News Archive
2023
October
TUMWATER – Following a ruling in the Department of Corrections' favor by a Clark County judge Monday, Larch Corrections Center (LCC), a minimum-security facility near Yacolt, will officially close October 10th. All incarcerated individuals have already gone through the classification process and…
10/04/2023 | KUBI Camp Returns After COVID Hiatus
KUBI Camp counselors and campers at Camp Dudley in August. (Photo courtesy of Chris Wright, Communications Office)
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Camp Dudley, a picturesque YMCA camp on the shores of Clear Lake east of White Pass, has sat eerily quiet in mid-August since…
September
(Brendan Baptiste, Communications Office)
The Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP) celebrated a significant milestone as they marked its 20th anniversary of pioneering environmental and correctional reform. Founded in 2003 at Cedar Creek Corrections Center, the Washington State Department…
Jeremy Garretson, Northern Arapaho, leads the group in dance. (Photo courtesy of Brendan Baptiste, Communications Office)
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Connecting with one's culture has shown to be a useful tool during stages of rehabilitation. One innovative approach…
A gourd growing in the garden at Stafford Creek Corrections Center (Photo courtesy of Lukas D'Ambrosio, Communications Office)
Amidst the walls of Washington State Department of Corrections facilities, a transformative program has taken root, nurturing not…
August
(Lukas D'Ambrosio, Communications Office)
Washington State Department of Corrections' Residential Parenting Program (RPP) reshapes the lives of incarcerated mothers and their babies. This program allows women with sentences of 30 months or less, who come to prison pregnant, to keep their…
08/17/2023 | Beekeeping: A Sustainability in Prisons Project
(Brendan Baptiste, Communications Office)
In an innovative approach to rehabilitation, prisons around Washington State have supported honeybee programs that offer incarcerated individuals a unique opportunity to learn new skills and to contribute positively to society. This program involves…
(Danielle Jimenez, Communications Office)
Concerts for Hope, a nonprofit led by musician and composer Eric Genuis, embarked on a transformative journey to uplift the spirits of those residing within Washington's prisons. This awe-inspiring initiative sought to bring the power of music and…
July
Event attendees and keynote speakers, including SSC Interim President Dr. Jean Hernandez (center right) and Dept. of Corrections Administrator Susie Leavell (center left) were presented with tribal blankets during a traditional blanket blessing ceremony performed…
Megan Pirie, Director of Person-Centered Service
(Photo courtesy of Communications Office)
TUMWATER – Department of Corrections' (DOC) Secretary Cheryl Strange has appointed Megan Pirie as the agency's Director of Person-Centered Services. Pirie is the second…
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Suicide Prevention Plans
Recommendations from Lindsay Hayes
Challenges Unique to Prisons
Common Myths about Suicide
DOC's Commitments to Suicide Prevention Moving Forward
Resources
About
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is one of the leading…
07/06/2023 | News Spotlight: Best Bed Project
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Women's Prison Division Proposal
Units Opening
Larch Corrections Center Closure
Larch Closure Frequently Asked Questions
Resources
About
The Best Bed Project is dedicated to ensuring every incarcerated individual in our care and custody receives the housing assignment…