Washington's Department of Corrections (WADOC) has made the most ambitious voluntary commitment to reducing solitary confinement of any state system in this series: a stated goal of 90% reduction over five years, announced in 2023, dependent on legislative funding estimated at $228 million over five years. The Solitary Confinement Transformation Project (SCTP) has shown real results in a pilot context -- an August 2024 pilot at Stafford Creek Corrections Center (SCCC) achieved a 77% reduction in solitary conditions with everyone getting at least 2 hours out of cell per day, and average out-of-cell time increased 83% within 35 days of implementation. Statewide, the most restrictive solitary conditions decreased 14% from January 2023 through mid-2025.
But as of Q1 2026, over 800 people were still in maximum custody solitary confinement and administrative segregation in Washington prisons. The Office of the Corrections Ombuds (OCO) -- Washington's independent oversight body for DOC -- published a three-part series of solitary confinement reports (Part I, June 2024; Part II, September 2024; Part III, April 2026) documenting systemic concerns and noting WADOC has not been publishing the planned progress updates it committed to provide. Washington has no statute limiting adult solitary confinement in state prisons.
What Solitary Confinement Is Called in Washington
WADOC uses two specific definitions:
Solitary confinement: Confinement of a person alone in a single-occupancy cell for more than 20 hours per day without meaningful human contact, out-of-cell activities, or opportunities to congregate.
Restrictive housing: A housing assignment for incarcerated people whose presence in general population is deemed to present a danger to self, others, or facility security. Uses enhanced security buildings with single-occupancy cells. Can involve varying levels of out-of-cell time.
WADOC notes that these are distinct -- a person can be in restrictive housing without meeting the definition of solitary confinement if they receive sufficient out-of-cell time. Critics including the OCO have noted that WADOC's operational definition of "solitary confinement" allows conditions that are significantly restrictive without meeting the technical threshold, and that some specialized units outside restrictive housing buildings may hold people in similarly restrictive conditions.
The types of restrictive housing in WADOC:
Intensive Management Unit (IMU): The most restrictive solitary confinement unit. Snake River Correctional Institution (Oregon) was mentioned in the prior series article; Washington has IMUs at multiple facilities including SCCC.
Administrative Segregation: Non-punitive long-term separation for safety, security, or management reasons. Open-ended.
Maximum Custody: The highest custody designation in WADOC for people deemed too dangerous for general population.
Investigative Segregation: Short-term isolation pending investigation of an incident.
The Solitary Confinement Transformation Project (SCTP)
In 2023, WADOC announced the SCTP -- a plan to reduce solitary confinement by 90% over five years. Key elements:
- Minimum 4 hours of out-of-cell time as the goal across DOC facilities.
- Estimated cost: $228 million over five years, dependent on legislative funding.
- A partnership with academic institutions (University of Washington, UC Irvine) and non-profits (Vera Institute of Justice) for research and guidance.
- September 2023: WADOC published its SCTP roadmap.
- January 2025: WADOC and consulting group Falcon Inc. published an interim report.
The SCCC Pilot (August 2024)
In August 2024, WADOC implemented a pilot of the SCTP at Stafford Creek Corrections Center's Intensive Management Unit. Documented results:
- 77% reduction in the number of individuals in solitary confinement conditions at SCCC IMU.
- Everyone getting out of their cells at least 2 hours per day.
- Average daily out-of-cell time increased 83% within 35 days of implementation.
WADOC called this evidence the 90% statewide reduction is feasible. The OCO noted in Part III (April 2026) that the pilot result, while positive, does not in itself demonstrate that statewide implementation is feasible at scale, and that WADOC has not published the promised follow-up reports.
Current Status (2026)
As of Q1 2026: over 800 people remain in maximum custody solitary confinement and administrative segregation -- down from over 600 in mid-2024, which itself was a reduction from earlier years.
The OCO's April 2026 Part III report noted:
- Ongoing concerns about WADOC's pace of progress.
