71.09 Cases
Civil commitment for sexual violent predators
Very few attorneys in the State of Washington have handled a caseload of sexually violent predator civil commitments. Stephen Ritchie of the Ritchie Law Firm PLLC served as a public defender in the 71.09 unit, handling civil commitment cases all over the State of Washington.
Many people are not aware that, often times, a conviction and prison sentence for a serious sex offense is just the beginning of a long road to a normal life. If you were not subject to an indeterminate sentence, and committed a qualifying predicate sex offense, the Attorney General can petition for you to be sent to McNeil Island’s Special Commitment Center instead of being released from prison at the end of your sentence. Once on the island, it is a long road to litigate a commitment trial, and if committed, an even longer road to freedom from the island in either the form of an LRA (Less Restrictive Alternative) or Unconditional Release. In fact, your stay on the island is indefinite if committed until you qualify for either an LRA or unconditional release.
If you have been convicted previously of a sex offense, and are facing another charge, or are under investigation for a series of sex offenses, you need an advocate who can not only navigate those criminal matters, but can also do so in a way that is mindful of minimizing the likelihood of a 71.09 petition in the future. 71.09 commitments are an often overlooked collateral consequence of sex offenses, and if you are facing serious sex related charges, you need an advocate like Stephen Ritchie on your legal team to make sure all collateral consequences of your sex case are factored in when fashioning a plea deal or trial strategy.
If your criminal history is such that you could face multiple sex offense convictions, do not delay and contact The Ritchie Law Firm PLLC today to start developing your legal strategy!