may scale the pilot program within the limits of appropriated funds, but at least five teams must be available west of the crest of the Cascade mountains and five teams east of the crest of the Cascade mountains.
By January 1, 2025, the department must establish the office of the statewide domestic violence ombuds to promote and protect the rights of victims of domestic violence and to ensure the intent of chapter 10.99 RCW is fulfilled.
The office of the statewide domestic violence ombuds must:
Receive, investigate, and attempt to address and resolve complaints related to the treatment of victims of domestic violence across systems, including both the civil and criminal legal systems;
Implement a statewide case review system for civil domestic violence protection orders to examine and report on irregularities in rulings and judicial officer conduct; and
Implement a statewide case review system for criminal domestic violence protection cases to examine and report on law enforcement responses and investigations, prosecutorial behavior, irregularities in rulings, and the conduct of judicial officers. The case review system must review cases from diverse geographic regions of the state and must include:
(A) The percentage of domestic violence protection order petitions that result in a full protection order being issued and regional variances therein; and
(B) Categories of the bases upon which domestic violence protection orders are issued and the percentages of granted protection orders in each category, including physical violence, stalking, coercive control, and sexual assault;
ii. Trained volunteers who will provide both real-time case reviews in court and reviews of recorded court proceedings;
iii. Information on the percentage of intimate partner violence police reports that lead to charges and the conviction rate for these charges; and
iv. A review of case files from law enforcement agencies and prosecuting attorneys selected by the office of the statewide domestic violence ombuds in order to identify changes to training, investigatory, and prosecutorial practices necessary to optimize outcomes in domestic violence investigations and prosecutions. The review must include:
(A) An evaluation of whether current training and practices foster a trauma-informed, victim-centered approach, and whether practices prevent domestic violence homicides;
(B) A comparison of arrests, charges, and convictions, including an analysis of the reasons why prosecutors decline to file charges; and
(C) Randomly selected cases for a systematic review to assess whether current practices conform to national best practices for a multidisciplinary approach to investigating and prosecuting domestic violence cases and interacting with survivors.
The case review system may review and access files, including all reports and recordings, pertaining to closed cases involving allegations of domestic violence. Any law enforcement agency or prosecuting attorney selected for a review by the office of the statewide domestic violence ombuds must make requested case files and other documents available to the office of the statewide domestic violence ombuds, provided that the case files are not linked to ongoing, open investigations and that redactions may be made where appropriate and necessary. Agencies and prosecuting attorneys must include available information on the race and ethnicity of all victims in the relevant case files provided to the office of the statewide domestic violence ombuds. Case files and other documents must be made available to the office of the statewide domestic violence ombuds according to appropriate deadlines established by the office of the statewide domestic violence ombuds in consultation with the agency or prosecuting attorney.
In designing and conducting the case review system, the office of the statewide domestic violence ombuds must consult and collaborate with experts in trauma-informed and victim-centered training, experts in domestic violence investigations and prosecutions, domestic violence survivors, domestic violence victim advocates, and other stakeholders identified by the office of the statewide domestic violence ombuds. The office of the statewide domestic violence ombuds may form a multidisciplinary work group for the purpose of carrying out the requirements of this section.
The office of the statewide domestic violence ombuds must provide semiannual reports to the governor, the supreme court, and the appropriate committees of the legislature.
The University of Washington must establish a center of excellence in domestic violence research, policy, and practice. The center is created to:
Conduct scientifically rigorous intimate partner violence research that informs policy and practice in Washington and serves as a national model;
Promote a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to addressing intimate partner violence, informed by community members and practitioners;
Collaborate with and be informed by survivors and community and governmental agencies that interact with and provide services to those affected by intimate partner violence;
Disseminate research findings to assist in the development of evidence-based intimate partner violence policy and practice; and
Assist in the support, success, and continued training of intimate partner violence research scholars.
