OLYMPIA – A bill ensuring both security and human dignity within our state's correctional facilities passed the Senate on Monday. Senate Bill 6187, sponsored by Sen. Rebecca Saldaña (D-Seattle), removes the previously set expiration date of June 30, 2024, effectively extending the Body Scanner Pilot Program at the Department of Corrections indefinitely. Originally created to reduce strip searches, the expanded purpose of the body scanner program now explicitly encompasses the protection of human dignity. By leveraging new technology, these scanners aim to significantly reduce or eliminate the need for invasive strip searches, ensuring the dignity of incarcerated individuals. “This bill prioritizes the safety of inmates and correctional staff without sacrificing human dignity, setting the ...
Read MoreAbout Rebecca
Sen. Rebecca Saldaña is the Washington State Senate Deputy Majority Leader and represents the 37th Legislative District. She is a proud Chicana of Mexican and Germanic roots who grew up in the Delridge neighborhood of Seattle and has lived and worked primarily in Seattle and Oregon.
During her tenure in the Senate, Rebecca has used her experience and expertise to spearhead legislative efforts to increase equity for historically oppressed communities, protect workers’ rights, encourage sustainable development, build equitable transportation solutions, and increase voter access to elections.
Read Rebecca’s full biography here.