The most dangerous prisoners in American history—"thinkers"—created Jail House Lawyers Speak Northwest.

As we sat in our cells, after years and decades of abuse and neglect from our captors, we realized how harmful and destructive the prison system was to our brothers, sisters, family, and society. We observed how the prison administration encouraged the prison population to resolve their conflicts through violence and destruction. We tried to fix the system through their internal grievance process. We tried to fix the system through the court. These systems failed to protect our health, safety, and rehabilitation. The system used punishment and repression to deter and frustrate our efforts. They used us as an example to the rest of the population.

Their indoctrination began on the chain bus heading to prison "You used to smoke on the bus until some inmate sued us." It continued at the mandatory "orientation". "We used to serve pork until some inmate sued us." The message was clear. Use the system and you will lose your privileges. The prison crowds two to three individuals into a cell designed for one. When the prisoner tells the administration they are in fear of the overcrowded cell they are told "Be a man. Handle your business," which is prison-speak for violence. If refused, the individual is stripped of their minuscule privileges, issued several major rule violations, and housed in a segregation cell for their "protection."

 Jail House Lawyers Speak Northwest looked back to history. Not only the history of the prisoners' struggles for basic human needs, but also the struggles of Black, Brown, and marginalized communities. History taught us the power of unifying in peaceful protest. A right of all American citizens, protected by the Constitution. But the prisons and the courts have carved out an exception to this constitutional right. Like the Jim Crow laws, the elected and appointed officials say this right does not apply to everyone. In 2018 prisoners at the Washington State Penitentiary went on a hunger strike over unhealthy and horrid food. They simply refused to eat anymore. Although considered a major rule violation and therefore prohibited, the prison immediately responded by accepting some responsibility and marginally improving the quantity and quality of the food. This sparked off hunger strikes at Coyote Ridge and Clallam Bay Corrections Center. Although these protests were peaceful the prison singled out who they thought were instigators, transferring them to the segregation units of other prisons. Jail House Lawyers Speak Northwest will be filing a lawsuit against the prison, demanding the court declare prisoners have a constitutional right to peaceful protest and enjoining the prison from prohibiting prisoners from asserting these rights. Our collective demands represent what we are and will protest for.

Jail House Lawyers Speak Northwest does as much of the footwork as we can. We are mostly self-funded through civil suits filed against the prison, its staff, and the gratuity received from our prison jobs we selectively accept to enable us to continue our work. We are requesting help getting our cause and message out to the public, media, and politicians. Share our website on social media, and have people contact us to answer any questions or show support. We will be announcing the date of filing and serving the lawsuit soon. Due to the repression of the prison, we cannot give a specific date at this time. When we do, we ask you to spread the word and organize peaceful demonstrations outside the nearest court, county jail, or prison to your organization, community, or Olympia where the complaint will be filed.

1. We advocate for the collective. Never the individual. When we advocate for the collective, the individual benefits. When we advocate for the individual, we ignore the collective.

2. To the best of our abilities, cause no harm to others. Before we take a position or advocate for a right, we must consider how our actions affect the individual and prisoners as a whole.

3. Each chapter should be autonomous except in matters affecting other chapters or JLSNW as a whole.

JLSNW represents all Washington State prisoners as a collective. Each facility has unique issues affecting its population. Each chapter shall be free to advocate for the betterment of its facility population and manage its own affairs within the boundaries of #1-2.

On April 1 2018, prisoners at Washington State Penitentiary (WSP) Collectively went on a hunger strike over the poor quality and quantity of food. Their demands included hot breakfasts, in lieu of breakfast boats, cold milk, improved food quality and actual direct communication with the administration. WSP responded immediately returning hot breakfast with cold milk. There has been numerous peaceful protests since. The demands of the prisoners have varied and, at times, not well articulated. After sending out a proposed list of demands to over 300 Washington State prisoners, representing the main facilities, the prisoners of Washington State have agreed on a collective core list of demands. The demands represent the Washington State prison population as a group and clearly articulates their demands from the government to promote the health, safety, welfare, and rehabilitation of the prison population. 

1.  Release all prisoners on their early release date.

Prisoners earn early release credits for positive programing and behavior.  Prisoners are being held months and years past their earned release date simply because the Department will not approve a release address.

