Washington State's New Sex Offender Laws

I sent a copy of Georgia's new sex offender laws to our Gov and this is the response I received from her office. Washington state is supposed to have the toughest laws against sex offenders. We even have a prison on McNeil Island where the worst are sent after they have served their sentences.
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Thank you for contacting Governor Gregoire concerning sex offender laws in
our state.

The 2006 Legislature enacted tougher penalties for sex crimes. The provisions
in House Bill 3277 took effect immediately, allowing judges to impose a minimum
25-year sentence on coaches, teachers, recreation workers, and other sexual
predators who prey on victims younger than 15 years old, vulnerable adults, or
developmentally disabled adults and children. Other measures include penalties
for the possession of child *advertiser censored*, prohibit the worst sex offenders from
living closer that two blocks from schools, require stricter sex offender
registration, and empower state prison officials to recommend electronic
monitoring of sex offenders as a condition of release.

The Legislature also appropriated additional funding for the Department of
Corrections, which will see a significant increase in inmate numbers from longer
and tougher sentences. The Governor believes this places our state in the
forefront of protecting our citizens from sexual predators.

Again, thank you for contacting the Governor about these important new laws.

Sincerely,

Angela M. Gregg
Governor's Staff
Christine O. Gregoire
Governor