Brief Description: Creating a pilot program for the postsecondary education of inmates.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Hargrove, Stevens, Regala, Shin, Kline and Kohl-Welles).

Hearing Date: 2/25/08

Staff: Brian Considine (786-7290).

Background:

The Joint Legislative Task Force on Offenders Programs, Sentencing and Supervision (Task Force) submitted a report in 2006 that made recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor on reforms to programs offered in prisons and in the community, as well as reforms to sentencing and supervision of offenders returning to the community in order enhance public safety, lower recidivism, and reduce crime and victimization.

One of the recommendations from the Task Force was that the Legislature should eliminate barriers to offender participation in vocational training and post-secondary education and increase the availability of education and vocational training when the programming is linked to an offender's individual reentry plan.

In 2007 the Legislature passed ESSB 6157 that required the Department of Corrections (DOC) to develop an individual reentry plan for every offender committed to its jurisdiction. An individual reentry plan is designed to address both the risks and the needs of the offender, and includes an assessment of the offender's current educational skill level and future need for education or vocational training.

The DOC will provide basic academic skills to offenders in obtaining a high school diploma or its equivalent; vocational training necessary to participate in a work program or obtain work upon release; and additional work and education programs necessary for compliance with an offender's individual reentry plan (except post-secondary education).

Other appropriate vocational, work, or education programming that does not meet the above
requirements must be paid for by the inmate according to a sliding scale formula or may be paid by a third party. These payments are not subject to mandatory deductions.

To the extent that funding is provided, the Legislature also created a post-secondary education degree program within the DOC. An inmate must either pay for the program or have it funded through a third party. The DOC is authorized to accept any grants or donations to provide post-secondary education to inmates.

Summary of Bill:

The DOC is directed to establish a pilot program for the purpose of assessing the impact of inmate participation in two-year post-secondary education degree programs. The DOC must select two sites for operation of the program, giving priority to those institutions that have had recent contracts with accredited community colleges to provide post-secondary educational services.

The educational programs must:

• be an associate of arts degree program or be intended to provide the first two years of the equivalent of a baccalaureate degree program;
• give priority to community colleges that have demonstrated the potential to contribute nonstate resources to the pilot, such as volunteer staff;
• select inmates who are a representative sampling within its institutions;
• give priority to inmates whose individual reentry plan includes post-secondary education degree program participation; and
• give priority to inmates who have between two and four years of their term of incarceration left at the commencement of the program. Inmates may not be required to pay for participation.

The DOC may accept donations and grants to operate the program. The pilot program must begin by March 1, 2009, and extend for four fiscal years, ending June 30, 2012.

The Washington State Institute for Public Policy must evaluate the pilot program to determine whether it:

• is cost effective;
• results in better employment and income outcomes for participating inmates;
• affects maintenance of stable housing in the community; and
• impacts recidivism.

A preliminary report is due to the Governor and the Legislature by December 1, 2015, with the final report due September 30, 2018.

A null and void clause is included, making the bill null and void unless funded in the budget.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed. However, the bill is null and void if not funded in the budget.