The States & Law Enforcement
Most states in the U.S. operate independent Law Enforcement agencies and
provide services and support to county and city jurisdictions within the state, for
example:
• Traffic patrol of state highway systems
• Investigation support
• Evidence processing & forensics
• Aviation services
• Tactical support
• Protection services for VIPs and Dignitaries, etc.
Washington State & Law Enforcement
Specifically, Washington State Patrol, the state’s Law Enforcement Agency,
provides these, and many more, services throughout Washington:
• Patrol of state highway system through the Field Operations Bureau
• Investigation support through the Investigative Services Bureau
• Evidence processing through the Crime & Toxicology Labs
• Training with the Technical Services Bureau
• Tactical services for other agencies through WSP SWAT
• Neutralization of explosives with the WSP Explosives Unit
• Traffic enforcement and congestion management from the Aviation
Unit
• Canine training facility to find drugs and explosive materials
• Executive Protection Unit provides protection for VIPs
(Washington State Patrol, http://www.wsp.wa.gov)
The States & the Courts
In the United States, non-federal felony trials are conducted by courts on the
county level, with the crimes being tried under laws written by the states.
After a felony conviction, the offender goes into the state-run corrections
system to serve their sentence.
However, they may appeal to their state’s court of appeals and try to have their
case overturned or remanded. Most often the appellate court will uphold the
lower court’s ruling. In that case, they may try to appeal to the State’s supreme
court, and, failing that, to the United States Supreme Court, though very few
cases ever succeed in being heard by the USSC.
The states also assist in the pre-sentencing investigation that help the courts
determine appropriate sentences for offenders.
Alternatives to Confinement
After a defendant is found guilty of a felony crime, in most cases, a
pre-sentence investigation will be performed, looking into their:
• Present offense and previous criminal activity
• Family situation, neighborhood, school and educational history
• Employment history
• Associates and habits
• Physical and mental health
Usually completed by a CCO or available social worker, the pre-sentence
investigation will assist in determining the term the defendant is imprisoned, put
on probation, given a suspended sentence, etc.
Probation in particular has grown as an alternative to imprisonment. Between
1995 and 2003, the number of adults on probation in the U.S. grew 32.4%,
averaging more than 100,000 additional offenders on probation per year.
(Bureau of Justice Statistics Bulletin, July 2004)
Alternative Sentences in Washington
With Washington’s prisons beyond their rated capacity, alternatives to
confinement are critical to managing the overcrowding of prisons, while avoiding
the incarceration of non-violent, low-risk, or first time offenders.
The Washington DOC Community Corrections Division actively keeps track of
nearly 27,000 offenders who are on community supervision. These include
offenders on probation, work release, from out of state, or subject to an
alternative sentence under the Sentencing Reform Act, such as:
• DOSA: Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative
• FTOW: First Time Offender Waiver
• SSOSA: Special Sex Offender Sentencing Alternative
• MISDEAN: Misdemeanor sentences supervised by DOC
Intermediate Sanctions
Methods exist for diverting offenders from spending time in jails and prisons,
shorten sentences, and paying back victims and the community for damages,
such as:
• Restitution
• Day-fines
• Day Attendance Centers
• Electronic Monitoring
• Community Service
• House Arrest
• Split Sentences
• Boot Camps
Judges can impose several sanctions, and even modify existing sanctions in
order to find the most effective combination for an individual offender.
Confinement
State prisons are the backbone of the corrections system, accounting for the
confinement of over 1.1 million felony offenders throughout the United States.
Prison facilities vary depending on their initial purpose and period of
construction.
Once only used for labor and penitence, state prisons have responded to the
needs of individual offenders by offering programming for increased skill
competency, such as education, anger management, substance abuse
counseling, etc.
Striking a balance between punishment and developing skills, dependent on
each individual offender, helps reduce recidivism and gives the offender a
better chance at gainful employment and health social ties. This greatly
benefits the community as well as the offender.
Confinement in Washington
The Washington Correction Center in Shelton is the Reception Center for
offenders in Washington once they’ve been sentenced to prison, with the
exception of death penalty offenders who go straight to the Washington State
Penitentiary in Walla Walla, and female offenders who are sent to the
Washington Corrections Center for Women in Purdy. It normally takes 28 days
for the Initial Classification. Based upon a risk assessment, offenders are
classified into one of four different Security Levels:
• Security Level 4: Close
Heavy supervision, restricted movement, limited property and programming
• Security Level 3: Medium or Minimum 3
Less supervision, freedom of movement, programming opportunities
• Security Level 2: Minimum 2 or Minimum P
4 years or less until release, participation in community work programs
• Security Level 1: Minimum 1
Partial confinement, supervised outings, average stay of 4 months
(Washington Department of Corrections, http://www.doc.wa.gov)
Programming Opportunities in Washington
Washington State DOC offers numerous programs to help offenders deal with
issues such as substance abuse, lack of education, behavioral issues, etc.,
which helps in reducing recidivism and increasing the likelihood of successful
reintegration. Some of the programs are:
• Parenting, such as Partners in Parenting and Long Distance Dads
• CBT, such as Thinking For a Change and Relapse Education Program
• Stress and Anger Management
• Employment Preparation, such as Job Hunter
Opportunities to pay restitution, or structured meetings with their victims also
exist with the aim at healing not only the offender, but their victims and the
community. Community Victim Liaisons provide support for victims of crime,
such as safety planning and release notification.
