OLYMPIA – Legislation passed today by the Senate would increase access by family members to people experiencing incarceration.
Sponsored by Sen. Derek Stanford (D-Bothell), Senate Bill 6476 would expand extended family visitation access to more family members of individuals experiencing incarceration and would require transparency in Department of Corrections contracts for telecommunication services to prevent exploitative pricing.
In addition, the bill would update eligibility requirements for incarcerated people to be considered “indigent” so they can receive more help from their families to pay for things like commissary goods and phone calls.
“Maintaining connections between people experiencing incarceration and their families is essential to fostering good behavior, rehabilitation, and a reduction in recidivism,” said Stanford. “This bill will help aunts, uncles, and adoptive parents to more easily visit with loved ones who are incarcerated.
“It’s important to make sure the lines of communication are open and reduce the financial barriers to maintaining family ties. These families already bear significant costs stemming from incarceration. Increasing transparency will protect them from excessive or exploitative pricing.”
The bill now moves to the House for consideration.
