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Legislation/Policy/Procedure

Title: Agreement on Funerals, Death Bed Visits
Parties: Squaxin Island and Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC)
Date enacted/published: 2012, Revised 2015

Description:

With this agreement, DOC makes provisions to its existing funeral leave policy to acknowledge and accommodate tribal customs without compromising public safety. For the duration of the death bed/funeral visits, the DOC will release specific offenders to highly trained Squaxin Tribal Police officers who are cross-commissioned with the Mason County Sheriff’s Office. Offenders must meet certain criteria, such as being a tribal member or immediate family member of an enrolled member of the Squaxin Island Tribe. The offender, family, or Squaxin Island Tribal Executive Leadership is responsible for mileage for special transportation accommodations between where the offender is housed and the Washington Corrections Center (Center), and salary and benefits of the employees escorting the offender during the trip. The DOC covers mileage and employee costs if the offender is transferred to the Center via regular transportation, and general expenses for the offender while at the Center. Should the offender escape or refuse to leave tribal lands, DOC and Squaxin Island Tribal Executive Leadership share concurrent jurisdiction. Squaxin Island Tribe has also created an Inmate Resource Guide to share with incarcerated persons and their families.

 

For additional information contact:
Squaxin Island Department of Public Safety & Justice
Phone: (360) 426-5222