- WADOC has not published planned updates on the SCTP.
- WADOC's 90% reduction commitment focuses on solitary confinement as defined (20+ hours/day), not on maximum custody or administrative segregation -- meaning large numbers of people in the most restrictive conditions do not count against the stated goal.
- Devices and tactics used by WADOC to gain compliance are described as "dehumanizing and traumatizing."
Legislative History
HB 1087 / SB 5135 (2023-2024 session): Would have created a general prohibition on solitary confinement except for emergency purposes, medical isolation, or voluntary request, beginning July 1, 2024. Would have capped emergency solitary at 15 consecutive days / 45 cumulative days per fiscal year. Would have required transition plans by April 1, 2024. The bill passed the House Community Safety, Justice, and Reentry Committee but stalled in the House Appropriations Committee in 2023 without a vote. It remains pending as of the 2024 session.
Washington is not among the 12 states identified by the Unlock the Box Campaign as having passed solitary confinement legislation between July 2024 and July 2025.
Youth Solitary Confinement
Washington state has taken stronger action on youth solitary confinement than adult:
- 2020: Washington legislation prohibited solitary confinement as punishment for juveniles and limited isolation to emergency safety purposes of up to 4 hours.
- King County: Passed a 2017 ordinance banning solitary for youth in county detention facilities.
The independent oversight body, the Office of the Corrections Ombuds, was created in 2018 and has statutory authority to investigate DOC conditions and publish reports.
What Families Can Do
If your person is in restrictive housing at a Washington state prison:
Find where your person is housed. WADOC provides an offender search at doc.wa.gov. This confirms current facility and housing status.
Contact the facility. Contact the facility's administrative staff to confirm your person's current housing category (administrative segregation, maximum custody, IMU, or investigative segregation), the stated reason, the start date, and the review schedule.
Know the 4-hour goal. WADOC's stated goal is a minimum of 4 hours out-of-cell per day across all restrictive housing. If your person is receiving significantly less than 4 hours, document this and file a grievance -- this falls short of WADOC's own stated standards.
Know the solitary definition gap. WADOC's definition of solitary confinement (20+ hours/day) means people receiving 4-19 hours out of cell are not counted as being in solitary, even if significantly isolated. Conditions at this level can still be harmful.
Document transition planning. The SCTP requires WADOC to develop transition plans for people in solitary conditions. Ask whether your person has an active transition plan and what the pathway to less restrictive housing looks like.
Contact the Office of the Corrections Ombuds. The OCO (oco.wa.gov) is Washington's independent corrections oversight body with statutory authority to investigate DOC conditions and complaints. The OCO has published three major solitary confinement reports and takes individual complaints. Filing with the OCO creates an independent oversight record.
File a grievance. WADOC has an administrative grievance process. Help your person file formal grievances for out-of-cell time below WADOC's stated standards, denial of transition planning, or conditions violations.
Contact Disability Rights Washington. DRW (disabilityrightswa.org) has published a report on solitary confinement in Washington county jails and monitors WADOC conditions for people with disabilities.
Contact Survivors Opposed to Solitary (SOS). SOS is a Washington-based advocacy coalition that led the push for HB 1087 and continues to monitor WADOC's SCTP implementation.
Seek legal help. If your person has a disability and is in solitary conditions without appropriate care, or if transition planning has been denied, consult a prisoner rights attorney familiar with Washington federal courts.
Frequently asked questions
What is solitary confinement called in WA prisons?
WADOC defines solitary confinement as confinement alone in a cell for more than 20 hours per day without meaningful human contact, out-of-cell activities, or opportunities to congregate. Restrictive housing is defined as housing for people whose presence in general population presents a danger. Types: Intensive Management Unit (IMU), administrative segregation, maximum custody, and investigative segregation. WADOC's 4-hour out-of-cell goal is the minimum target across all restrictive housing.
What is WADOC's 90% solitary reduction commitment?
