Facility Programs

Community Involvement

Volunteers from the Community

More than 600 community volunteers serve Washington Corrections Center for Women (WCCW) in many capacities, including academic internships, chemical dependency counseling, transition planning, tutoring, creative writing, diversity awareness, HIV/AIDS education, speech classes, theatrical movement, meditation, and staff aids.

Volunteer Programs

Girl Scouts of Western Washington offers the Girl Scouts Beyond Bars Program (pdf), where incarcerated mothers act as leaders to provide craft and educational projects for their daughters. Nationally known groups such as Toastmasters International, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), and Narcotics Anonymous also provide volunteer services.

Serving the Community

Community service inmate work crews conduct grounds maintenance, light repairs, and planting and harvesting tasks. In addition, more than 40 female inmates work on outside crews for facility–related tasks such as general facility and grounds maintenance, and store operations to include stocking, order fulfillment and inventory tasks.

Art in Public Places

The Art in Public Places (AIPP) program facilitates the acquisition, placement, and stewardship of artwork in state-funded building projects throughout Washington. The Washington State Legislature established the AIPP program in 1974 to acquire artwork for educational institutions and state agencies, funded by ½ of 1 percent of the state’s portion of construction costs. Today, the State Art Collection includes more than 4,700 artworks.

Paths of Promise, 2003

Family

Local Family Council (LFC)

Each prison facility maintains a Local Family Council (LFC), providing family members the opportunity to meet regularly with the facility staff to ask questions, receive information, and share their perspectives. Meetings typically involve the facility Superintendent or Associate Superintendent, along with other department representatives and facility visitors. They are generally held during even-numbered months throughout the year, and any approved visitor may attend. To sign up to attend these meetings or join the LFC, contact your Local Family Council Representative.

Statewide Family Council (SFC)

The Department also maintains a Statewide Family Council (SFC), consisting of one elected representative from each of the Local Family Councils, the Statewide Program Manager, and various members of the executive leadership team from DOC Headquarters along with visitors or other community members who have a vested interest. These meetings are open to the public and generally occur during odd-numbered months throughout the year. To see past meeting minutes as well as information on upcoming meetings and how to join, visit the Statewide Family Council site and click on the upcoming agenda; log in information is located in the top right corner of the agenda.

Family Events(pdf)

Family relationships are essential during incarceration and provide emotional support, stability, and a sense of connection that can greatly influence an individual's success both during and after their incarceration. Family friendly events provide the opportunity for incarcerated individuals and their visitors to participate in meaningful, family centered activities that strengthen these bonds. Each year, at least four such events are organized at each facility - two are focused on strengthening adult relationships and two are dedicated to nurturing the child/parent connections. All events have set criteria and must comply with security, safety, and health requirements and in alignment with the Department’s Mission and Core Values.

Family Support and Navigation Guide

Family members experience both a physical and mental loss when a loved one becomes incarcerated. In order to maintain connections and provide support for their loved one, families must learn to navigate their way through the Corrections system. This can be a scary time for all involved. The Family Support and Navigation Guide was developed to provide you with information relevant to your loved one’s incarceration and guide you to resources during your time with Washington State Department of Corrections.

• Family Support & Navigation Guide(pdf)
• Apoyo a la Familia y Guía de Navegación (documento PDF de Adobe)(pdf)

Lodging and Transportation Assistance Program (LTAP)

The Lodging and Transportation Assistance Program (LTAP) was developed to help reduce the financial burden placed on families due to the cost associated with travel to/from a facility. Qualifying applicants may request up to two separate $50 reimbursements to assist with the cost of fuel and/or a hotel stay when visiting their loved on. You can find more information and the application at the link above.

Washington Corrections Center for Women Superintendent

Superintendent Charlotte Headley

Charlotte Headley has been with the Washington Department of Corrections since 1998. During this time, she has held roles in the divisions of Community Corrections and Prisons, to include various uniformed positions from correctional officer to correctional captain in six correctional facilities. Charlotte has also served as the associate superintendent at Washington Corrections Center for Women and, most recently, as the department’s chief of security management.

Charlotte has a focus on using her vast experiences to enhance gender responsive strategies, principles and processes and creating opportunities to help people succeed.

Charlotte earned her associate of science degree at Everett Community College and Bachelor of Arts degree in Law and Justice at Central Washington University. Additionally, she has participated in the National Institute of Corrections’ training on Operational Practices in the Management of Women’s Prisons.