Washington Must Take Action To Protect Inmates, Court Rules

OLYMPIA, WA — The Washington State Supreme Court sided with petitioners Friday afternoon, ordering Gov. Jay Inslee and the Department of Corrections to take immediate steps to ensure the safety of inmates during the coronavirus outbreak.

A group of lawyers initially filed a lawsuit in March, seeking the release of all inmates over 50, those with underlying health conditions, and incarcerated people within 18 months of their release date. After the first inmate infections were reported at the Monroe Correctional Complex this week, the group filed an emergency motion seeking swift action.

Inmates have said it is impossible to achieve appropriate social distancing measures in prison and have raised concerns about hygiene levels and a lack of available masks.

While the high court's order does not outline what specifically must be done, it requires the governor and the secretary of corrections to "immediately exercise their authority to take all necessary steps to protect the health and safety" of all incarcerated people. Friday's ruling requires state leaders to provide an implementation plan for emergency actions no later than noon on Monday, April 13.

The state must then submit an updated report on what steps have been taken by April 17. According to the court filing, justices will consider the original petition, which seeks the temporary release of more than two thousand at-risk inmates across the state, on April 23.

The first inmate known to have contracted COVID-19 within a state prison was reported Sunday at the Monroe Correctional Complex. By Friday, the state confirmed seven inmates and five staff members at the facility had tested positive for the disease.