OCO Monitoring Visits: The practice of routinely inspecting all correctional institutions to assess and report on the facility conditions and treatment of people who are incarcerated. All facilities are inspected, not just those with known problems. Monitoring is critical for ensuring the safety of all people inside. It is a proactive process meant to provide early identification of concerns about conditions and ill-treatment.
November 2024 prison monitoring visits
(In process)
OCO Staff: Caitlin Robertson OCO Action: The OCO Director made an unannounced evening visit to monitor the IMU and the receiving units.
October 2024 = 12 prison monitoring visits
OCO Staff: Zak Kinneman and Angee Schrader OCO Action: OCO staff met with incarcerated individuals in the IMU. OCO Staff: Zak Kinneman and Angee Schrader OCO Action: OCO staff met with incarcerated individuals in the IMU and in G Unit. OCO Staff: Elisabeth Kingsbury and Caitlin Robertson OCO Action: The OCO Director and Deputy Director made an unannounced visit to monitor the body scanner process, the reception center, and to meet with mental health staff. OCO staff also visited with a small group of incarcerated individuals in a living unit dayroom. OCO Staff: Zak Kinneman and Angee Schrader OCO Action: OCO staff visited individuals in the IMU and the COA. OCO Staff: All OCO staff OCO Action: OCO staff & OFCO staff met with incarcerated individuals for our Third Quarter Public Meeting. After the formal presentation, staff and guests met ins mall groups for an hour to answer individual questions. Prior to the meeting, OCO & OFCO staff met with facility leadership, toured the facility, and spoke with CTAP program staff. OCO Staff: Zak Kinneman, Heather Bates, and Angee Schrader OCO Action: OCO staff visited with incarcerated individuals and DOC staff in the COA. OCO Staff: Zak Kinneman and Madison Vinson OCO Action: OCO staff visited the living units and spoke directly with incarcerated individuals in the dayrooms. OCO staff were also provided an unscheduled tour of the SPO outdoor area including the worm farm, garden, and chicken coop. OCO Staff: Zak Kinneman, Stella Spracklin, David Skattebo, and Madison Vinson OCO Action: OCO staff met with incarcerated individuals in Cascade & Olympic Units, and met with students engaged in agility training as part of the introduction to the Construction Trades Apprenticeship Preparation (CTAP) program. OCO staff also met with CTAP staff. OCO Staff: Zak Kinneman, Heather Bates, and Angee Schrader OCO Action: OCO staff visited with incarcerated individuals in the IMU, close custody, and the Hill. OCO Staff also met with DOC staff in the hearings department to follow up on concerns gathered during the Open Hours Pilot in September. OCO Staff: Zak Kinneman and Stella Spracklin OCO Action: OCO staff met with Tier Reps and facility staff about the upcoming quarterly meeting for the incarcerated at CCCC planned for later this month. OCO Staff: Zak Kinneman and Madison Vinson OCO Action: OCO staff visited the Sky River Treatment Center (SRTC) and met with many incarcerated individuals in various units, including the Close Observation Area. OCO Staff: Stella Spracklin, Angee Schrader, Zak Kinneman OCO Action: OCO staff met with the Facility Program Manager, visited with incarcerated individuals and listened to their concerns while providing technical assistance.