The center must:
Establish an advisory council for the center with representation from relevant disciplines across the University of Washington, representatives from systems that interact with domestic violence victims and perpetrators, and intimate partner violence community groups in order to guide development of the center's overarching goals and strategic vision. The advisory council will also assist center leadership and core center faculty in identifying priority areas of research to best inform intimate partner violence policy and practice;
Award research grants to facilitate timely generation of data and research results to inform the legislature and others on key policy or practice-related issues relevant to those affected by intimate partner violence;
Generate an annual report beginning December 1, 2024, on the state of domestic violence in Washington, including available prevalence data;
Conduct listening sessions with survivors of intimate partner violence statewide, including survivors in urban and rural areas, black survivors, indigenous survivors, survivors of color, and survivors who identify as part of the LGBTQ community;
Provide presentations and research-informed training to system actors, including domestic violence victim advocates;
Convene an annual statewide domestic violence summit. The first summit must occur by June 30, 2025;
Develop a statewide strategic plan to reduce intimate partner violence and increase support for victims. The preliminary strategic plan is due December 1, 2025, and must be updated every five years thereafter; and
Undertake a body of work related to domestic violence intervention treatment. This must include:
Executing a robust, multiyear research study to test the efficacy of various therapeutic interventions for domestic violence perpetrators aimed at reducing intimate partner violence, including intimate terrorism as defined in RCW 10.99.020. Treatment interventions may vary, but must include internal family systems and an evidence-based intervention for the treatment of suicidality, such as the collaborative assessment and management of suicidality or dialectical behavioral therapy; and
Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the commission must provide ongoing specialized, intensive, and integrative training for persons responsible for investigating domestic violence cases involving intimate partners. The training must be based on a victim-centered, trauma-informed approach to responding to domestic violence. Among other subjects, the training must include content on the neurobiology of trauma and trauma-informed interviewing, counseling, and investigative techniques.
The training must: Be based on research-based practices and standards; offer participants an opportunity to practice interview skills and receive feedback from instructors; minimize the trauma of all persons who are interviewed during investigations; provide methods of reducing the number of investigative interviews necessary whenever possible; assure, to the extent possible, that investigative interviews are thorough, objective, and complete; recognize needs of special populations; recognize the nature and consequences of domestic violence victimization; require investigative interviews to be conducted in a manner most likely to permit the interviewed persons the maximum emotional comfort under the circumstances; address record retention and retrieval; address documentation of investigative interviews; and educate investigators on the best practices for notifying victims of significant events in the investigative process.
In developing the training, the commission must seek advice from the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs, organizations representing victims of domestic violence, and experts on domestic violence and the neurobiology of trauma. The commission must consult with the Washington association of prosecuting attorneys in an effort to design training containing consistent elements for all professionals engaged in interviewing and interacting with domestic violence victims in the criminal legal system.
The commission must develop the training and begin offering it by January 1, 2025. Officers assigned to regularly investigate domestic violence must complete the training within one year of being assigned or by July 1, 2026, whichever is later.
A police officer having probable cause to believe that a person has committed or is committing a felony shall have the authority to arrest the person without a warrant. A police officer may arrest a person without a warrant for committing a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor only when the offense is committed in the presence of an officer, except as provided in subsections (1) through (12) of this section.
Any police officer having probable cause to believe that a person has committed or is committing a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor, involving physical harm or threats of harm to any person or property or the unlawful taking of property or involving the use or possession of cannabis, or involving the acquisition, possession, or consumption of alcohol by a person under the age of twenty-one years under RCW 66.44.270, or involving criminal trespass under RCW 9A.52.070 or 9A.52.080, shall have the authority to arrest the person.
Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, a police officer shall arrest and keep in custody, until release by a judicial officer on bail, personal recognizance, or court order, a person without a warrant when the officer has probable cause to believe that:
A domestic violence protection order, a sexual assault protection order, a stalking protection order, or a vulnerable adult protection order has been issued, of which the person has knowledge, under chapter 7.105 RCW, or an order has been issued, of which the person has knowledge, under RCW 26.44.063, or chapter 9A.40, 9A.46, 9A.88, 10.99, 26.09, 26.26A, 26.26B, or 74.34 RCW, or any of the former chapters 7.90, 7.92, and 26.50 RCW, restraining the person and the person has violated the terms of the order restraining the person from acts or threats of violence, or restraining the person from going onto the grounds of, or entering, a residence, workplace, school, or day care, or prohibiting the person from knowingly coming within, or knowingly remaining within, a specified distance of a location, a protected party's person, or a protected party's vehicle, or requiring the person to submit to electronic monitoring, or, in the case of an order issued under RCW 26.44.063, imposing any other restrictions or conditions upon the person;
An extreme risk protection order has been issued against the person under chapter 7.105 RCW or former RCW 7.94.040, the person has knowledge of the order, and the person has violated the terms of the order prohibiting the person from having in the person's custody or control, purchasing, possessing, accessing, or receiving a firearm or concealed pistol license;
A foreign protection order, as defined in RCW 26.52.010, or a Canadian domestic violence protection order, as defined in RCW 26.55.010, has been issued of which the person under restraint has knowledge and the person under restraint has violated a provision of the foreign protection order or the Canadian domestic violence protection order prohibiting the person under restraint from contacting or communicating with another person, or excluding the person under restraint from a residence, workplace, school, or day care, or prohibiting the person from knowingly coming within, or knowingly remaining within, a specified distance of a location, a protected party's person, or a protected party's vehicle, or a violation of any provision for which the foreign protection order or the Canadian domestic violence protection order specifically indicates that a violation will be a crime; or
The person is eighteen years or older and within the preceding four hours has assaulted a family or household member or intimate partner as defined in RCW 10.99.020 and the officer believes: (i) A felonious assault has occurred; (ii) an assault has occurred which has resulted in bodily injury to the victim, whether the injury is observable by the responding officer or not; or (iii) that any physical action has occurred which was intended to cause another person reasonably to fear imminent serious bodily injury or death. Bodily injury means physical pain, illness, or an impairment of physical condition. When the officer has probable cause to believe that family or household members or intimate partners have assaulted each other, the officer is not required to arrest both persons. The officer shall arrest the person whom the officer believes to be the primary aggressor. In making this determination, the officer shall make every reasonable effort to consider: (A) The intent to protect victims of domestic violence under RCW 10.99.010; (B) the comparative extent of injuries inflicted or serious threats creating fear of physical injury; (C) the history of domestic violence of each person involved, including whether the conduct was part of an ongoing pattern of abuse; and (D) the presence of evidence indicating intimate terrorism as defined in RCW 10.99.020.
A police officer is not required to keep in custody a person under subsection (2) of this section if the person requires immediate medical attention and is admitted to a hospital.
Any police officer having probable cause to believe that a person has committed or is committing a violation of any of the following traffic laws shall have the authority to arrest the person:
RCW 46.52.010, relating to duty on striking an unattended car or other property;
RCW 46.52.020, relating to duty in case of injury to, or death of, a person or damage to an attended vehicle;
RCW 46.61.500 or 46.61.530, relating to reckless driving or racing of vehicles;
RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504, relating to persons under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs;
RCW 46.61.503 or 46.25.110, relating to persons having alcohol or THC in their system;
RCW 46.20.342, relating to driving a motor vehicle while operator's license is suspended or revoked;
RCW 46.61.5249, relating to operating a motor vehicle in a negligent manner.
A law enforcement officer investigating at the scene of a motor vehicle accident may arrest the driver of a motor vehicle involved in the accident if the officer has probable cause to believe that the driver has committed, in connection with the accident, a violation of any traffic law or regulation.
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A law enforcement officer investigating at the scene of a motor vessel accident may arrest the operator of a motor vessel involved in the accident if the officer has probable cause to believe that the operator has committed, in connection with the accident, a criminal violation of chapter 79A.60 RCW.
A law enforcement officer investigating at the scene of a motor vessel accident may issue a citation for an infraction to the operator of a motor vessel involved in the accident if the officer has probable cause to believe that the operator has committed, in connection with the accident, a violation of any boating safety law of chapter 79A.60 RCW.
Any police officer having probable cause to believe that a person has committed or is committing a violation of RCW 79A.60.040 shall have the authority to arrest the person.
An officer may act upon the request of a law enforcement officer, in whose presence a traffic infraction was committed, to stop, detain, arrest, or issue a notice of traffic infraction to the driver who is believed to have committed the infraction. The request by the witnessing officer shall give an officer the authority to take appropriate action under the laws of the state of Washington.
Any police officer having probable cause to believe that a person has committed or is committing any act of indecent exposure, as defined in RCW 9A.88.010, may arrest the person.
