BILL REQ. #:  Z-0581.1 

Read first time 03/24/11.   Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce & Consumer Protection.

     AN ACT Relating to implementing the policy recommendations resulting from the national institute of corrections review of prison safety; adding new sections to chapter 72.09 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   It is the intent of the legislature to promote safe state correctional facilities. Following the tragic murder of officer Jayme Biendl, the governor and department of corrections requested the national institute of corrections to review safety procedures at the Monroe reformatory. While the report found the Monroe reformatory is a safe institution, it recommends changes that would enhance safety. The legislature recognizes that operating safe institutions requires ongoing efforts to address areas where improvements can be made to enhance the safety of state correctional facilities. This act implements changes recommended in the report of the national institute of corrections.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) The department shall establish a statewide security advisory committee to conduct comprehensive reviews of the department's total confinement security-related policies and procedures.
     (2) The statewide security advisory committee shall make recommendations to the secretary regarding methods to provide consistent application of the policies and procedures regarding security issues in total confinement correctional facilities.
     (3) The statewide security advisory committee shall include a wide range of institutional staff including, but not limited to, custody staff. At a minimum, the statewide security advisory committee shall include:
     (a) The director of prisons or his or her designee;
     (b) Two correctional officers: One from a minimum security facility and one from a major facility;
     (c) The senior-ranking security custody staff member from each total confinement correctional facility.
     (4) The statewide security advisory committee shall develop guidelines to establish local security advisory committees for each total confinement correctional facility within the department. The chair of each local security advisory committee shall be the captain at a major facility and the lieutenant at a minimum security facility. The local security advisory committee should consist of a wide range of staff from the facility, to include medical staff, class counselors, program staff, and mental health staff.
     (5) The department shall report back to the governor and appropriate committees of the legislature by November 1, 2011:
     (a) The issues raised by members of the statewide security advisory committee;
     (b) Actions taken by the department as a result of recommendations by the statewide security advisory committee;
     (c) Recommendations, if any, for additional resources or legislation to address security concerns in total confinement correctional facilities.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   (1) The department shall establish multidisciplinary teams at each total confinement correctional facility that will evaluate offenders' placements in inmate job assignments and custody promotions. The teams at each facility shall determine suitable placements based on the offender's risk, behavior, or other factors considered by the team.
     (2) At a minimum, each team shall have representation from mental health staff, program staff, correctional industries, if applicable to the individual facility, and custody staff.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   (1) The department shall develop training curriculum regarding staff safety issues at total confinement correctional facilities. At a minimum, the training shall address the following issues:
     (a) Security routines;
     (b) Physical plant layout;
     (c) Offender movement and program area coverage; and
     (d) Situational awareness and de-escalation techniques.
     (2) The department shall deliver such training to applicable correctional staff by July 1, 2012.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   (1) The department may pilot the use of body alarms and proximity cards within available resources.
     (2) The department shall hire a consultant to study the feasibility of implementing a statewide system for staff safety, utilizing body alarms and proximity cards for staff within the department's total confinement correctional facilities and report findings and recommendations to the governor and appropriate committees of the legislature by November 1, 2011. At a minimum, the report shall include:
     (a) Recommendations for the use of body alarms by security level;
     (b) Recommendations for specific positions that should require the use of body alarms;
     (c) The information technological and infrastructure requirements needed for body alarms and proximity cards;
     (d) The training requirements for body alarms;
     (e) Lessons learned from any pilot project the department may implement in the interim;
     (f) The estimated cost of the alarms and proximity cards and needed supporting infrastructure, staffing, and training requirements.
     (3) The consultant shall seek the input of the statewide security advisory committee in preparing its report.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   (1) The department shall hire a consultant to study the deployment of video monitoring cameras within the department to make recommendations regarding statewide standards for the positioning and use of video monitoring cameras in total confinement correctional facilities and report findings and recommendations to the governor and appropriate committees of the legislature by November 1, 2011. At a minimum, the report shall include:
     (a) Recommendations for the use of video monitoring cameras by security level;
     (b) Recommendations for specific locations within a total confinement correctional facility which would benefit from the use of video monitoring cameras;
     (c) The information technological and infrastructure requirements needed for effective use of video monitoring cameras;
     (d) Recommendations for how video monitoring cameras would best be deployed in current total confinement correctional facilities;
     (e) Recommendations about how video monitoring cameras should be incorporated into future prison construction to insure consistency in camera use system-wide;
     (f) The estimated cost of the video monitoring cameras, supporting infrastructure needed, and staffing required by the total confinement correctional facility.
     (2) The consultant shall seek the input of the statewide security advisory committee in preparing its report.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   (1) The department shall develop a comprehensive plan for the use of oleoresin capsicum aerosol products, commonly referred to as pepper spray, as a security measure available for staff at total confinement correctional facilities.
     (2) The department may initiate a pilot project, within available funds, to expand the deployment of oleoresin capsicum aerosol products within total confinement correctional facilities.
     (3) The department's plan for the deployment of oleoresin capsicum aerosol products to staff shall include findings, if any, from the pilot project, recommendations regarding which facility's use should be limited to, what the training requirements should be, the estimated costs, and an implementation schedule.
     (4) The department shall seek the input of the statewide security advisory committee in developing its plan.
     (5) The department shall report its plan, including costs, to the governor and appropriate committees of the legislature by November 1, 2011.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8   Sections 2 through 7 of this act are each added to chapter 72.09 RCW.