2.  Provide prisoners free access to all current, non-restricted , policies, operational memorandums, and the complete index of all policies.

Prisoners are expected to know and follow all rules.  They should not be denied or hindered in accessing the rules.

3.  Order all prison staff who regularly interact with prisoners to wear body cameras.  Release prison surveillance and body camera recordings to the public.

The prisons hide abuse and misconduct of staff and claim the prisoners are not telling the truth.  This will remove all doubts and promote positive interactions.

4.  Provide adequate medical, dental and mental health treatment and end prisoner co-pay.

The tax payers, prisoners friends and family, and the individual prisoner pay for health care services.  Those basic services have not been met for decades.  RCW 72.10.020(2)(b) requires a $4.00 co-pay for any communication with medical, dental, or mental health specifically to deter prisoners participation.

5.  Free access to individuals complete electronic file with a multilevel appeal process.

We prisoner demand to fully participate in our rehabilitation and reintegration into society.  This participation begins with ensuring our individual files are accurate.

6.  Establish rehabilitation programs, in all prisons and units, according to the individual prisoners needs.

The availability of programs varies between prisons and sections of the prisons. The majority of current programs available are not focused on an individuals need.

7.  Remove the  heavy restrictions for in person visits.

Close family and community contact promotes rehabilitation and reintegration.

8.  End Correctional Industries (CI) Food Factory and return nutritional, edible, and filling food services.

Since the expansion of CI Food Factory the quantity and quality of the food served has been diminished to unsustainable practises.  Healthy edible food promotes mental and physical health.

9.  Return minimum wage jobs.

Minimum wage jobs allow prisoners to support their children, pay their restitution, and pay for their basic needs upon release.

10.  End the double/triple bunking of prisoners.

 It is crucial to prisoners rehabilitation and reintegration into society to have a safe, quiet, place to work on their individual needs without the distraction of another individual in such a confined space.

11.  Remove the Grievance Program (renamed Resolution Program) and place the program with the Office of the Corrections Ombuds.

The Grievance Program has always been used by the prison to frustrate prisoner litigation and fails to hold staff and the prisons accountable.  Accountability is equally important for both prisoner and prison staff.

12.  End the censoring of prisoner mail and communications.

The prisons promote a false narrative that censoring prisoner mail and correspondence is needed to prohibit conduct that could violate prison rules.  The censoring of mail and communications is prohibitive of prisoners rehabilitation and reintegration.

13.  End the extended use of segregation and maximum custody.  Segregation shall be limited to 10 days and only in the most extreme cases.

It has been well documented for over a century, segregation diminishes an individuals mental health and at times permanently.  The prison routinely use segregation to frustrate, deter, and punish prisoners from asserting their constitutionally protected rights.

14.  Repeal Article VI Section 3 of the Washington State Constitution "All persons convicted of infamous crimes... are excluded from the elective franchise."

Prisoners political and ideology are as diverse as the individual prisoner.  Prisoners participation in the elective process is an important step in rehabilitation a reintegration.

15.  Repeal Article II Section 29 of the Washington State Constitution "...The legislature shall by law provide for the working of inmates for the benefit of the state." and the associated statutes RCW 72.63.030, RCW 9.95.090.

Prisoners desire to work.  They demand the choice to refuse to work in unsafe areas under unsafe conditions without fear of punishment or reprisal.

16.  End the practice of actively interfering with prisoners access and ability to seek judicial relief.

The Department of Corrections publicly states "Department's facilities contain individuals who have demonstrated that they cannot obey society's rules." Given these statements the prisons should not discourage and punish prisoners pro social resolutions.

17.  Repeal the Prison Litigation Reform Act 28 U.S.C. Section 1915  28 U.S.C Section 1997.

These statutes have only encouraged the prisons frustration of prisoners attempts to resolve conflict through court intervention.

18.  Establish a comprehensive biannual reporting of the Department of Corrections expenditures including CI, and private contractors.

 The Department receives 1.7 billion dollars biannually from the tax payers.  The prisoners and the public should have accountability on where and how the funds are spent.

19.  Return personal clothing for prisoners.

Since the Department ended personal clothing the costs of clothing and laundry services has increased.  Personal clothing encourages self expression and identity.