RCW 10.05.020
Requirements of
petition — Rights of petitioner
— Court findings.
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(1) Except as provided in subsection (2)
of this section, the petitioner shall
allege under oath in the petition that
the wrongful conduct charged is the
result of or caused by alcoholism, drug
addiction, or mental problems for which
the person is in need of treatment and
unless treated the probability of future
recurrence is great, along with a
statement that the person agrees to pay
the cost of a diagnosis and treatment of
the alleged problem or problems if
financially able to do so. The petition
shall also contain a case history and
written assessment prepared by an
approved alcoholism treatment program as
designated in chapter
70.96A
RCW if the petition alleges alcoholism,
an approved drug program as designated
in chapter
71.24
RCW if the petition alleges drug
addiction, or by an approved mental
health center if the petition alleges a
mental problem.
(2) In the case of a petitioner
charged with a misdemeanor or gross
misdemeanor under chapter
9A.42
RCW, the petitioner shall allege
under oath in the petition that the
petitioner is the natural or adoptive
parent of the alleged victim; that the
wrongful conduct charged is the result
of parenting problems for which the
petitioner is in need of services; that
the petitioner is in need of child
welfare services under chapter
74.13
RCW to improve his or her parenting
skills in order to better provide his or
her child or children with the basic
necessities of life; that the petitioner
wants to correct his or her conduct to
reduce the likelihood of harm to his or
her minor children; that in the absence
of child welfare services the petitioner
may be unable to reduce the likelihood
of harm to his or her minor children;
and that the petitioner has cooperated
with the department of social and health
services to develop a plan to receive
appropriate child welfare services;
along with a statement that the person
agrees to pay the cost of the services
if he or she is financially able to do
so. The petition shall also contain a
case history and a written service plan
from the department of social and health
services.
(3) Before entry of an order
deferring prosecution, a petitioner
shall be advised of his or her rights as
an accused and execute, as a condition
of receiving treatment, a statement that
contains: (a) An acknowledgment of his
or her rights; (b) an acknowledgment and
waiver of the right to testify, the
right to a speedy trial, the right to
call witnesses to testify, the right to
present evidence in his or her defense,
and the right to a jury trial; (c) a
stipulation to the admissibility and
sufficiency of the facts contained in
the written police report; and (d) an
acknowledgment that the statement will
be entered and used to support a finding
of guilty if the court finds cause to
revoke the order granting deferred
prosecution. The petitioner shall also
be advised that he or she may, if he or
she proceeds to trial and is found
guilty, be allowed to seek suspension of
some or all of the fines and
incarceration that may be ordered upon
the condition that he or she seek
treatment and, further, that he or she
may seek treatment from public and
private agencies at any time without
regard to whether or not he or she is
found guilty of the offense charged. He
or she shall also be advised that the
court will not accept a petition for
deferred prosecution from a person who
sincerely believes that he or she is
innocent of the charges or sincerely
believes that he or she does not, in
fact, suffer from alcoholism, drug
addiction, or mental problems, or in the
case of a petitioner charged under
chapter
9A.42
RCW, sincerely believes that he
or she does not need child welfare
services.
(4) Before entering an order
deferring prosecution, the court shall
make specific findings that: (a) The
petitioner has stipulated to the
admissibility and sufficiency of the
facts as contained in the written police
report; (b) the petitioner has
acknowledged the admissibility of the
stipulated facts in any criminal hearing
on the underlying offense or offenses
held subsequent to revocation of the
order granting deferred prosecution; (c)
the petitioner has acknowledged and
waived the right to testify, the right
to a speedy trial, the right to call
witnesses to testify, the right to
present evidence in his or her defense,
and the right to a jury trial; and (d)
the petitioner's statements were made
knowingly and voluntarily. Such findings
shall be included in the order granting
deferred prosecution.. |