DOC healthy env. pilot

AN ACT Relating to a pilot program creating a healthier 1
environment for correctional officers, department of corrections 2
staff, and individuals within a correctional facility; adding a new 3
section to chapter 72.09 RCW; creating a new section; and providing 4
an expiration date. 5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:6
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature recognizes that 7
incarceration has negative physical and mental health impacts on 8
correctional officers, department of corrections staff, and 9
incarcerated individuals. Nationally, the average life expectancy of 10
a correctional officer is 59 years old, which is 16 years shorter 11
than those who do not work in corrections. Further, the legislature 12
recognizes that suicide rates for correctional officers are 39 13
percent higher than the national working age population. Incarcerated 14
individuals experience more illness than those who are not 15
incarcerated. The legislature finds that a more normal and overall 16
healthier environment while incarcerated better prepares people for 17
reentry and helps ensure that the prison environment is not harmful 18
to the people who work there.19
(2) Therefore, the legislature intends to create a pilot program 20
that will improve the working conditions for department of 21
S-0206.1
SENATE BILL 5409
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Senators C. Wilson, Boehnke, Hasegawa, Nobles, Saldaña, and
Trudeau
Read first time 01/22/25. Referred to Committee on Human Services.
p. 1 SB 5409
corrections staff and a healthier environment for the incarcerated 1
population to focus on reentering communities with the tools needed 2
to be successful. The legislature intends for the program to reduce 3
risks identified by the department including preventing violent 4
behavior that harms members of the public, reducing recidivism, 5
reducing stress and therefore improving health outcomes for 6
department staff and incarcerated individuals, improving security 7
within department facilities, improving communication and voluntary 8
compliance with infectious disease control measures, reducing 9
employee illness and injury, reducing violence among incarcerated 10
individuals and against department staff, and improving recruitment 11
and retention of a qualified workforce. 12
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 72.09 13
RCW to read as follows: 14
(1)(a) The department shall establish a four-year pilot program 15
at the Washington state penitentiary east complex with the goals of 16
improved communication between correctional officers, department 17
staff, and incarcerated individuals and reducing recidivism.18
(b) The department shall select contact officers to act as 19
mentors and coaches to encourage prosocial behaviors, provide advice, 20
direction, and support to incarcerated individuals to change their 21
lives and behaviors for the better through their continuum of 22
reentry. 23
(c) The department shall train correctional officers in the pilot 24
program on dynamic security tactics. Dynamic security must improve 25
the relationship between incarcerated individuals and correctional 26
staff. Certain officers may also receive specialized competency-27
based, programmatic training in individual and team-based crisis de-28
escalation. 29
(d) The department shall initiate appropriate improvement efforts 30
so that the work environment for correctional officers, including 31
staff decompression rooms, and life while incarcerated resembles life 32
in the community to the highest extent possible. Improvement of the 33
east complex may include painting and planting programs.34
(2) The secretary shall adopt any rules and policies necessary to 35
implement the requirements of this section. 36
(3) By December 1st each year, and in compliance with RCW 37
43.01.036, the department shall submit a report to the governor and 38
the legislature on: 39
p. 2 SB 5409
(a) The number of correctional officers, department staff, and 1
incarcerated individuals participating in the pilot program and a 2
summary of improvement projects undertaken; 3
(b) Patterns and any effects on behaviors and participation by 4
correctional officers, department staff, and incarcerated 5
individuals; 6
(c) Differential outcomes for correctional officers, department 7
staff, and incarcerated individuals participating in the pilot 8
program compared with correctional officers, department staff, and 9
individuals not participating in the pilot program;10
(d) Recidivism outcomes for those individuals that participated 11
in the pilot program while incarcerated, including arrests, charges, 12
and convictions. 13
(4) This section expires June 30, 2030. 14
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p. 3 SB 5409