WA: Attempt to Create Prison Ombudsman Fails
March 18, 2008 - 2:29pm
For the second legislative session in a row, Senator Jim Kastama from Puyallup sponsored a bill, Senate Bill 5295, that would have created the position of Ombudsman for the Washington Department of Corrections. The Ombudsman would review complaints and report to the Governor’s office rather than to the Department of Corrections. Washington has five ombudsmen connected to other agencies.
A number of serious problems within the DOC have become public this year such as the sexual abuse of women at the women’s prison at Purdy. Senator Kastama felt an Ombudsman also had the potential to investigate and put a stop to these problems. The 2008 legislative session ended in March, and the bill did not pass.
This news brief is based on a story in the Olympian, Bill would create DOC Grievance Program, and on the Washington State Legislature web site. If the links are broken, check the web sites’ archives.
A number of serious problems within the DOC have become public this year such as the sexual abuse of women at the women’s prison at Purdy. Senator Kastama felt an Ombudsman also had the potential to investigate and put a stop to these problems. The 2008 legislative session ended in March, and the bill did not pass.
This news brief is based on a story in the Olympian, Bill would create DOC Grievance Program, and on the Washington State Legislature web site. If the links are broken, check the web sites’ archives.
