News Archive
2026
November
11/10/2026 | 250 Years of Having Each Other’s Back: How a Mural Is Helping Incarcerated Veterans Heal
Troy Oakes, left and Janson Smalling, right stand in front of a mural they painted at the entrance of the Stafford Creek Corrections Center. Photo Gallery
ABERDEEN—On an expansive set of walls inside the veteran’s pod at Stafford Creek Corrections Center,…
The Indeterminate Sentence Review Board (ISRB) December 2026 and January 2027 hearings list.
11/04/2026 | Starting a Brand New Chapter: Bookelicious Pilot Helps CPA, FOSA Parents Rebuild Bonds at Home
TUMWATER—Three-year-old Asher flashed a toothy grin when he saw the book with brightly-colored cartoon dinosaurs on the cover. While his dad, 43-year-old Thomas Jesse Rasher, began turning the pages, the toddler started rattling off the tongue-twisting names of the Jurassic protagonists with ease: Pterodactyl! Brachiosaurus! Triceratops! Stegosaurus!
October
GIG HARBOR—The gym at the Washington Corrections Center for Women, WCCW, was transformed into a vibrant celebration of culture, music and heritage during an Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, ANHPI, event on Aug. 15.
The Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC) has reached a significant milestone in the McNeil Island wastewater feasibility study, an important project focused on improving environmental stewardship while supporting the long-term operations of McNeil Island. The study provides DOC with technical, environmental, and cost information needed to evaluate long-term wastewater solutions for McNeil Island...
10/13/2026 | ISRB Press Release: October 2026 Hearings
The Indeterminate Sentence Review Board (ISRB) October 2026 hearings list.
Incarcerated Individual Tony Houck scans and verifies inventory items. Photo Gallery
TUMWATER – Correctional Industries (CI) recently celebrated a years-long business modernization project with the go-live of RF-Smart at CI headquarters. Transitioning CI’s…
September
An incarcerated individual helps to hang a pinata for the kids. See Photo Gallery
A cold bar filled with cucumbers, pineapple, watermelon, bottles of Tajín and chamoy, piles of crunchy duros, hot sauce and ice-cold cups of Jarritos, provided snacks before…
09/23/2026 | Innovating Prevention: How Dr. Ashley Espitia is Changing Suicide Prevention Behind Bars
OLYMPIA—Growing up, Dr. Ashley Espitia’s dinner table conversations were different than most. Her father and several family members worked as traditional corrections officers in the California prison system. She would often hear stories of critical situations prison staff are called to respond to—contraband searches, breaking up fights and medical emergencies.
09/22/2026 | ISRB Press Release: September 2026 Hearings
The Indeterminate Sentence Review Board (ISRB) September 2026 hearings list.
LACEY—Jeff Gunsolley will always remember his partner as a workaholic.
“He always made it look like I knew what I was doing,” Gunsolley said. “Anybody who was here who ever saw Pip deploy, you just knew he was ready to go. His ears would pop forward and he would just sit there and look at me. He went to work with me every day and if I didn’t take him to work, I’d catch hell. He would bark all day long and would be a total jerk.”...
“He always made it look like I knew what I was doing,” Gunsolley said. “Anybody who was here who ever saw Pip deploy, you just knew he was ready to go. His ears would pop forward and he would just sit there and look at me. He went to work with me every day and if I didn’t take him to work, I’d catch hell. He would bark all day long and would be a total jerk.”...
August
08/02/2026 | AHCC Wildfire Update
The Old Trails fire that has destroyed hundreds of homes in Spokane County continues to burn roughly six miles northeast of Airway Heights Corrections Center (AHCC). Currently, the facility is not under an evacuation order and remains safe to operate. AHCC has emergency response plans in place and…