With the Community Protection Act of 1990, Washington became the first state to pass a law (RCW 71.09) authorizing indefinite civil commitment for people who meet the definition of “sexually violent predator.”
The Community Protection Act established the Special Commitment Center program to protect public safety and to provide care, control and custody for the civilly committed residents. Residents have completed their prison sentences, and are court-ordered to be civilly committed to the Special Commitment Center.
Learn more about the history of the Community Protection Act here.