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Freedom of Information: Covering Prisons
Covering Prisons: Washington

Washington Department of Corrections Web site.

State Policies Governing Media Access
View the Washington Department of Corrections policy governing media access and public information.

Requests for interviews may be initiated by the inmate or the media representative. The media representative, working though the public information officer, is responsible for contacting the inmate regarding his/her willingness to be interviewed. An inmate may also contact the news media to express a desire to be interviewed.

To conduct an interview, submit a written application to the public information officer at least five days before the anticipated visit. Include: names of news organization and representatives, purpose of visit, expected date, time and duration of visit, identity of staff and inmates to be interviewed, proposed use of photos, interviews and recordings collected during the visit; and the information needed for background checks.

SPJ State Sunshine Chair Susan Ross says most state policies are also subject to policies at specific institutions, so contact the institution you would like to visit for additional details.

Rules Governing Reporting Tools
All recordings and photography require consent from those being photographed or recorded.

Visitation List Rules
View the Washington Department of Corrections policy governing inmate visitation.

Execution Witness Policies
View the Washington Department of Corrections policy governing capital punishment.

View information about capital punishment at the department’s Web site. A portion of the site is relevant specifically to witnesses to executions.

Those who wish to serve as witnesses must submit an application to the superintendent no less than 20 days before the scheduled execution. State the relationship and reason for wishing to attend. The superintendent determines the number of witnesses.

Required Forms
View the following Washington Department of Corrections forms.

— Inmate Consent to Contact with News Media
— Media Visit Information Sheet
— News Media Agreement
— Release for Publication of Name/Photograph

State Correctional Contacts
Washington Department of Corrections
P.O. Box 41101
Olympia, WA 98504-1101
360/753-2500Joseph D. Lehman, Secretary
360/753-2500

Veltry H. Johnson, public information coordinator
360/753-1550
Fax: 360/664-4056
Vhjohnson@doc1.wa.gov

Gov. Gary Locke
Office of the Governor
PO Box 40002
Olympia, WA 98504-0002
Governor’s Office 360/902-4111
Fax: 360/753-4110

SPJ Project Sunshine Chair Contact Information
The Society's Project Sunshine chairs in each state monitor FOI activities and report to the national SPJ FOI Committee. These individuals are a valuable resource for state FOI Information as they organize and monitor state and local FOI efforts.

Contact SPJ’s Project Sunshine Chair in Washington.