Bill > SB5312

This bill addresses net nanny operations involving fictitious minors, which are internet sting operations where law enforcement officers pose as minors to catch potential sexual predators. The legislation aims to create more nuanced registration and supervision requirements for individuals who attempt, solicit, or conspire to commit sexual offenses against fictitious minors, particularly those with no prior history of predatory offenses against actual minors. Specifically, the bill reduces the registration period for offenders convicted in such net nanny operations from 10 years to 5 years, provided they have no prior sex offense convictions and spend five consecutive years in the community without committing additional disqualifying offenses. The bill also modifies community supervision requirements, reducing the standard supervision period from the offender's entire sentence to just three years for these specific cases. The legislature recognizes that individuals caught in these sting operations may pose a different public safety risk compared to those who have committed actual offenses against real minors, and thus seeks to create more rehabilitative and proportionate legal consequences. The bill defines key terms like "fictitious minor" (a minor persona controlled by someone who is not that minor) and "net nanny" (an internet sting operation designed to catch adults attempting to engage in sexual activities with minors), and applies to all offenders sentenced before, on, or after the bill's effective date.

Justice

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5312&Year=2025&Initiative=false