In 2023, WADOC announced the Solitary Confinement Transformation Project (SCTP) -- a plan to reduce solitary confinement by 90% over five years. The plan requires an estimated $228 million in legislative funding over five years, includes a minimum 4-hour out-of-cell goal, and was developed with academic partners (UW, UC Irvine) and Vera Institute. The OCO's April 2026 report noted concerns about WADOC's pace and its failure to publish promised progress updates.
What did the SCCC pilot project achieve in August 2024?
The August 2024 pilot at Stafford Creek Corrections Center's IMU achieved: 77% reduction in individuals in solitary confinement conditions; everyone getting at least 2 hours out of cell per day; and average daily out-of-cell time increasing 83% within 35 days. WADOC cited this as evidence the 90% statewide reduction is feasible. The OCO's April 2026 report noted that pilot results do not in themselves demonstrate statewide feasibility, and that WADOC has not published the planned follow-up reports.
How many people are in WA solitary confinement now?
Over 800 people were in maximum custody solitary confinement and administrative segregation in Q1 2026, according to WADOC data -- down from over 600 in mid-2024. The OCO April 2026 report noted that WADOC's 90% reduction goal is defined around "solitary confinement" (20+ hours/day), while maximum custody and administrative segregation -- which hold large numbers of people in highly restrictive conditions -- do not count against the stated goal.
What has the Office of Corrections Ombuds found in WA?
The OCO has published three major solitary confinement reports: Part I (June 2024), Part II (September 2024), and Part III (April 2026). Key findings: WADOC's 90% reduction plan focuses on a narrow definition of solitary; many people in highly restrictive conditions are not counted; devices and tactics to gain compliance are dehumanizing and traumatizing; WADOC has not been publishing planned progress updates; and WADOC's commitment to reducing maximum custody and administrative segregation is unclear. The OCO stated it "has ongoing concerns about the reality" of WADOC's implementation plan.
Does Washington have a law limiting solitary confinement?
Not for adults in state prisons. HB 1087 / SB 5135 (2023-2024 session) would have created a general prohibition on adult solitary confinement except for emergencies, with a 15-day consecutive cap, but stalled in the House Appropriations Committee. Washington passed legislation in 2020 limiting solitary for youth in juvenile facilities to emergency safety purposes of up to 4 hours.
Are mentally ill prisoners protected from solitary in WA?
Washington has no statute specifically prohibiting placement of seriously mentally ill people in adult prison solitary confinement or restrictive housing. The SCTP plan aims to provide more programming and mental health support in restrictive housing as part of the transition to less restrictive conditions. Disability Rights Washington monitors conditions for people with disabilities in Washington facilities.
What is the Washington SCTP solitary reform plan?
The Solitary Confinement Transformation Project (SCTP) is WADOC's 5-year plan, announced in 2023, to reduce solitary confinement by 90%. Key elements: minimum 4 hours out-of-cell daily; academic and non-profit partnerships; transition plans for people in solitary; pilot testing at SCCC (August 2024); estimated $228 million in required legislative funding. An interim report was published in January 2025. Progress reports have not been published as planned per the OCO's April 2026 finding.
Can families visit someone in WA restrictive housing?
Visiting is typically restricted during restrictive housing and solitary confinement. Contact the specific WADOC facility to confirm current visiting rules before traveling. WADOC facility contact information is at doc.wa.gov. Written mail generally retains stronger protections than phone or visits during restrictive housing.
What can families do if someone is in WA solitary?
Use WADOC's offender search at doc.wa.gov to find your person. Contact the facility to confirm housing category, reason, start date, and transition plan status. Know WADOC's 4-hour out-of-cell goal -- document any shortfall. File grievances for conditions violations. Contact the OCO (oco.wa.gov) for independent oversight complaint. Contact Disability Rights Washington (disabilityrightswa.org) for disability-related issues. Seek legal help for extended high-restriction placements without transition planning. ---