(Washington Department of Corrections, http://www.doc.wa.gov)
Post Supervision
Due to earned and good time, most offenders are released prior to serving their
entire prison sentence behind bars. However, they are put under community
supervision for the remainder of their sentence and may end up back in prison
for revocation, violating the conditions of their release. Some of these
conditions may include:
• Regulary checking in with a Community Corrections Officer
• Not committing any further crimes
• Not consorting with other known felons
• May not travel outside a geographic area
• May not have access to the internet
• Must register with local law enforcement (sex offenses)
• Must maintain employment and stable housing
Special Population: Female Offenders
The female demographic is the quickest growing prison population. With
requirements and needs that are often different from the mostly male
populations, it is important to take note of the increasing challenges facing
corrections. Female offenders generally:
• Have fewer chances for employment post-release
• Have more often been sexually abused in their past
• Have higher instances of drug and alcohol abuse
• Have unique medical issues not present in male prison populations
• Require more social interaction and structure
• Have more instances of untreated mental health problems
• Pregnant women in prison have further special needs
Female Offenders in Washington
The Washington Corrections Center for Women is the state’s prison for female
offenders, except in the case of death row inmates, who serve at WA State
Penitentiary in Walla Walla. WCCW has a population of 875 female offenders,
and offers numerous programming and activities, including:
• Educational programs through Tacoma Community College
• Prison Pet Partnership Program
• Residential Parenting Program
• Braille Translation Program
• Reintegration Counseling
Just like at the state’s other prisons, offenders have the opportunity to do work
for Correctional Industries, in CAD services, embroidery, etc. This provides vital
savings and applicable job skills for a smoother reintegration after release.
Special Population: Sex Offenders
Offenders serving time for sex offenses need to be given the skills and training
to reduce recidivism. A combination of different counseling and training
methods can be geared toward each individual offender for greater
effectiveness. Some techniques are:
• Sex & Human Sexuality Education
• Stress and Anger Management
• Learning to Identify and avoid high-risk situations
• Relapse prevention and coping skills
Sex offenders are often targeted in prisons by other inmates, and sometimes
need special security or protection measures in place to keep them safe
through their sentence. At the most extreme level, it is sometimes necessary to
put an at-risk individual in segregation to ensure their physical safety.
Sex Offenders in Washington
Washington State follows many of the same treatment methods that are
common throughout the rest of the country. Upon release of a sex offender, an
End of Sentence Review is performed by the Department of Corrections. This
review determines an offender’s risk of re-offense. Some of the criteria they
take into account are:
• Original crime
• Prior criminal activity
• Participation in sex offense programming and treatment
• Social and economic ties, etc.
Periodically a sex offender is deemed to be at such an extreme risk for
re-offense that the case is brought before a Judge to determine if the offender
should be civilly committed after release. The Special Commitment Center,
operated by the Department of Social and Health Services on McNeil Island,
houses high-risk sex offenders who have completed their criminal sentences but
require further mental health treatment.
Political Process in Washington
The Revised Code of Washington (RCW) is the body of state law developed by
the state legislature and signed into action by the Governor. This includes
sentencing guidelines, inclusion of alternative and intermediate sanctions, etc.
The legislature also manages the budget process.
The Secretary for the Department of Corrections is an appointee of the
Governor’s Office. The Secretary oversees the operation of the three branches
of the Department of Corrections.
Funding for Corrections in Washington
Corrections accounts for 2.7% of the Washington State budget, totaling about
$1.7 Billion of the biennial $64,000,000,000 in expenditures in the state.
The cost per offender varies with each facility, but generally speaking:
• Minimum and work facilities costing around $20,000 per offender/year
• Medium and women's facilities around $35,000 per offender/year
• Assisted Living/Intensive Medical Care up to $50,000 per offender/year
Employment Opportunity – Corrections Officer 1
Requirements:
• High School Diploma or GED
• Valid Driver’s License
• Legal ability to carry a firearm
Responsibilities:
• Be a role model for offenders
• Assist offenders in becoming productive members of society
• Use psychological and oral skills to maintain safe environment
• Assist in controlling, directing and monitoring activities and movements
Salary:
• $3,114 - $3,523 monthly, or $37,368 - $42,276 per year
Promotion Opportunities:
• After 1 year training program, Corrections and Custody Officer 2
Employment Opportunity – Communications Officer
Requirements:
• High School Diploma or GED
• Typing skill of at least 35 words per minute
• Prior dispatch, customer service or professional phone experience a
plus
Responsibilities:
• Receive, relay and dispatch emergency calls for service
• Provide assistance to the public and answer 911 calls
Salary:
• $2,460 - $3,107 monthly, or $29,520 - $37,284 per year
Promotion Opportunities:
Communications Officer 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Communications Division Assistant Administrator
Communications Division Administrator
Employment Opportunity – Community Corrections Officer 2
Requirements:
• One year CCO experience, or
• Bachelor’s degree and one year corrections or related experience, or
• Master’s degree in a social science
Responsibilities:
• Manage adult offenders placed in the community
• Work autonomously plan, organize and complete assignments
• May be required to travel often
• May be authorized to carry a firearm dring field contacts
Salary:
• $3,228 - $4,237 monthly, or $38,736 - $50,844 per year
Promotion Opportunities:
• Community Corrections Officer 3
• Community Corrections Supervisor