(1) The department shall establish, by rule, incarcerated individual eligibility standards for participation in the work release program.

(2) The department shall:

(a) Conduct an annual examination of each work release facility and its security procedures;

(b) Investigate and set standards for the individual supervision policies of each work release facility;

(c) Establish physical standards for future work release structures to ensure the safety of individuals, employees, and the surrounding communities;

(d) Evaluate its recordkeeping of serious infractions to determine if infractions are properly and consistently assessed against individuals eligible for work release;

(e) Establish a written treatment plan best suited to the individual's needs, cost, and the relationship of community placement and community corrections officers to a system of case management;

(f) Adopt a policy to encourage businesses employing work release individuals to contact the appropriate work release facility whenever an individual is absent from his or her work schedule. The department of corrections shall provide each employer with written information and instructions on who should be called if a work release employee is absent from work or leaves the jobsite without authorization; and

(g) Develop a siting policy, in conjunction with cities, counties, community groups, and the department of commerce for the establishment of additional work release facilities. Such policy shall include at least the following elements: (i) Guidelines for appropriate site selection of work-release facilities; (ii) notification requirements to local government and community groups of intent to site a work release facility; and (iii) guidelines for effective community relations by the work release program operator.

The department shall comply with the requirements of this section by July 1, 1990.

(3) The department may not transfer an incarcerated individual to participate in a work release program until the department has a clinically appropriate evaluation for substance use disorder. If the incarcerated individual is diagnosed to have a substance use disorder, the department shall assist the incarcerated individual in enrolling in substance use disorder treatment services at the level deemed clinically appropriate. Individuals transferred to participate in a work release program, and diagnosed with a substance use disorder, must begin receiving substance use disorder treatment services as soon as practicable after transfer to avoid any delays in treatment. Substance use disorder treatment services shall include, as deemed necessary by the evaluation, access to medication-assisted treatment and counseling programs. Upon transfer to a work release program, when clinically appropriate, individuals must be provided with access to self-administered fentanyl testing supplies and medications designed to reverse the effects of opioid overdose.

Retroactive application—Findings—Intent—2025 c 407: See notes following RCW 9.94A.6551.

Explanatory statement—2023 c 470: See note following RCW 10.99.030.