Bill > HB2417

This bill aims to update the Washington Code of Military Justice, which governs the state's organized militia, to provide specific protections for victims of offenses within this group. The legislation recognizes that members of the Washington National Guard serve in both federal and state capacities, and it intends to ensure that victims of crimes while serving in a state capacity receive the same rights as those serving in a federal capacity under the federal Uniform Code of Military Justice. Key provisions include granting victims the right to be protected from the accused, to receive timely notice of various legal proceedings such as court-martials, parole board meetings, and the release or escape of the accused, and the right not to be excluded from public hearings unless their testimony would be altered. Victims will also have the right to be heard at sentencing and clemency proceedings, to confer with state counsel, to receive restitution, to have proceedings free from unreasonable delay, and to be informed of plea or non-prosecution agreements. The bill defines a "victim of an offense" as someone who has suffered direct physical, emotional, or financial harm. Importantly, these provisions do not create a right to sue for damages or imply any new liability for the state, nor do they interfere with prosecutorial discretion. The bill also establishes rules for how defense counsel can interview alleged victims, requiring it to be done through the victim's counsel or in the presence of state counsel or a victim advocate.

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https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2417&Year=2025&Initiative=false