The bill aims to establish uniform policies and procedures within Washington's Department of Corrections regarding disciplinary proceedings and administrative segregation. It amends RCW 72.09.015 to redefine terms such as "incarcerated individuals" in place of "offenders," and introduces new definitions, including "administrative segregation," which refers to the temporary removal of an incarcerated person from the general population due to safety concerns. The bill outlines specific circumstances that may warrant administrative segregation, such as escape attempts or serious assaults, and mandates that the department evaluate its practices to minimize the duration of such placements.

Additionally, the bill sets forth procedural safeguards for disciplinary hearings, including the presumption of innocence for incarcerated individuals and the requirement for the facility to prove allegations by a preponderance of the evidence. It also mandates annual reporting on the use of administrative segregation, detailing the number of placements, reasons for those placements, and the average length of stay. The department is required to take steps to reduce the length of administrative segregation if it exceeds 15 days on average. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance transparency and accountability in the management of incarcerated individuals within correctional facilities.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 72.09.015
Substitute Bill: 72.09.015