S-0810.1
SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5266
State of Washington
69th Legislature
2025 Regular Session
By Senate Human Services (originally sponsored by Senators Frame, J. Wilson, C. Wilson, Trudeau, Orwall, Bateman, Hasegawa, Nobles, and Valdez)
READ FIRST TIME 01/23/25.
AN ACT Relating to people convicted of one or more crimes committed before the person's 18th birthday petitioning the indeterminate sentence review board after reaching the age of 24 or older; amending RCW 9.94A.730 ; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature recognizes that the United States supreme court found mandatory life sentences for conduct committed by minors unconstitutional. The legislature acknowledges that since the federal and state Constitutions demand that most minors convicted of crimes will eventually be released into the community, successful rehabilitation will result in less recidivism in communities following reentry. The legislature finds that lengthy sentences with little incentive for rehabilitation until decades into incarceration misses a critical development opportunity for youth at a formative time during brain development. Scientific studies have found that brain development impacting decision making continues until age 25 and that this represents a critical period for behavior change, and therefore rehabilitation. The legislature therefore intends to create greater incentives for rehabilitation for youth convicted of offenses prior to their 18th birthday by allowing them to petition the indeterminate sentence review board after reaching the age of 24.
Sec. 2. RCW 9.94A.730 and 2024 c 118 s 4 are each amended to read as follows: