Title 72 — Title 72 STATE INSTITUTIONS
33 chapters · 476 sections in this title.
RCW 72.09.345 Sex offenders—Release of information to protect public—End-of-sentence review committee—Assessment—Records access—Review, classification, referral of offenders—Issuance of narrative notices.
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(1) In addition to any other information required to be released under this chapter, the department is authorized, pursuant to RCW 4.24.550, to release relevant information that is necessary to protect the public concerning offenders convicted of sex offenses.(2) In order for law…
RCW 72.09.350 Corrections mental health center—Collaborative arrangement with University of Washington—Services for offenders with mental illness—Annual report to the legislature.
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(1) The department of corrections and the University of Washington may enter into a collaborative arrangement to provide improved services for offenders with mental illness with a focus on prevention, treatment, and reintegration into society. The participants in the collaborativ…
RCW 72.09.355 Provision of behavioral health services—Inspection—Collaboration with department of health.
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(1) By July 1, 2026, the department and the department of health shall jointly establish and adopt standards for the provision of behavioral health services to individuals in correctional facilities.(2) Beginning July 1, 2027, the department shall fully implement the standards ad…
RCW 72.09.370 Reentry community services program—Plan for postrelease treatment and support services—Rules.
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(1) The reentry community services program is established to provide intensive services to persons identified under this subsection and to thereby promote successful reentry, public safety, and recovery. The secretary shall identify persons in confinement or partial confinement w…
RCW 72.09.380 Rule making—Medicaid—Secretary of corrections—Director of health care authority.
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The secretary of the department of corrections and the director of the health care authority shall adopt rules and develop working agreements which will ensure that offenders identified under RCW 72.09.370(1) will be assisted in making application for medicaid to facilitate a dec…
RCW 72.09.381 Rule making—Chapter 214, Laws of 1999—Secretary of corrections—Director of health care authority.
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The secretary of the department of corrections and the director of the health care authority shall, in consultation with the behavioral health administrative services organizations, managed care organizations contracted with the health care authority, and provider representatives…
RCW 72.09.400 Work ethic camp program—Findings—Intent.
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The legislature finds that high crime rates and a heightened sense of vulnerability have led to increased public pressure on criminal justice officials to increase offender punishment and remove the most dangerous criminals from the streets. As a result, there is unprecedented gr…
RCW 72.09.410 Work ethic camp program—Generally.
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The department of corrections shall establish one work ethic camp. The secretary shall locate the work ethic camp within an already existing department compound or facility, or in a facility that is scheduled to come on line within the initial implementation date outlined in this…
RCW 72.09.450 Limitation on denial of access to services and supplies—Recoupment of assessments—Collections.
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(1) An inmate shall not be denied access to services or supplies required by state or federal law solely on the basis of his or her inability to pay for them.(2) The department shall record all lawfully authorized assessments for services or supplies as a debt to the department. …
RCW 72.09.460 Incarcerated individual participation in education and work programs—Postsecondary degree education opportunities—Legislative intent—Priorities—Rules—Payment of costs.
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(1) Recognizing that there is a positive correlation between education opportunities and reduced recidivism, it is the intent of the legislature to offer appropriate postsecondary degree or certificate opportunities to incarcerated individuals.(2) The legislature intends that all…
RCW 72.09.465 Postsecondary degree education programs.
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(1)(a) The department may implement postsecondary degree or certificate education programs at state correctional institutions.(b) The department may consider for inclusion in any postsecondary degree or certificate education program, any education program from an accredited commu…
RCW 72.09.467 Postsecondary degree education programs—Reports to the legislature.
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(1) The department, the state board for community and technical colleges, the student achievement council, and the Washington statewide reentry council, in collaboration with an organization representing the presidents of the public four-year institutions of higher education, sha…
RCW 72.09.469 Postsecondary degree education programs—Study.
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(1)(a) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the Washington state institute for public policy shall study enrollment, completion, and recidivism rates of incarcerated individuals in the postsecondary education system postrelease.(b) The go…
RCW 72.09.470 Contributions for cost of privileges—Standards.
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To the greatest extent practical, all incarcerated individuals shall contribute to the cost of privileges. The department may require incarcerated individuals to contribute to the cost of specific privileges designated by the department in accordance with standards that the depar…
RCW 72.09.480 Inmate funds subject to deductions—Definitions—Exceptions—Child support collection actions.
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(1) Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply to this section.(a) "Cost of incarceration" means the cost of providing an inmate with shelter, food, clothing, transportation, supervision, and other services and supplies as may be necessar…
RCW 72.09.490 Policy on extended family visitation.
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(1) The department shall establish a uniform policy on the privilege of extended family visitation. Not fewer than sixty days before making any changes in any policy on extended family visitation, the department shall: (a) Notify the appropriate legislative committees of the prop…
RCW 72.09.495 Incarcerated parents—Policies to encourage family contact and engagement.
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(1) The secretary of corrections shall review current department policies and assess the following:(a) The impact of existing policies on the ability of offenders to maintain familial contact and engagement between inmates and children; and(b) The adequacy and availability of pro…
RCW 72.09.500 Prohibition on weight-lifting.
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An inmate found by the superintendent in the institution in which the inmate is incarcerated to have committed an aggravated assault against another person, under rules adopted by the department, is prohibited from participating in weight lifting for a period of two years from th…
RCW 72.09.510 Limitation on purchasing recreational equipment and dietary supplements that increase muscle mass.
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Purchases of recreational equipment following June 15, 1995, shall be cost-effective and, to the extent possible, minimize an inmate's ability to substantially increase muscle mass. Dietary supplements made for the sole purpose of increasing muscle mass shall not be available for…
RCW 72.09.520 Limitation on purchase of televisions.
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No inmate may acquire or possess a television for personal use for at least sixty days following completion of his or her intake and evaluation process at the Washington Corrections Center or the Washington Corrections Center for Women.[ 1995 1st sp.s. c 19 s 12.]Notes:Findings—P…
RCW 72.09.530 Prohibition on receipt or possession of contraband—Rules.
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The secretary shall, in consultation with the attorney general, adopt by rule a uniform policy that prohibits receipt or possession of anything that is determined to be contraband. The rule shall provide consistent maximum protection of legitimate penological interests, including…
RCW 72.09.535 Corrections identification card—Incarcerated persons.
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(1) The department must issue a department of corrections identification card to an incarcerated person in a correctional facility for identification and use while in that facility.(2) The department must also issue a department of corrections identification card under this secti…
RCW 72.09.540 Inmate name change—Limitations on use—Penalty.
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The department may require an offender who obtains an order under RCW 4.24.130 to use the name under which he or she was committed to the department during all official communications with department personnel and in all matters relating to the offender's incarceration or communi…
RCW 72.09.560 Camp for alien offenders.
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*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2632.SL) ***The department is authorized to establish a camp for alien offenders and shall be ready to assign offenders to the camp not later than January 1, 1997. The secretary shall locate the camp within the boundaries of an existing department faci…
RCW 72.09.580 Offender records and reports.
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Except as specifically prohibited by other law, and for purposes of determining, modifying, or monitoring compliance with conditions of community custody, the department:(1) Shall have access to all relevant records and information in the possession of public agencies relating to…
RCW 72.09.585 Mental health services information—Required inquiries and disclosures—Release to court, individuals, indeterminate sentence review board, state and local agencies.
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(1) When the department is determining an offender's risk management level, the department shall inquire of the offender and shall be told whether the offender is subject to court-ordered treatment for mental health services or chemical dependency services. The department shall r…
RCW 72.09.588 Incarcerated individuals who are pregnant—Midwifery or doula services—Reasonable accommodations.
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(1) The department must make reasonable accommodations for the provision of available midwifery or doula services to incarcerated individuals who are pregnant or who have given birth in the last six weeks. Persons providing midwifery or doula services must be granted appropriate …
RCW 72.09.590 Community safety.
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To the extent practicable, the department shall deploy community corrections staff on the basis of geographic areas in which offenders under the department's jurisdiction are located, and shall establish a systematic means of assessing risk to the safety of those communities.[ 19…
RCW 72.09.600 Rules—Chapter 196, Laws of 1999.
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The secretary of corrections may adopt rules to implement sections 1 through 13, chapter 196, Laws of 1999.[ 1999 c 196 s 14.]Notes:Construction—Short title—1999 c 196: See RCW 72.09.904 and 72.09.905.Severability—1999 c 196: See note following RCW 9.94A.010.
RCW 72.09.620 Extraordinary medical placement—Reports.
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The secretary shall report annually to the legislature on the number of offenders considered for an extraordinary medical placement, the number of offenders who were granted such a placement, the number of offenders who were denied such a placement, the length of time between ini…
RCW 72.09.630 Custodial sexual misconduct—Investigation of allegations.
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The department shall investigate any alleged violations of RCW 9A.44.160 or 9A.44.170 that are alleged to have been committed by an employee or contract personnel of the department, to determine whether there is probable cause to believe that the allegation is true before reporti…
RCW 72.09.650 Use of force by limited authority Washington peace officers—Detention of persons.
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(1) An employee of the department who is a limited authority Washington peace officer under RCW 10.93.020 may use reasonable force to detain, search, or remove persons who enter or remain without permission within a correctional facility or institutional grounds or whenever, upon…
RCW 72.09.651 Use of restraints on pregnant women or youth in custody—Allowed in extraordinary circumstances.
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(1) Except in extraordinary circumstances, no restraints of any kind may be used on any pregnant woman or youth incarcerated in a correctional facility during transportation to and from visits to medical providers and court proceedings during the third trimester of her pregnancy,…
RCW 72.09.652 Use of restraints on pregnant women or youth in custody—Provision of information to staff and pregnant women and youth in custody.
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(1) The secretary shall provide an informational packet about the requirements of chapter 181, Laws of 2010 to all medical staff and nonmedical staff who are involved in the transportation of women and youth who are pregnant, as well as such other staff as the secretary deems app…
RCW 72.09.670 Gang involvement among incarcerated offenders—Intervention programs—Study.
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(1) The department shall study and establish best practices to reduce gang involvement and recruitment among incarcerated offenders. The department shall study and make recommendations regarding the establishment of:(a) Intervention programs within the institutions of the departm…
RCW 72.09.680 Statewide security advisory committee.
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(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 reg…
RCW 72.09.682 Multidisciplinary teams—Inmate job assignments.
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(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 offend…
RCW 72.09.684 Training curriculum—Safety issues—Total confinement correctional facilities.
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(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 co…
RCW 72.09.686 Body alarms and proximity cards—Study and report.
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(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 t…
RCW 72.09.688 Video monitoring cameras—Study and report.
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(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 repo…
RCW 72.09.690 Pepper spray—Plan for use.
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(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, …
RCW 72.09.710 Drug offenders—Notice of release or escape.
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(1) At the earliest possible date, and in no event later than ten days before release except in the event of escape or emergency furloughs as defined in RCW 72.66.010, the department of corrections shall send written notice of parole, community custody, work release placement, fu…
RCW 72.09.712 Prisoner escape, parole, release, community custody or work release placement, or furlough—Notification procedures.
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(1) At the earliest possible date, and in no event later than thirty days before release except in the event of escape or emergency furloughs as defined in RCW 72.66.010, the department of corrections shall send written notice of parole, release, community custody, work release p…
RCW 72.09.713 Prisoner escape, parole, release, community custody or work release placement, or furlough—Notice of work release placement.
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(1) When a victim of a crime or the victim's next of kin requests notice under RCW 72.09.712 regarding a specific inmate, the department shall advise the requester in writing of the possibility that part of the sentence may be served by the inmate in a work release facility and i…
RCW 72.09.714 Prisoner escape, release, or furlough—Homicide, violent, and sex offenses—Rights of victims and witnesses.
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The department of corrections shall provide the victims, witnesses, and next of kin in the case of a homicide and victims and witnesses involved in violent offense cases, sex offenses as defined by RCW 9.94A.030, a domestic violence court order violation pursuant to RCW 7.105.450…
RCW 72.09.716 Prisoner escape, release, or furlough—Requests for notification.
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Requests for notification under RCW 72.09.712 shall be made by sending a written request by certified mail directly to the department of corrections and giving the defendant's name, the name of the county in which the trial took place, and the month of the trial. Notification inf…
RCW 72.09.718 Prisoner escape, release, or furlough—Notification as additional requirement.
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The notification requirements of RCW 72.09.712 are in addition to any requirements in RCW 43.43.745 or other law.[ 2009 c 28 s 39; 1985 c 346 s 4. Formerly RCW 9.94A.618, 9.94A.158.]Notes:Effective date—2009 c 28: See note following RCW 2.24.040.
RCW 72.09.720 Prisoner escape, release, or furlough—Consequences of failure to notify.
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Civil liability shall not result from failure to provide notice required under RCW 72.09.712 through 72.09.718, 9.94A.030, and 43.43.745 unless the failure is the result of gross negligence.[ 2009 c 28 s 40; 1985 c 346 s 7. Formerly RCW 9.94A.620, 9.94A.159.]Notes:Effective date—…
RCW 72.09.730 Schools—Notice to designated recipient of offender release.
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(1) The provisions of this section apply only to an offender released from confinement who:(a) Was convicted of a violent offense or sex offense as those terms are defined in RCW 9.94A.030;(b) Is twenty-one years of age or younger at the time of release; and(c) Has not received a…
RCW 72.09.740 Reimbursement for state patrol expenses towards water line construction for Shelton academy.
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Prior to connection of the Washington correction center in Shelton to the city water system and consistent with Article II, section 40 of the state Constitution, the department must reimburse the state patrol highway account created in RCW 46.68.030 for any expenses incurred by t…