Washington's prisons will begin phasing out the practice of solitary confinement

Washington state is planning to significantly reduce the number of times it sends incarcerated people to solitary confinement —a 90% reduction by 2028.

The Washington State Department of Corrections said this is part of a move toward a "more humane corrections system."

“The research is clear on solitary confinement,” said DOC Secretary Cheryl Strange in a statement. “It causes long-lasting harm. While it can be an effective way to deter violence, spending prolonged periods of time in isolation has devastating effects on an individual’s mental and physical health long after they leave our facilities.”

Strange notes that Washington's prison system has experienced a downward trend in incarcerations, and that about 70% of state prison beds are currently occupied. She expects fewer and fewer people will be sent to prisons over the coming decade. The DOC states this is partially because of the Blake Decision. The ruling has resulted in drug possession being knocked down from a felony to a gross misdemeanor, and only people convicted of felonies are sent to state prisons.

“We already have one of the lowest rates of incarceration in the nation,” Strange said. “DOC has worked diligently to lower recidivism rates, create better neighbors and ensure that incarcerated individuals don’t return to us once they get out. Of course, our continued success means we can no longer afford to operate all of the prisons we currently have.”

Meanwhile, state corrections officials announced the closing of the Larch Corrections Center in Clark County (about 25 miles northeast of Vancouver, Washington). In 2021, DOC closed several units in the Monroe Correctional Center. Ten years earlier, it shut down operations at the McNeil Island Corrections Center.