OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Corrections officials say an effort to reduce interactions between incarcerated gang members has led to a decrease in violence at Washington state’s prisons.
The state Department of Corrections said Tuesday that violent infractions declined statewide by about 5 percent in each of the past two years. At individual prisons, the decrease has been as significant as 20 percent. Only one prison has seen a slight increase in violence: the Washington Corrections Center for Women.
Prison administrators credit changes in recent years, including reducing the number of rival gang members who are housed in the same living units.
