Bill > SB5499

This bill codifies the body scanner program at the Washington Department of Corrections to detect contraband and reduce strip searches while protecting personal dignity. The legislation mandates establishing body scanner programs at the Washington Corrections Center for Women and a male correctional facility, with scanners capable of detecting contraband under clothing and in body cavities. The department must develop gender-responsive and trauma-informed policies for scanning employees, contractors, visitors, volunteers, and incarcerated individuals, with alternative search methods for minors, pregnant individuals, and those with health concerns. The bill requires appropriate staffing to conduct subsequent searches, provides for substance use disorder assessments and treatment for individuals with contraband, and establishes disciplinary procedures for staff found with contraband. The department must provide radiation safety training, develop policies to minimize radiation exposure, and track scan frequency. Additionally, the bill requires an annual report to the legislature detailing positive body scans, types of contraband detected, confiscated substances, substance use disorder assessments, and dry cell watch incidents. The program aims to create drug-free correctional facilities while prioritizing safety, health, and individual dignity, leveraging existing funding and equipment to implement the body scanner program.

Budget and Finance, Labor and Employment

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5499&Year=2025&Initiative=false