Third Quarter = 26 prison monitoring visits
OCO Staff: Stella Spracklin, Jacob Marley, David, Skattebo, Sara Appleton, EV Webb, Jessica Means, Madison Vinson, Angee Schrader, Zak Kinneman, Heather Bates OCO Action: OCO staff conducted the second pilot of the OCO Open Hours Program visiting every living unit at WCCW. During the Open Hours Pilot OCO staff collected concerns, provided in person technical assistance and collected feedback. OCO Staff: Sara Appleton, EV Webb, Jessica Means, Madison Vinson, Angee Schrader, Zak Kinneman, Heather Bates OCO Action: OCO staff conducted the second pilot of the OCO Open Hours Program visiting every living unit at WCCW. During the Open Hours Pilot OCO staff collected concerns, provided in person technical assistance and collected feedback. OCO Staff: Carmen Donovan OCO Action: Visited facility to review concerns of Securus Tablet FYI App information access. Met with incarcerated indivduals and examined their personal tablets to identify issues. OCO Staff: Zak Kinneman OCO Action: OCO staff visited the base camp for DOC fire crews from CCCC and OCC. Crews were deployed to a DNR fire site outside of Bois Forte region. While the line crews were not in camp, OCO staff was able to visit with support staff from the camp and monitored the portable kitchens and met with DNR staff. OCO Staff: Angee Schrader, Madison Vinson, Zak Kinneman OCO Action: Celebrated the graduates of the TRU New Freedom Group. OCO Staff: Jacob Marley & Caitlin Robertson OCO Action: OCO staff met with members of the Washington Way Resource Team in the IMU, spoke with incarcerated individuals working in the CI warehouse, met with members of the Black Prisoner's Caucus, and met with facility leadership. OCO Staff: Heather Bates and Zak Kinneman OCO Action: OCO staff met CCCC staff and representatives of the Department of Natural Resources. OCO discussed a plan to travel with DOC fire crews to visit during a break time while the crews at a fire in the Bois Fort area while the crews were working an active fire. OCO Staff: Zak Kinneman OCO Action: OCO staff attended the regularly scheduled Tuesday evening meeting of the Concerned Lifer's Organization. OCO staff met and spoke with members and sponsors of the CLO. OCO Staff: EV Webb and Sara Appleton OCO Action: OCO staff attended the 5th annual MCC Pride Event. OCO Staff: EV Webb, Angee Schrader, Heather Bates and Zak Kinneman OCO Action: OCO staff met with representatives of the LGBTQIA+ community, Tier Representatives, and individuals in Restrictive Housing. OCO staff also toured the facility laundry operations and spoke with both line workers and leads about concerns raised during the tier rep meeting. OCO Staff: Zak Kinneman OCO Action: OCO staff attended the regularly scheduled Friday evening meeting of the Black Prisoner's Caucus and met with members, the organization's sponsor, and other invited guests. OCO Staff: Sara Appleton OCO Action: OCO staff attended Airway Heights pride event and met with incarcerated individuals attending the event, DOC staff charged with coordinating the event, non-incarcerated guests who attended the event and the non-incarcerated sponsors for the AHCC Pride group. OCO staff also visited the Secretary of State's library inside Airway Heights. OCO Staff: Caitlin Robertson OCO Action: The OCO Director confidentially met with two individuals on Ad-Seg. She also answered questions from various people cell-front while in the IMU. OCO Staff: All OCO Action: OCO staff conducted the first pilot of the new Open Hours Program in Evergreen, Pine, and Cedar living units. During the Open Hours Pilot OCO staff collected concerns, provided in person technical assistance and collected feedback. OCO Staff: Sara Appleton, Stella Spracklin & Jacob Marley OCO Action: OCO staff and a representative from the Correctional Association of New York (which provides independent monitoring and oversight of state prisons in New York) visited the facility kitchen and conducted informal interviews with the food services manager, and incarcerated individuals employed in the kitchens. The OCO also visited H2 housing unit and met with incarcerated individuals who shared positive experiences they have had working in the bicycle and wheelchair repair shop, the Hobby shop, and in the PAWS of Grays Harbor, Freedom Tails program. OCO Staff: Sara Appleton, Stella Spracklin & David Skattebo OCO Action: OCO staff and a representative from the Correctional Association of New York (which provides independent monitoring and oversight of state prisons in New York) visited the facility kitchen and conducted informal interviews with the food services manager, and incarcerated individuals employed in the kitchens. OCO staff also visited the receiving medical screening areas and conducted informal interviews with DOC staff who were preparing for a chain bus to arrive. OCO Staff: Angee Schrader, Heather Bates, Madison Vinson and Zak Kinneman OCO Action: OCO staff traveled to Monroe Corrections Complex and divided into groups of two. Group 1 (Heather Bates and Madison Vinson) did