About the Department of Corrections

Mission Statement

The Department of Corrections, in collaboration with its criminal justice partners, will contribute to staff and community safety and hold offenders accountable through administration of criminal sanctions and effective re-entry programs.

What We Do

The Department of Corrections is responsible for administering adult corrections programs operated by the State of Washington. This includes state correctional institutions and programs for offenders supervised in the community.

Leadership

The Secretary of Corrections is the executive head of the Department. The current Secretary is Eldon Vail. The Secretary is appointed by the Governor with the consent of the state Senate.

Agency Size

The Department employs approximately 8,000 men and women and has a current biennial operating budget of $1.5 billion.

Our Goals

The law establishing the Department identifies several broad objectives for the agency. It is to operate in a manner that provides maximum safety for the public, staff and offenders. It punishes those convicted of violating criminal laws by denying them their personal liberty. And it positively impacts offenders by stressing personal responsibility and accountability, and by discouraging recidivism.

Today, a major Department focus is on reducing recidivism—or repeated criminal behavior—through “re-entry” programs that treat the underlying causes of criminal behavior, including lack of education, inadequate job skills, and addiction to drugs or alcohol.

How We Are Organized

The Department’s organizational structure (PDF) includes three major divisions—Prisons, Community Corrections and Administrative Services. Three smaller departments—Health Services, Risk Management and Communications—also report directly to the Secretary.

Divider image - horizontal green bar