News Archive
2024
May
(Brendan Baptiste, Communications Office)
In Washington state, the Department of Corrections (DOC) is making strides to reduce recidivism through housing assistance programs facilitated by housing specialists. To help reduce incarcerated individuals' chances to reoffend, DOC is providing more…
05/08/2024 | Crisis Negotiators: A Key Piece for Success
The Crisis Negotiations Teams (CNT) at the Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC) are frontline stars, working tirelessly to de-escalate crises within correctional facilities. Their role extends beyond diffusing immediate threats; they serve as catalysts for personal growth and conflict…
05/01/2024 | National Nurses Month: Making a Difference
(Brendan Baptiste, Communications Office)
As we celebrate National Nurses Month, it is vital to shine a spotlight on a special group of healthcare professionals: correctional nurses. This year's theme “Nurses Make the Difference” resonates deeply within the walls of our correctional…
April
Patrick Lester Clay (DOC 908566)
MONROE – 59-year-old Patrick Lester Clay (DOC 908566) was apprehended without incident in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Seattle Monday night – he is back in custody with the Washington State Department of Corrections where he…
04/25/2024 | Second Chance Month with Danielle Armbruster
(Brendan Baptiste, Communications Office)
As April draws to a close, so too does Second Chance Month. This time was used as a period of reflection and action for criminal justice organizations and the agencies they partner with. The Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC) believes…
04/17/2024 | Mission Creek Corrections Center for Women Launches First Facility–Wide Contact Employee Program
Tonie, an incarcerated individual at MCCCW, was given the honor of cutting the ceremonial ribbon with Officer Jonathan McNally at her side. (Photo Courtesy of Lukas D'Ambrosio, Communications Office)
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In a symbolic event marked by hope and…
04/10/2024 | Washington’s Way Forward: Reentry Centers Reimagined
(Lukas D'Ambrosio, Communications Office)
The Wenatchee Valley Reentry Center, inaugurated in September 2023, marked a significant milestone in Washington state's approach to rehabilitation and community integration. Embracing the Amend and Washington Way principles, the center was…
Photo Courtesy of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
TUMWATER – This week is National Library Week. The 2024 theme is “Ready, Set, Library,” and what better time to announce a unique prison partnership between Imagination Library of Washington, the statewide…
04/03/2024 | Embracing Second Chances
(Lukas D'Ambrosio, Communications Office)
Second Chance Month, observed in the United States every April since 2017, serves as a poignant reminder of the transformative power of redemption and the importance of providing opportunities for individuals who have completed their sentences to…
March
03/27/2024 | Giving Incarcerated Women a Voice and a Choice
Quotes: Handwritten statements from participants of the bra pilot program. (Photo courtesy of Emily Boone, Communications Office)
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March is Women's History Month – a time to celebrate the contributions women have made to the world. This year,…
Incarcerated individual, Rodney Herbert takes a photo with his daughters Talyah and Mahealani. (Photo courtesy of Brendan Baptiste, DOC Communications)
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At Cedar Creek Correctional Center, days can often be a little monotonous, but recently an…
February
Deputy Assistant Secretary Jeff Uttecht (middle) joined by prison leadership (left to right) Deputy Secretary Sean Murphy, Deputy Assistant Secretary Jo Wofford, Assistant Secretary Don Holbrook, Secretary Cheryl Strange, Deputy Assistant Secretary Eric Jackson,…