WA HB2217

Expands eligibility for first-time felony offender alternatives by removing exclusions for most drug manufacturing/delivery offenses and adding only robbery in the second degree and assault in the second degree to the list of excluded violent offenses

Creates a pre-trial deferral option allowing defendants to request deferred entry of conviction for up to one year before jury empanelment, with a strong presumption courts will grant the motion if eligibility criteria are met

Establishes a suspended sentence option following conviction or revocation of a deferral, allowing courts to suspend execution of a standard sentence for up to one year with a strong presumption of approval for eligible defendants

Limits community custody to six months unless treatment is ordered (then up to one year), and prohibits courts from imposing legal financial obligations on defendants found to be indigent

Provides that successful completion of a deferral results in case dismissal with prejudice, while successful completion of a suspended sentence terminates the sentence; revocation requires clear and convincing evidence of willful failure to substantially comply