NEWS RELEASE: EMBARGOED UNTIL 9 a.m. JULY 3
Contacts: Steve Gehrke, Department of Corrections, Communications Director, (360) 725-8817
Heather McKimmie, Disability Rights Washington, Lead Attorney,

July 3, 2014

Department of Corrections partners with Disability Rights
Washington to Remove Self-Harm Violations
OLYMPIA – Beginning July 4, 2014, the Washington State Department of Corrections will no longer
discipline incarcerated offenders for acts of self-harm, including attempted suicide and self-mutilation.
The decision comes as the agency continues to examine the importance of ensuring the safety and
security of staff while being responsive to offenders’ mental health needs.
“For too long, there has been a short-sighted tradition of punishing or isolating those who are unable to
control their impulses,” explained Scott Frakes, Deputy Director for Prisons. “In too many cases this can
lead to untreated people, whose conditions are worsened by a longer prison stay, releasing directly
from a segregation unit back into the community.”
Together with Disability Rights Washington (DRW), the Department over the past year has examined
issues surrounding segregation practices in Washington state prisons, particularly. Research shows tools
such as treatment, programs and behavior management plans are more effective ways to reduce
occurrences of offender self-harm than punitive or disciplinary actions.
“Based on our work with inmates, we approached the Department of Corrections about changing
discipline practices related to self-harm,” said DRW Executive Director Mark Stroh. “The Department
was immediately responsive to our concerns. DRW has worked successfully with the Department over
the last few years, and will continue to monitor this and other issues through our prison project,
Amplifying Voices of Inmates with Disabilities.”
“This decision is consistent with current research on what works to prevent offenders from harming
themselves,” added Frakes. “We have positive change agent tools such as treatment, programs and
behavior-management plans that effectively decrease the occurrences and risks of self-harm in prisons.”

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 Page 2 – DOC partners with DRW to remove self-harm violations
Inmates in Washington state prisons sometimes are disciplined for failing to adhere to rules designed to
maintain a safe facility, including possessing certain contraband, fighting with other offenders, staff
assaults and attempting self-harm. The self-harm infractions historically have resulted in the loss of
good-conduct time for offenders. In cases where offenders were infracted and lost good-conduct time
only for acts of self-harm and did not engage in other disruptive behavior, good-conduct time will be
restored consistent with timeframe limitations described in DOC policy.
The Department of Corrections will continue to strive to mitigate any risk of harm to staff and offenders.
Safety and security continue to be paramount concerns in corrections. The agency will continue to
identify new tools and explore new interventions that help offenders reduce their risk of committing
misconduct and new crimes, both inside facilities and in the community.

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