Beginning Friday, inmates in Washington state prisons will no longer be disciplined for hurting themselves or attempting suicide, a news release from the state Department of Corrections said.
Attempts at self-harm in the past have resulted in inmates losing good-conduct time. In cases where offenders lost good-conduct time only for attempting to hurt themselves, that time will be restored, the release said.
“For too long, there has been a short-sighted practice of punishing or isolating those who are unable to control their impulses,” said Scott Frakes, deputy director for prisons, in the release.
“This decision is consistent with current research on what works to prevent offenders from harming themselves.”