OLYMPIA — A bill aimed at improving resources for incarcerated individuals and their families was heard in the Senate Human Services Committee Tuesday, January 21, 2025.
Senate Bill 5182, sponsored by Sen. T’wina Nobles (D-Fircrest), seeks to expand access to parenting programs, enhance maternal health care services for incarcerated individuals, and update language in state policies to reflect greater inclusivity.
The bill would direct the Department of Corrections to make reasonable accommodations for the provision of available midwifery or doula services for incarcerated individuals in their custody and allows them to partner with nonprofit organizations and volunteers to deliver these services. It would expand eligibility for the Community Parenting Alternative program, which permits some incarcerated individuals to serve the remainder of their sentences under home detention while caring for their children.
The bill also updates outdated terms like “inmate” and replaces them with “incarcerated individual,” as well as changing references to “women” to gender-neutral language.
“This is a commonsense step toward building a corrections system that prioritizes dignity, equity, and family stability,” Nobles said. “Families often bear the heaviest burden of incarceration. This bill ensures they are not overlooked by providing the necessary resources to incarcerated parents and their children.”
Follow the bill’s progress here.
“This is a commonsense step toward building a corrections system that prioritizes dignity, equity, and family stability,” Nobles said. “Families often bear the heaviest burden of incarceration.”
You know who bears the heaviest burden in relation to a crime? The victims!
Inmates are in custody due to their choices and their behaviors. No one else put them there. Their choices have negatively impacted their victims, and the community at large. Every member in our State government,that can vote on this bill, needs to vote NO!
Society needs to be tougher on crime not softer and more gentle. Prison and jail sentences should NOT be warm and fuzzy.
Agreed!
Well, good to know! You must really be outraged over the new “soft on crime” pardons of those who violently attacked law enforcement on January 6th, 2020. These thugs made a conscious choice to behave in a way that negatively impacted their victims and cost us taxpayers a good sum of money. Would these political pardons meet your level of concern about a justice and corrections system that has gone “warm and fuzzy”?
You can see how hollow all the arguments like yours for tougher laws and harsher treatment of criminals will sound going forward. I’m really pleased you will be vocal about the stupidity of our current president releasing 1,500 criminals regardless of the level of violence towards law enforcement. Evidently he didn’t have the knowledge, patience, or moral leadership to at least keep the most dangerous and violent behind bars.
Mrs. Arkell –
Yes, we are in agreement criminals belong behind bars!!
If you are convicted and sentenced you need to serve that sentence.
Hope you voice your concern and outrage with Mrs Nobles about her bill which will make us all unsafe.
So blindly one-sided as always.
Nothing about the Biden crime family and its litany of self-pardons?
Nothing?
Really?
Where ya going on your next vacation, er I mean ambassador-retreat, T’wina?
I suppose you are also in support of the numerous bills to place blame and liability on lawful gun owners in this twisted state, to include a felony conviction for being the victim of some scumbag who steals from us?
Well, of course you are.
Rehabilitation matters for us all. Thank you, Senator Nobles.
Agreed Cheri! You are spot on!
Yes, victims suffer for crimes and criminals do need consequences, BUT vulnerable children and families are punished as well for the transgressions. This really is not so much about the criminal, but the family. I would always support the innocent children. They did nothing wrong. Life is difficult enough, but throwing the needs of children away is always wrong.
Hi Valerie-
Agreed that families suffer but as you stated children are vulnerable. A very good reason to protect them and not put them in a situation where they are learning their morals from someone who seems to have compromised ones.
I would imagine there would be screening for the egregiousness of a crime before someone is released to this program. I don’t believe it is a one size fits all program. There are violent and non violent folks in our jails. There are full time career criminals and then there are those that made a mistake. Sounds as if you do not favor redemption?
KM Hills, Great! I hope to hear more about how repulsed and concerned you are with President Trump’s obvious undermining of law enforcement by releasing dangerous criminals for political gain. Perhaps you could write a letter comparing and equating Trump’s actions with T’wina Nobles’ dangerous efforts to increase maternal parenting skills for incarcerated individuals so when they are released they can do better for their children.