Assuring Quality an Understanding of Actions (AQUA) Project

The Washington State Department of Corrections (WADOC) is proposing the Assuring Quality an Understanding of Actions (AQUA) Project. Over the past four years, Amend has played a key role in the development and expansion of the WA Way Program within the WADOC. This program aims to transform correctional culture by adopting a health-focused approach tailored to fit the unique context of the U.S. incarceration system. In partnership with Amend and the Norwegian Prison Service, the WADOC has demonstrated significant investment in holistically adapting and implementing evidence-based international best practices to improve the state's prison management and culture. A key intervention used through this model is the deployment of Resource Teams (RT), which have demonstrated early success in reducing violence, curbing misconduct, and minimizing the use of isolation while successfully transitioning incarcerated individuals to lower custody settings. To further this initiative, the WADOC will hire two Corrections Specialist 4's to develop and implement a comprehensive Quality Assurance (QA) Manual and Quality Improvement (QI) process. This project will be executed through a multiphase approach, starting at the team level and then progressively expanding to the unit and facility levels. This initiative will result in a QA / QI Manual and process with national and international applicability, providing a model for other states that have already sought guidance from Washington State. Key partners on this project include the University of California, the San Francisco Amend Initiative, and the New York University Marron Institute.