Washington Spends Only Fraction of Fund to Improve Prisoner Welfare
On October 25, 2024, the Washington Department of Corrections (DOC) announced that it tapped $1.3 million from its Incarcerated Individual Betterment Fund (IIBF)—money that had not been spent, the agency added. Funded 90% by kickbacks from prisoner phone calls provided by Securus Technologies, IIBF has grown to $12 million, even after 25% of the kickbacks collected went to the state Department of Labor and Industries to distribute through its victims’ compensation program, as provided under RCW 72.09.095.
The rest is supposed to be used for the benefit of prisoners. But DOC was tapping IIBF to pay salaries for 28 guards. They are now paid from other sources, which explains how the large surplus accumulated. It doesn’t explain why DOC is sitting on the money though.
“Nothing really changes or happens with that money,” said Greg Mansfield, vice chair of the DOC’s advisory family council. “The amount in there just grows and grows and grows.”
For the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2024, the DOC collected $4 million for IIBF but spent only some on holiday décor and travel reimbursements for prisoners’ visitors. Prisoners are often unaware that the fund exists, and there is no clear process to request funds. Mansfield agreed that IIBF programs are helpful, but the DOC fails to promote them. Many families are unaware that the travel reimbursement program will pay them up to $50 twice a month for travel or lodging while visiting a prisoner.
Kristel Monte, another advisory board member, finds it difficult to get the DOC to consider her fund requests, even a small one for colored pencils and paper that children could use during family visits. Meanwhile, state Sen. Drew Hansen (D-Bainbridge Island) has been advocating for free phone calls from prison, which would starve IIBF of its main funding source.
“The whole structure of charging people in prison for some very basic services [like phone calls] is not terribly sensible,” Hansen said.
Source: Seattle Times
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