A police officer may arrest and take into custody, pending release on bail, personal recognizance, or court order, a person without a warrant when the officer has probable cause to believe that an antiharassment protection order has been issued of which the person has knowledge under chapter 7.105 RCW or former chapter 10.14 RCW and the person has violated the terms of that order.
Any police officer having probable cause to believe that a person has, within twenty-four hours of the alleged violation, committed a violation of RCW 9A.50.020 may arrest such person.
A police officer having probable cause to believe that a person illegally possesses or illegally has possessed a firearm or other dangerous weapon on private or public elementary or secondary school premises shall have the authority to arrest the person.
For purposes of this subsection, the term "firearm" has the meaning defined in RCW 9.41.010 and the term "dangerous weapon" has the meaning defined in RCW 9.41.250 and 9.41.280(1) (c) through (e).
A law enforcement officer having probable cause to believe that a person has committed a violation under RCW 77.15.160(5) may issue a citation for an infraction to the person in connection with the violation.
A law enforcement officer having probable cause to believe that a person has committed a criminal violation under RCW 77.15.809 or 77.15.811 may arrest the person in connection with the violation.
Except as specifically provided in subsections (2), (4), (5), and (8) of this section, nothing in this section extends or otherwise affects the powers of arrest prescribed in Title 46 RCW.
No police officer may be held criminally or civilly liable for making an arrest pursuant to subsection (2) or (10) of this section if the police officer acts in good faith and without malice.
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Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, a police officer shall arrest and keep in custody, until release by a judicial officer on bail, personal recognizance, or court order, a person without a warrant when the officer has probable cause to believe that the person has violated RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504 or an equivalent local ordinance and the police officer: (i) Has knowledge that the person has a prior offense as defined in RCW 46.61.5055 within ten years; or (ii) has knowledge, based on a review of the information available to the officer at the time of arrest, that the person is charged with or is awaiting arraignment for an offense that would qualify as a prior offense as defined in RCW 46.61.5055 if it were a conviction.
A police officer is not required to keep in custody a person under (a) of this subsection if the person requires immediate medical attention and is admitted to a hospital.
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Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs shall create and operate a statewide automated protected person notification system to automatically notify a registered person via the registered person's choice of telephone or email when a respondent subject to a court order specified in (b) of this subsection has attempted to purchase or acquire a firearm and been denied based on a background check or completed and submitted firearm purchase or transfer application that indicates the respondent is ineligible to possess a firearm under state or federal law. The system must permit a person to register for notification, or a registered person to update the person's registration information, for the statewide automated protected person notification system by calling a toll-free telephone number or by accessing a public website.
The notification requirements of this section apply to any court order issued under chapter 7.105 RCW or former chapter 7.92 RCW, RCW 9A.46.080, 10.99.040, 10.99.045, 26.09.050, 26.09.060, 26.10.040, 26.26A.470, or 26.26B.020, any of the former RCW 7.90.090, 10.14.080, 26.10.115, 26.50.060, and 26.50.070, any foreign protection order filed with a Washington court pursuant to chapter 26.52 RCW, and any Canadian domestic violence protection order filed with a Washington court pursuant to chapter 26.55 RCW, where the order prohibits the respondent from possessing firearms or where by operation of law the respondent is ineligible to possess firearms during the term of the order. The notification requirements of this section apply even if the respondent has notified the Washington state patrol that the respondent has appealed a background check denial under RCW 43.43.823.
The statewide automated protected person notification system must interface with the Washington state patrol, the administrative office of the courts, and any court not contributing data to the administrative office of the courts in real time.
An appointed or elected official, public employee, or public agency as defined in RCW 4.24.470, or combination of units of government and its employees, as provided in RCW 36.28A.010, are immune from civil liability for damages for any release of information or the failure to release information related to the statewide automated protected person notification system in this section, so long as the release or failure to release was without gross negligence. The immunity provided under this subsection applies to the release of relevant and necessary information to other public officials, public employees, or public agencies, and to the general public.
Information and records prepared, owned, used, or retained by the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs pursuant to chapter 261, Laws of 2017, including information a person submits to register and participate in the statewide automated protected person notification system, are exempt from public inspection and copying under chapter 42.56 RCW.
If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2023, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void.