House committee hears bill to expand earned release and add reentry track for long sentences

Representative Beth Doleo, the bill's prime sponsor, told the House Community Safety Committee on Jan. 28 that House Bill 1239, called the Reentry Readiness Act, would "immerse" people entering Washington prisons in programming that prepares them for release and expand graduated reentry opportunities for those serving long terms.

The committee heard a staff summary from Lina Langer, counsel to the committee, who outlined the bill's core changes to earned release time and graduated reentry. Under the proposal, earned release would be calculated at 33.33% of eligible sentences; some current eligibility exceptions would remain in place. The bill also would add a third track to the Department of Corrections' graduated reentry program (GRE) for people who have served at least 13 years and are serving at least a 15-year sentence, allowing up to 18 months in partial confinement with up to six months of home detention.

Supporters, including incarcerated and formerly incarcerated witnesses, reentry advocates and researchers, said the bill would increase access to programs that reduce recidivism and improve facility safety. Lorena Angelica Yamas, who identified herself as incarcerated at Washington Corrections Center for Women, said, "Recognizing good behavior and allowing us an opportunity to earn significant time off of our sentence would give us a great magnitude of hope." Mikaela Romero, a University of Washington researcher, told the committee evidence from neuroscience and behavior science supports incentives and structured opportunities for rehabilitation.

Department of Corrections staff warned the committee about administrative and fiscal impacts. Ian Huynh, DOC director of equity, told the committee earned-time changes touch longstanding racial disparities in prison and that the partial retroactivity in the bill carries fiscal implications not reflected in the governor's budget. Mac Peavey, assistant secretary for Community Corrections, said the department is concerned adding a third GRE track could increase program confusion and operational complexity; the department noted an alternative (SB 5219) to align partial confinement programs to 18 months without adding a third track.

Union and corrections staff representatives said implementation will require additional staff and facilities. Brenda Weest, vice president of Teamsters Local 117, said the agency's proposed facility closures and current staffing limits would make it harder to place people into programs or to perform recalculations and release planning required under the bill.

Lawyers and public defenders who testified supported the measure as a practical way to incentivize constructive behavior and reduce long-term incarceration. Dave Treweiler of the Washington Defender Association said the bill "provides a tremendous incentive for incarcerated persons to change for the better. It is not a gift. It must be earned through good behavior, work, and education."