DOC Work Release Siting Advisory Committee Completes Work

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 17, 2008

OLYMPIA – The Department of Corrections (DOC) soon will begin discussions with local officials across the state to promote state-wide interest in building new work release facilities to help offenders find jobs and turn away from lives of crime.

A Work Release Siting Advisory Committee report analyzing work release siting needs across the state today was delivered by DOC to the Office of Financial Management (OFM). Discussions with counties and cities will begin after OFM reviews the advisory committee’s report. Some counties already have asked about combining new state work releases with state facilities.

The committee’s report, required by law, unanimously bases its recommendations for the equitable distribution of new work release facilities on the population of the counties. The committee looked at other criteria, such as crime rates and registered numbers of sex offenders, but opted for the county population criteria. Over the next decade, DOC plans to double its current work release capacity of 670 beds.

In addition to focusing on need based on county population, the committee also recommended DOC consider a number of other factors when working with local partners to site work release facilities. They include job availability, public transportation, proximity of law enforcement agencies, drug and alcohol counseling and other factors.

“Work release is an important part of our re-entry strategy which helps offenders get the education, job training, treatment and other support they need before – and after -- they leave prison,” said Eldon Vail, DOC Secretary.

“Work release gives offenders the opportunity to find jobs and housing and re-connect with their families so that they will make decisions that will keep them out of the law enforcement system,” he added.

He noted a recent report from the Washington State Institute for Public Policy, a nationally recognized nonpartisan research organization, found work release programs reduce recidivism by 2.8 percent and felony recidivism by 1.8 percent. The study also found every dollar invested in work release generates $3.82 in benefits.

Anne Fiala, an assistant DOC deputy secretary and the agency’s representative to the advisory committee, said the agency hopes every county or region that needs work release beds will work with DOC to provide them. She added DOC’s priority will be working with counties and cities that indicate a willingness to partner with the agency to provide more beds.

Fiala said DOC’s plan is to begin the siting process by determining which local governments want to work with the department.

Part of that process could mean issuing a formal request for information, which would help identify local government agencies that would consider partnering with the department, she explained.

The members of the Work Release Siting Advisory Committee, and the organizations they represent, were: Chairperson and Thurston County Prosecutor Ed Holm, Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys; Ida Ballasiotes, Families and Friends of Violent Crime Victims and the Washington Coalition of Crime Victim Advocates;; Monroe Police Chief Tim Quenzer, Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs; Pierce County Superior Court Judge John Hickman, Superior Court Judges’ Association; Spokane City Councilperson Nancy McLaughlin, Association of Washington Cities and Mason County Commissioner Ross Gallagher, Association of Washington Counties.

Marie Sullivan, government relations director at the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, and Fiala represented state agencies.

The committee was formed by soliciting nominations from organizations representing crime victim advocacy groups, local government and law enforcement. The final committee membership was selected from the nominees by DOC in order to ensure a broad geographic and urban/rural perspective. The committee first met in Olympia on Aug. 22, 2007 and was televised by TVW. Additional meetings were held in October, November and December. All meetings were announced through press releases, e-mail to interested parties and on the DOC Internet site. Meetings were open to the public and minutes were recorded and posted on the DOC Internet as were the presentations made to the committee. A public comment opportunity was provided at each meeting. An e-mail address was established for obtaining written comments to the committee.

DOC currently has 15 work releases located in Yakima, King, Spokane, Whatcom, Thurston, Cowlitz, Pierce, Kitsap, Clark and Benton counties.

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