Volunteer Program

The Volunteer Program is a cornerstone of the Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC) mission to improve public safety. Dedicated Volunteers generously donate their time, experience, and unique talents to offer life-changing opportunities that DOC alone could not provide. 

Why Volunteers are crucial

  • Bridge the Gap: Volunteers provide a connection to the outside world, helping incarcerated individuals prepare for successful transition back into society.
  • Share Expertise: From religious services and self-help groups to teaching real-life skills and cognitive behavioral change and religious services, volunteers bring specialized talents that the agency cannot provide alone.
  • Impact Lives: By offering their time and knowledge, volunteers influence positive lifestyle changes, reduce idleness, and improve the overall environment within our facilities.

Post COVID Resurgence

  • After nearly a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are witnessing a powerful resurgence in civic engagement.   Our volunteer base has grown from zero in 2021 to over 1,600 dedicated individuals contributing nearly $2 million in service value by 2025. These volunteers provide the humanity and mentorship essential for positive behavioral change, directly impacting safety of our facilities and our communities.
Volunteer Program Growth Data (2020-2025)
The following data highlights the inspiring recovery of our volunteer community following the pandemic-era shutdowns
Year Number Volunteers Volunteer Hours Volunteer Worth (per hour) Total Values of Services

2025

 1,683 46,523 $41.70 $1,940,009.10
2024 1,547 41,979 $40.28 $1,690,914.12
2023 1,066 28,841 $37.63 $1,085,286.83
2022 614 4,308 $34.87 $150,219.96

2021

 0 0 $33.75 $0.00
2020 0 0 $33.02 $0.00

About the Program

The Department of Corrections (DOC) actively recruits from and engages with educational, cultural, religious, and various socioeconomic groups in the community in pursuing volunteers (DOC 530.100 ). Volunteers "improve public safety by positively changing lives".  They support this mission through several key roles:

  • Increasing Reentry Capacity: Volunteers act as a "vital link to the community," helping incarcerated individuals prepare for successful transition back into society. Their involvement increases the agency's capacity to support reentry by providing mentorship and teaching "real-life skills".
  • Influencing Behavioral Change: By sharing unique talents, professional expertise, and life experiences, volunteers influence positive lifestyle changes and promote "positive reintegration". Programs led by volunteers often focus on personal accountability and cognitive behavioral changes that help reduce recidivism.
  • Maintaining Safe Environments: Volunteers contribute to a "safe and humane corrections system" by reducing idleness among the incarcerated population through educational, cultural, and religious programming.
  • Supplementing Specialized Services: They supplement agency efforts by providing services that staff alone cannot, ranging from educational tutoring and substance abuse support to specialized religious and cultural programs.
  • Building Community Partnerships: The Volunteer Program is a "comprehensive, proactive program" that fosters public understanding and encourages community members to become "active stakeholders" in the correctional process.

Per RCW 72.09.060, the Department maintains dedicated staff to develop programs encouraging citizen advisory groups and public involvement.

Join Our Mission: Opportunities & How to Apply

We are actively seeking dedicated individuals for roles in education, mentorship, and religious services and more!  Contact the facility you are interested in and find out what opportunities are available and how to apply!

Qualifications

Per RCW 51.12.035, a "volunteer" is a person who performs duties for the state by their own free choice, receives no wages, and is registered and accepted as a volunteer by the state for the purpose of engaging in a volunteer service. At the Department of Corrections (DOC), all volunteer services provided must be in accordance with Department policies and guidelines.

To ensure facility safety and security, all prospective volunteers must:

Before Volunteering, Understand the Prison Rape Elimination Act

The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) is a federal law aimed at preventing, detecting, and responding to sexual abuse in confinement. The Washington DOC has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual misconduct. As part of the application process, all volunteers must undergo specialized PREA screening and training to understand their responsibilities and help maintain a safe environment for all.

PREA prohibits sexual misconduct in correctional settings such as prisons, jails, lockups, and juvenile facilities. Sexual misconduct under this law includes:

  • Incarcerated individual-on-incarcerated individual sexual assault and abuse
  • Staff-on-individual sexual misconduct (sexual/inappropriate relationships with incarcerated individuals)
  • Individual-on-individual and staff-on-individual sexual harassment

The Department has zero tolerance for sexual offenses committed against incarcerated individuals by other incarcerated individuals, as well as sexual offenses committed by employees, volunteers, and contract staff. DOC has designed and implemented PREA training specific for staff, contractors, volunteers, and incarcerated individuals. The Information for Staff, Contract Staff and Volunteers PREA brochure provides additional information and volunteer responsibilities.

How to Apply

Contact the facility you are interested in and find out what opportunities are available and how to get involved!

For more information or questions on volunteer programs, please send an email to DOCVolunteerProgram@doc.wa.gov

Resources

Below are Department of Corrections (DOC) policies, that apply to volunteering.

Policies

Forms

Laws & Regulations

Below are state laws (RCWs) and regulations (WACs) that apply to volunteers.

Revised Code of Washington (RCW)

Washington Administrative Code (WAC)

Publications

Volunteers & Religious Contractors Training

Language Contractor Training

This is the only training required of the Language Interpreters.

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