a walkthrough of the medical unit at the Washington State Reformatory and attended a multi-cultural festival taking place at the Minimum-Security Unit. They were able to meet with incarcerated individuals participating in the celebration. Group 2 (Angee Schrader and Zak Kinneman) arranged with facility staff to interview an individual in the Sky River Treatment Unit. Following the interview, they spent the remainder of their time at MCC in the TRU unit. Meeting with incarcerated individuals in several of the living units. OCO Staff: Angee Schrader, Heather Bates, Zak Kinneman OCO Action: OCO staff visited Washington Corrections Center living units Pine, Evergreen and Cedar. Staff also met with individuals in R4 and in the Education building. OCO Staff: Angee Schrader, Stella Spracklin, Zak Kinneman OCO Action: OCO staff met with incarcerated representatives of 12 religious groups to discuss issues between the groups and facility management. Issues that include; access to meeting spaces, when and from what units incarcerated members may gather, and the difficulties surrounding volunteer sponsors required for their group meetings. The OCO team also met with the Religious Coordinator following the meeting with the incarcerated representatives, to discuss the issues raised during the meeting. OCO Staff: Caitlin Robertson OCO Action: The OCO Director met with some of the incarcerated individuals recently transferred from Green Hill School (DCYF) to the Department of Corrections and with facility leadership. OCO Staff: All OCO Staff OCO Action: The OCO staff presented their second quarter public meeting to residents of K Unit, toured the whole facility, and met with various DOC staff. OCO Staff: All OCO Staff OCO Action: The OCO staff presented their second quarter public meeting to representatives of cultural groups, religious groups, and tier reps; toured the whole facility; and met with various DOC staff. OCO Staff: Caitlin Robertson, Stella Spracklin and Zak Kinneman OCO Action: OCO staff members made an unannounced visit to Airway Heights and visited residents in a specific living unit. During the visit, OCO staff completed intake of individual complaints and worked to resolve some issues while at the facility. OCO staff also met with some members of the facility leadership team. OCO Staff: EV Webb & Sara Appleton OCO Action: In preparation for the quarterly meeting OCO staff met with DOC staff to confirm plans and conduct a tech run. OCO staff then visited with people housed in K Unit and spoke with K Unit tier reps to answer questions prior to the meeting. OCO staff attended an LGBTQ Pride group meeting and answered questions the population had about the OCO. This was the first Airway Heights Correctional Center Pride group meeting that the OCO has been able to attend. OCO Staff: EV Webb & Sara Appleton OCO Action: In preparation for the quarterly meeting OCO staff met with DOC staff to confirm plans and conduct a tech run. OCO staff also verified the meeting call out list, and that a requested pre-planning meeting for tier reps; peer mentors; and cultural and religious group leaders has been scheduled. OCO Staff: Zak Kinneman & Angee Schrader OCO Action: OCO staff visited the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton and prioritized meetings with individuals in the various living units. The OCO also had an opportunity to sit in on a quarterly Tier Rep and Facility staff meeting.
Second Quarter 2024 = 21 prison monitoring visits
OCO Staff: Zak Kinneman & Sara Appleton OCO Action: OCO staff had been invited to attend the promotion ceremony and celebration for sucessful TC program participants. The OCO had the opportunity to speak with facility leadership, DOC HQ staff, facility mental health providers, and participants of the TC program. Many TC program participants at the meeting expressed concern related to the lack of transparency provided by DOC staff around the requirement to participate in TC and reentry planning options. Participants also expressed concern about not having enough programming/job opportunities to fill their time, and a desire to be allowed to opt out of TC in favor of other shorter programs with similar goals. OCO Staff: Zak Kinneman & Madison Vinson OCO Action: OCO staff members visited both the Intensive Management Unit (IMU) and the Twin Rivers Unit at the Monroe Correctional Complex. OCO staff did not announce the visit and started with cell front visits in the various pods in the complex. After several hours at the IMU, the OCO traveled to the Twin Rivers Unit, and randomly selected G unit to visit with residents. Concerns related to mold in the facility kitchen were mentioned by the population and after completing the visit to G unit OCO staff then proceeded to the facility kitchen/food prep areas and inspected cold storage units. Photos were taken of the plumbing where evidence of slow leaks and suspected black mold appeared to be present. OCO Staff: Zak Kinneman OCO Action: OCO staff member Zak Kinneman attended the regularly scheduled Local Family Council meeting