WSR 19-24-012
PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
CORRECTIONS OMBUDS, OFFICE OF THE
[Filed November 21, 2019, 2:26 p.m.]
Subject of Possible Rule Making: The office of corrections ombuds (OCO) confidentiality and investigation procedures.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 43.06C.040, 43.06C.060.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: OCO may initiate an investigation upon receipt of a complaint related to the health, safety, welfare and rights of inmates. These rules will establish the procedures through which OCO may decline to investigate any complaint. Further, all correspondence and communication with OCO is confidential. These rules will establish OCO's confidentiality procedures for all information maintained by the office.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Department of corrections (DOC) will have an interest and we will coordinate with DOC through meetings with our liaison, Jeremy Barclay.
Process for Developing New Rule: OCO welcomes the public to take part in developing the rules. Anyone interested should contact Joanna Carns at the address identified below. At a later date, OCO will file a notice of proposed rule making (CR-102) with the office of the code reviser. A copy of the proposal will be sent to anyone who requests a copy.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Joanna Carns, 2700 Evergreen Parkway N.W., Olympia, WA 98505, phone 360-764-3168, email Joanna.carns@gov.wa.gov, website oco.wa.gov.
November 18, 2019
Joanna Carns
Director