OLYMPIA… Sen. Mike Carrell, R-Lakewood, celebrated the unanimous passage of his bill directing the state Department of Corrections to study in-prison programs to help offenders build their moral character and also to protect prison chaplains from violating the tenets of their faith while ministering to inmates.

 

Substitute Senate Bill 6400, which passed the Senate 47-1 on Feb. 18, requires DOC to form a study group to examine the feasibility of creating volunteer programs that would foster the creation of a strong ethical foundation among incarcerated offenders.  The House of Representatives passed the bill 95-1 on March 5 after making a small change to the bill’s intent section.

 

“My bill will really help DOC to look at programs, coursework and perhaps entire facilities to help members of the general prison population turn their lives around by developing their ethical character without fear of reprisal from other inmates,” Carrell said.  “We know that offenders who participate in these programs often go on to lead productive lives once released from prison, which puts less of a burden on state taxpayers and helps to keep our communities safer.”

 

SSB 6400 will now go to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.