at MCCCW during the early evening of June 20th. Unfortunately no family representatives were able to attend the meeting. The meeting was also live streamed via TEAMS. There were two tier representatives in attendance and they had an opportunity to speak with Deborah Wofford, Deputy Assistant Secretary - Women's Divison during the meeting via the live stream. OCO Staff: Heather Bates, Madison Vinson OCO Action: OCO staff met with tier reps, peer support members, and representatives from cultural groups to discuss concerns in preparation for the OCO quarterly meeting. OCO Staff: EV Webb, Zak Kinneman OCO Action: OCO staff members attended a Mental Health event sponsored by SCCC Health Care for the incarcerated population put on by the SCCC mental health care team and incarcerated volunteers. Well over 50 individuals attended the event and received certificates for their participation. OCO staff had the opportunity to meet with several individuals on a variety of issues following the conclusion of the event. OCO Staff: Heather Bates, Madison Vinson OCO Action: OCO staff met with individuals in K-unit to discuss the upcoming OCO quarterly meeting and visited the location where the quarterly meeting will be held. OCO Staff: Zak Kinneman, Jessica Means OCO Action: OCO staff attended the Fathers day, Fishing and BBQ event which included attendance and organizational support provided by Puget Sounds Anglers and the Department of Fishing and Wildlife who arranged for a trout pond and loaned fishing tackle for children and fathers. OCO staff also certified the results of the candy contest. OCO Staff: Zak Kinneman OCO Action: OCO staff met with members of the Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Awarness Group to discuss concerns in preparation for the OCO quarterly meeting. OCO Staff: Madison Vinson OCO Action: OCO staff met with individuals at Twin Rivers Unit (TRU). OCO Staff: Caitlin Robertson, PhD OCO Action: The OCO Director attended the Powwow and met with incarcerated individuals and DOC staff. OCO Staff: Zak Kinneman and Stella Spracklin OCO Action: OCO staff attended the Mother's Day Celebration with families and the incarcerated population. OCO staff met with families and met with facility leadership at the conclusion of the event. OCO Staff: Caitlin Robertson, PhD OCO Action: The OCO Director met with incarcerated individuals and staff in close custody in the West Complex. She also met with the Superintendent to discuss current facility specific operations. OCO Staff: Heather Bates, Zak Kinneman, and Angee Schrader OCO Action: OCO staff visited individuals in the North and South IMUs. Staff observed the movement of individuals within the pods and photographed unoccupied cells, day rooms, and recreational yard areas. OCO Staff: Caitlin Robertson, PhD OCO Action: The OCO Director met with DOC staff working in the COA and observed physical unit improvements. She checked on people currently housed in the COA. Then, she met with the Superintendent to discuss current facility specific incidents. OCO Staff: Zak Kinneman OCO Action: OCO staff spoke with residents currently in ad seg and with DOC staff. As part of the solitary confinement project, Zak photographed un-occupied "Dry Cells" in a different part of the facility and visited the Close Observation Area (COA). OCO Staff: Madison Vinson OCO Action: OCO staff met individually with incarcerated individuals in the Sky River Treatment Center (SRTC) and the IMU. OCO Staff: All OCO Staff OCO Action: All OCO staff participated in the OCO's Quarterly Stakeholder meeting held inside a prison. Staff met with incarcerated individuals representing tiers, cultural groups, and the Washington Way. Following the meeting, OCO staff toured the areas past the "Hub" and spoke directly with many incarcerated people working in various industries at CI. OCO Staff: Zak Kinneman and Sara Appleton OCO Action: OCO staff members met with representatives of various cultural groups at Stafford Corrections Center to discuss their participation in the upcoming quarterly meeting to be held at Stafford Creek on Friday, April 19th. OCO Staff: Zak Kinneman, Heather Bates, and Sara Appleton OCO Action: OCO staff visited the IMU, and walked through one of the transfer pods, as well as C - unit, and spoke with incarcerated individuals who live there. OCO staff also met with facility leadership and walked through Sage Unit located at the camp. OCO Staff: Zak Kinneman, Heather Bates, and Sara Appleton OCO Action: OCO staff visited the SMU, K -Unit, the C.I. Factory, and the MSU-camp. Staff spoke with incarcerated indivduals housed at this facility as well as DOC leadership. OCO Staff: Chase Rapach, David Skattebo, Stella Spracklin, and Zak Kinneman OCO Action: In preparation for the Quarterly Community meeting, OCO staff met with incarcerated tier representatives, Washington Way advisory members, cultural groups, and peer mentors to discuss the agenda and key topics. OCO staff also visited the medical unit and with facility leadership to discuss the logistics of the upcoming meeting.
