DOC's Mission Statement and Strategic Plan

Mission Statement

To improve public safety

Vision Statement

Working together for safe communities

Statement of Values

  • Staff as our greatest asset: We are committed to the personal and professional development of our staff, and actively seek staff involvement and a shared sense of commitment and service at all levels.
  • Professionalism and quality of service: As correctional professionals, we demonstrate our commitment through competency, accountability, ethics and pride in work.
  • A safe, healthy work environment: We are committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for staff and offenders.
  • Respect for individuals: We recognize the diversity of individuals and their contributions, and we strive to treat all people - offenders, staff and public - with dignity and understanding.
  • Clear, open, honest communication: We encourage communication that promotes unity, productivity and understanding.
  • People's ability to grow and change: We acknowledge that people - offenders and staff - have the need and ability to grow and change and we support their endeavors.
  • Community interaction: We encourage positive interaction with the community as we strive to promote public safety, community protection and public understanding.

Strategic Plan

The law establishing the Department identifies several broad objectives for the agency. The Department was created to confine people who violate criminal laws and remove many of their personal freedoms as a legal penalty. Another objective established in law is to operate in a manner that provides maximum safety for the public, staff and offenders. DOC also aims to positively impact offenders by stressing personal responsibility and accountability, and by reducing recidivism.

In July 2012, Secretary Bernie Warner outlined five priorities for the Department:

  1. Staff Safety - The safety of our staff is DOC's top priority. To ensure that staff members are safe in their work environments we will prioritize the evaluation of enhanced technology, physical plant improvements and staffing requirements.
  2. Programs - In addition to providing for staff safety, public safety also requires programs that change offender behavior to break the cycle of crime. These programs must be proven to be effective or show promising results and must be applied consistently throughout an offender's time under our jurisdiction
  3. Health Services - We will build on the tremendous progress made over the past few years to reduce health care costs in our prison system. We will continue operating an efficient system and focus on improving the quality of services and ensuring access to health care for offenders.
  4. Prison Capacity - Projections show the prison population will continue to climb and our prison system will need additional beds by 2017. It is a high priority to get funded capacity to safely and effectively manage institutions and include sufficient space for offender programs.
  5. Reengineering of Community Corrections - The implementation of 2ESSB 6204 has created a substantial shift in practice for the community corrections division. We will continue to put this new supervision model into place across the state and expand new services in communities.