(1) The office of the corrections ombuds serves the purpose of providing information to incarcerated individuals and their families; promoting public awareness and understanding of the rights and responsibilities of incarcerated individuals; identifying system issues and responses for the governor and the legislature to act upon; and ensuring compliance with relevant statutes, rules, and policies pertaining to corrections facilities, services, and treatment of incarcerated individuals under the jurisdiction of the department. The administrative office of the corrections ombuds and its staff are located at 2700 Evergreen Parkway N.W., Olympia, Washington 98505.

(2) The purpose of these rules is to establish the procedures the ombuds will follow in order to provide full access to public records. These rules provide information to persons wishing to request access to public records of the ombuds office and establish processes for both requestors and ombuds office staff that are designed to best assist members of the public in obtaining such access.