First Quarter 2024 = 25 prison monitoring visits
OCO Staff: Zak Kinneman OCO Action: OCO staff member attended the Father Son Field Day event for families and the incarcerated. OCO Staff: E.V. Webb OCO Action: OCO staff attended the MCC Alliances LGBTQ+ meeting, answered questions about the OCO, and actively participated in the meeting activities. OCO Staff: E.V. Webb OCO Action: OCO staff met with incarcerated individuals in the Intensive Management Unit (IMU). OCO Staff: Zak Kinneman OCO Action: OCO staff met with incarcerated individuals in their living units and met with DOC staff regarding clothing donations for individuals in need of appropriate clothing pending release. OCO Staff: Madison Vinson OCO Action: OCO staff attended the Residential Treatment Unit (RTU) workgroup meeting and participated in the work to create a new RTU policy encompassing the disciplinary process as well as classification and custody. OCO staff also met individually with incarcerated individuals in the Sky River Treatment Center (SRTC) and met with members of the facility leadership team. OCO Staff: Elisabeth Kingsbury, Zak Kinneman, Caitlin Robertson, and Angee Schrader OCO Action: OCO staff, Michele Deitch and Alycia Welch from the Prison and Jail Innovation Lab, and WCCW Supt. Headley and Assistant Supt. Figueira met and informally discussed ongoing Washington Way and Gender-Informed Practices process improvements projects at WCCW. OCO staff and the PJIL Team toured the facility and OCO staff provided on-site, self-advocacy information to multiple incarcerated individuals. OCO Staff: Elisabeth Kingsbury, Zak Kinneman, Caitlin Robertson, and Angee Schrader OCO Action: OCO staff, Michele Deitch and Alycia Welch from the Prison and Jail Innovation Lab, and Supt. Mason met and informally discussed ongoing process improvements projects at WCC. OCO staff provided the PJIL team with a tour of the reception center, receiving units, and the Intensive Management Unit. While walking through the prison, OCO staff provided on-site, self-advocacy information to multiple incarcerated individuals.
OCO Staff: Zak Kinneman OCO Action: OCO staff attended a presentation for individuals enrolled in the CPAT program organized by representatives of the Cement Masons and Plasterers, Local 528. OCO staff met with the program director and union representatives. OCO staff also visited Cascade and Olympic living units and spoke directly with incarcerated individuals on the tiers and in the day room areas. OCO Staff: Caitlin Robertson OCO Action: OCO staff made an unannounced visit to the Dental Clinic and spoke directly with Health Services Staff to discuss long wait times to receive dental care. OCO staff also spoke directly with multiple patients waiting for healthcare services. Finally, OCO staff met with members of the facility leadership team and attended the local family council meeting. OCO Staff: Zak Kinneman, Caitlin Robertson, and Madison Vinson OCO Action: OCO staff were invited and attended the Black Prisoners' Caucus (BPC) regular Friday evening meeting. OCO Staff: Madison Vinson OCO Action: OCO staff met with incarcerated individuals in the Intensive Management Unit (IMU) and in the Sky River Treatment Center (SRTC), as well as met confidentially with an incarcerated person related to their ongoing case with the OCO. OCO Staff: Chase Rapach, Stella Spracklin, and E.V. Webb OCO Action: OCO staff met with tier reps and facility Health Services leadership to discuss updates and ongoing concerns related to health services. This was a follow-up meeting, as requested by the Tier Reps at their October 2023 meeting which OCO staff attended. After meeting with the Tier Reps, OCO staff discussed expanding patient education resources and specific patient concerns directly with Health Services leadership. OCO staff also met with incarcerated individuals living in the segregation unit and visited with various individuals in their general