State v. Murdock

This case raises the question of the proper use of Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) prison record "packets" as evidence in a habitual offender trial. The State submitted three such information packets as proof of prior convictions in appellant Murdock's trial below. We adhere to the long-standing rule in this state that institutional prison records are not admissible as proof of prior convictions, and remand for a new trial.

Following a conviction for armed robbery in March 1976, appellant was tried under RCW 9.92.090 on the charge of being a habitual criminal. At that trial the…