The Washington Statewide Reentry Council is a state-created advisory body housed in the Washington State Department of Commerce (established by RCW 43.380 in 2016). Its mission is to improve public safety and reentry outcomes by coordinating cross-agency policy, recommending system and statutory changes, developing statewide reentry goals, and promoting investments and practices that support equitable, restorative reentry for people returning from incarceration.
Works on criminal justice and corrections policy related to reentry, including reentry planning and transition services, housing and homelessness prevention, employment and occupational licensing barriers, access to identification and public benefits, behavioral health and substance use treatment, restorative justice and victim safety measures, cross-agency coordination, and design/oversight of reentry grant programs.
Primarily funded by state appropriations administered through the Washington State Department of Commerce; the council also manages or leverages federal grants and other grant funding or partnerships as available.
Partners and affiliated entities include the Washington State Department of Commerce, Washington State Department of Corrections, Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration, the Governor's Office, Council of State Governments, community and technical colleges, law enforcement and prosecutor and public defender organizations, victims' organizations, tribal governments, community reentry service providers, and council staff including Executive Director Janel McFeat.
State government advisory council (housed in the Washington State Department of Commerce)
