For the 2024 supplemental operating budget, the Department of Corrections (DOC) has requested $319.7 million from the general fund–state (GFS) over enacted 2023–25 appropriations (a 10.8% increase).

However, the agency is proposing a potentially costly new policy that is not included in that figure. The agency “requests funding to reduce the use of solitary confinement in Washington State Prisons by increasing correctional and mental health staffing, incorporating enhanced mental health training, and implementing evidence­based systemwide practices.” The request does not include a cost estimate for this policy, which would also have capital budget impacts.

Other major new policy requests from DOC include:

• $58.6 million in 2023–25 and $60.5 million in 2025–27 to incorporate new workload metrics into the community supervision caseload model (and fund more FTEs). According to the agency, a “workload study and subsequent updated caseload model indicates that DOC is understaffed, which presents clear and imminent community safety concerns.” (The workload study, which was required by the Legislature in 2021, is available here.)
• $25.3 million in 2023–25 and $19.2 million in 2025–27 “to increase contraband detection services aimed at reducing the introduction and movement of fentanyl and other dangerous contraband within our facilities.”
• $8.6 million in 2023–25 and $18.1 million in 2025–27 “to expand the use of approved injectable medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD).”
• $7.5 million in 2023–25 and $12.7 million in 2025–27 to fund more nursing FTEs. In 2023, DOC has been fined $10,000 by the Department of Labor and Industries because DOC has mandated overtime for nurses.

Additionally, the maintenance level (the cost of continuing current services, adjusted for enrollment and inflation) requests include:

• $26.7 million in 2023–25 and $27.1 million in 2025–27 to account for the June 2023 forecast of the male offender caseload.
• $32.3 million in 2023–25 and $32.3 million in 2025–27 to increase FTEs, which would “mitigate unfunded overtime costs and reduce the need for mandatory overtime.”

(Previous posts on agency 2024 supplemental budget requests are here.)