Politics & Government

Hurst Co-sponsors Legislation to Enact Prison Safety Recommendations

The public is encouraged to weigh in on the bill during a public hearing this coming Wednesday -- either in person or through the toll-free legislative hotline.

A public hearing is scheduled for 12 p.m. this Wednesday, March 30, for House Bill 2036, introduced by Reps. Kirk Pearson (R-Monroe) and Chris Hurst (D-Enumclaw) on Friday which implements recommendations made in a National Institute of Corrections (NIC) report to better protect corrections staff statewide following the January 29 murder of corrections Officer Jayme Biendl by an inmate at the Monroe Correctional Complex, a news release said.

The report came as a result of a mandate from Gov. Chris Gregoire for an immediate, independent review by the NIC, which outlined 15 recommendations in its report.

“This proposal is not just a response to the terrible tragedy at the Monroe Correctional Complex, but one that will benefit all corrections officers as we move forward with common-sense safety measures,” said Pearson, lead Republican on the House Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee. “My neighbors are suffering and I know her fellow corrections staff is still reeling from the nature of the crime committed. My hope is this legislation takes a terrible event and uses it as an opportunity to better ensure the safest work environment possible in state corrections.”

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“Keeping our families safe is a dangerous job,” said Hursta retired undercover detective and chairman of the House Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee. “It’s our duty to do whatever we can to safeguard corrections officers, and that’s what this legislation is about. We can’t promise that there will never be a tragedy, but we can promise to do all we can, in the memory of Jayme Biendl, to protect corrections officers in every corner of Washington state.”

House Bill 2036 would:

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  • Establish one statewide security advisory committee and local committees at each facility made up of institutional staff, including custody staff, to review policies and make recommendations to Secretary Eldon Vail at the Department of Corrections (DOC) and the governor;
  • Require the DOC to establish multi-discipline offender classification teams at each facility to evaluate offender placement, job assignments and custody promotions;
  • Require the DOC to develop training curriculum regarding staff safety at correctional facilities;
  • Authorize a DOC pilot program for the use of personal body alarms and proximity cards, and mandate the hiring of a consultant to make recommendations about implementing a statewide system with the findings and recommendations presented to the governor and Legislature by Nov. 1, 2011;
  • Require the DOC to hire a consultant to study the use of video monitoring cameras and make recommendations for statewide standards for the positioning and use of the equipment with the findings presented to the governor and Legislature by Nov. 1, 2011; and
  • Authorize a DOC pilot program on the expanded use of pepper spray (OC spray) with certain staff within state facilities with the goal of developing a comprehensive plan for the statewide deployment of the spray, which must be presented to the governor and Legislature by Nov. 1, 2011.

Wednesday's public hearing takes place in the House Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee. 

Pearson and Hurst encourage citizens to weigh-in on the proposal at the public hearing or via the toll-free legislative hotline at 1-800-562-6000.


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