Washington Governor Jay Inslee has signed a new executive order aimed at improving the reentry process for individuals leaving prison, which he announced at the University of Washington Tacoma. The order seeks to develop a comprehensive system to support people transitioning back into their communities, focusing on critical areas like housing, employment, health care, and mental health services.
The initiative includes collaboration between state agencies to ensure that those released from prison are equipped with proper identification and access to social services. It also requires the state Department of Corrections and the Department of Children, Youth & Families to design personalized entry and exit plans tailored to individuals’ needs.
Additionally, the initiative joins Washington in the national Reentry 2030 campaign, which aims to reduce recidivism by enhancing reentry services. Inslee stressed that the effort is fundamentally about public safety, helping people avoid returning to prison by ensuring they have the tools and support necessary for success.
Washington is now the sixth state to adopt Reentry 2030, joining Missouri, Alabama, North Carolina, Nebraska, and New York. This builds on previous efforts, including a 2016 executive order, which Inslee says has already cut recidivism rates by 30% within three years of release.
The order also focuses on preparing individuals for employment, such as collaborating with the Employment Security Department and expanding access to driver education and testing. Progress reports are due annually starting in 2025. Inslee’s order encourages other state entities to adopt similar provisions to help those leaving prison succeed in their communities.
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