Department of Corrections. The Department of Corrections (DOC) operates and manages 11 state correctional facilities. There are nine facilities serving males and two facilities serving females. DOC also operates 11 reentry centers, formerly known as work release facilities.
Washington Way. The Washington Way Program is a partnership between DOC and Amend at the University of California San Francisco to bring a health-focused approach to transforming correctional culture within Washington's prison facilities and reentry centers with an emphasis on increasing staff wellness while working to better support and prepare incarcerated individuals and residents for their return to society. Amend primarily partners with Norwegian Correctional System but also partners with prison services in Iceland, Sweden, Scotland, Ireland, and England to adapt global best practices aimed at reducing harm in United States prisons. Per DOC, research shows that United States prisons often negatively impact the physical and mental health of both incarcerated individuals and correctional staff, and the Washington Way aims to change this trend by fostering a positive and healthy organizational culture that supports rehabilitative and successful reintegration into society.
Dynamic Security. According to DOC, the Washington Way principles include three types of security, normalization, and progression. Static security consists of the physical aspects of a prison, like walls, doors, and uniforms. Organizational security involves routines, shift plans, and daily procedures that ensure consistency and predictability. Dynamic security is the frequent, respectful communication between correctional staff and residents, and involves building professional relationships with residents and being invested in their success, motivating positive behavior while maintaining professional boundaries.
Normalization. Normalization means that life inside prison should resemble life outside of prison as much as possible. A more normal daily environment helps a resident prepare for reentry and creates a healthier workplace for staff. Each incarcerated person serves their sentence at the lowest appropriate security level, with everyone working to foster a supportive and healthy environment, which can include improving living and working conditions or creating innovative programs that allow residents to practice being a positive, responsible member of their community.
Progression. Progression ensures that incarcerated individuals understand the steps needed to achieve success during their time in prison. Individuals can earn trust, privileges, and greater responsibilities, such as jobs, education, and mentorship, that contribute to the community. For staff, progression provides meaningful opportunities to engage with motivated incarcerated individuals who are working towards positive change.
DOC must establish a four-year pilot program at the Washington State Penitentiary East Complex with the goals of improved communication between correctional officers, department staff, and incarcerated individuals, and reducing recidivism.
DOC must select contact officers to act as mentors and coaches to encourage prosocial behaviors and provide advice, direction, and support to incarcerated individuals. DOC must train correctional officers in the pilot on dynamic security tactics to improve the relationship between incarcerated individuals and correctional staff. Certain officers may also receive specialized competency-based, programmatic training in individual and team-based crisis de-escalation.
DOC must initiate appropriate improvement efforts so the work environment for correctional officers, including staff decompression rooms, and life while incarcerated resembles life in the community to the highest extent possible. Improvement efforts may include painting and planting programs.
The secretary of DOC must adopt rules and policies necessary to implement the requirements of the bill.
By December 1st each year, DOC must submit a report to the Governor and Legislature on:
The act expires June 30, 2030.