population living units. OCO Staff: Zak Kinneman OCO Action: OCO Staff visited with incarcerated individuals in their living units at WCC, and spoke with members of the Black Prisoners Caucus (BPC), the Concerned Lifers Organization (CLO), and various members of Native American Tribes and Federally Recognized Indian Tribes of Washington. OCO Staff: Sara Appleton and Caitlin Robertson OCO Action: OCO staff met with incarcerated individuals in the Intensive Management Unit (IMU) and in various other living units. Members from OCO also spoke with unit staff and facility leadership. OCO Staff: Zak Kinneman, Angee Schrader, and Madison Vinson OCO Action: OCO staff confidentially met with incarcerated individuals in the BAR Units, IMU South, IMU North, and the Close Observation Areas. OCO Staff: Zak Kinneman, Angee Schrader, and Madison Vinson OCO Action: The OCO staff confidentially met with several incarcerated individuals in IMU South. OCO Staff: Zak Kinneman, Angee Schrader, and Madison Vinson OCO Action: OCO staff met with incarcerated individuals in the Segregation Unit. OCO Staff: Sara Appleton and Zak Kinneman OCO Action: OCO staff met with the Washington Way Resource Team and with program participants in the Washington Way Pod, in the Intensive Management Unit (IMU). OCO staff visited with incarcerated individuals in various living units and toured an unoccupied Extended Family Visit (EFV) unit. OCO Staff: Angee Schrader, Stella Spracklin, Madison Vinson, Heather Bates, David Skattebo, Chase Rapach, and Zak Kinneman OCO Action: OCO staff met with incarcerated individuals about their concerns related to the food at OCC. Prior to visiting the kitchen and with residents of the camp, OCO staff met with facility leadership. Some OCO staff also met with an individual in the Special Housing Unit. OCO Staff: Zak Kinneman, Angee Schrader, and Madison Vinson OCO Action: OCO staff met with incarcerated individuals throughout the facility and met with members of the facility leadership team. OCO Staff: Zak Kinneman, Angee Schrader, and Madison Vinson OCO Action: OCO staff met with incarcerated individuals throughout the facility and met with members of the facility leadership team. OCO Staff: Angee Schrader, Madison Vinson, Heather Bates, Rebecca Glosser, Jessica Means, Zak Kinneman, Sara Appleton, Stella Spracklin, and Caitlin Robertson OCO Action: OCO staff presented our quarterly meeting directly to residents of MCCCW. We met in small groups and answered questions about many topics including, healthcare, resolutions, visitation, programming, and mail. OCO staff invited staff from the Office of the Family and Children's Ombuds (OFCO) to join us. OFCO staff met directly with incarcerated parents and provided self-advocacy on-site. OCO Staff and OFCO Staff also met with residents in their units and with leadership of the facility. The OCO invited the new Assistant Secretary Andrewjeski and the Deputy Assistant Secretary Wofford to join our meeting, and the residents at Mission thanked them for attending the meeting. OCO Staff: Zak Kinneman, Angee Schrader, and Madison Vinson OCO Action: OCO staff met with individuals throughout the facility, including the infirmary. OCO Staff: Zak Kinneman, Angee Schrader, and Madison Vinson OCO Action: OCO staff met with individuals in the Twin Rivers Unit. OCO Action: OCO staff traveled to MCCCW on January 8th as part of preparations of the Public Quarterly Meeting scheduled to be held at MCCCW on the 19th. Staff members toured the facility and met with TIer Representatives from Gold and Bear units. OCO staff also met with individuals inthe living units answering questions and providing information unrelated to the upcoming meeting. Following the time spent with individuals, OCO staff had an opportunity to meet with the facility leadership and discussed areas of common concern raised by the population. OCO Staff: Stella Spracklin, David Skattebo, and Zak Kinneman
