Wash. Rev. Code » Title 72 · Chapter 72.01
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 72.01.050 (2026)

Secretary's powers and duties—Management of public institutions and correctional facilities

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) The secretary of social and health services shall have full power to manage and govern the following public institutions: The western state hospital, the eastern state hospital, the northern state hospital, Lakeland Village, the Rainier school, and such other institutions as authorized by law, subject only to the limitations contained in laws relating to the management of such institutions.
(2) The secretary of corrections shall have full power to manage, govern, and name all state correctional facilities, subject only to the limitations contained in laws relating to the management of such institutions.
(3) If any state correctional facility is fully or partially destroyed by natural causes or otherwise, the secretary of corrections may, with the approval of the governor, provide for the establishment and operation of additional residential correctional facilities to place those inmates displaced by such destruction. However, such additional facilities may not be established if there are existing residential correctional facilities to which all of the displaced inmates can be appropriately placed. The establishment and operation of any additional facility shall be on a temporary basis, and the facility may not be operated beyond July 1 of the year following the year in which it was partially or fully destroyed.
(4) The secretary of the department of children, youth, and families shall have full power to manage and govern Echo Glen, the Green Hill school, and such other institutions as authorized by law, subject only to the limitations contained in laws relating to the management of such institutions.
[ 2017 3rd sp.s. c 6 s 628; 1992 c 7 s 51; 1988 c 143 s 1. Prior: 1985 c 378 s 8; 1985 c 350 s 1; 1981 c 136 s 68; 1979 c 141 s 145; 1977 c 31 s 1; 1959 c 28 s 72.01.050; prior: 1955 c 195 s 4(1); 1915 c 107 s 1, part; 1907 c 166 s 2, part; 1901 c 119 s 3, part; RRS s 10899, part. Formerly RCW 43.28.020, part.]

Notes:

Effective date—2017 3rd sp.s. c 6 ss 601-631, 701-728, and 804: See note following RCW 13.04.011.
Conflict with federal requirements—2017 3rd sp.s. c 6: See RCW 43.216.908.
Severability—1985 c 378: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [ 1985 c 378 s 36.]
Effective date—1985 c 378: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1986. The secretary of social and health services and the governor may immediately take such steps as are necessary to ensure that this act is implemented on its effective date." [ 1985 c 378 s 37.]
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1965–2025 · leading case: State v. Klein, 124 P.3d 644 (Wash. 2005).
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State v. Klein, 124 P.3d 644 (Wash. 2005). “The hospital is administered by the Department of Social and Health Services, RCW 72.01.050(1), and is located at Fort Steilacoom, Pierce County, RCW 72.”
Evangelical United Brethren Church v. State, 407 P.2d 440 (Wash. 1965). “Parenthetically, it should be observed that the Director of the Department of Institutions likewise has under his jurisdiction the other public institutions of the state, i.”
Greenhalgh v. Dep't of Corr., 324 P.3d 771 (Wash. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 3× “DOC applied the same property policy to all Washington State inmates because of their incarceration and not because of their underlying convictions.”
State v. Klein, 124 P.3d 644 (Wash. 2005). “The hospital is administered by the Department of Social and Health Services, RCW 72.01.050(1), and is located at Fort Steilacoom, Pierce County, RCW 72.”
Snohomish Cnty. v. State, 648 P.2d 430 (Wash. 1982). “As noted above, the Legislature in approving various appropriations for the facility was continually aware of the new facility's proposed location and the County's zoning of that land.”
McGovern v. Dep't of Soc. & Health Servs., 617 P.2d 434 (Wash. 1980). “050 provides that, "The secretary [of DSHS] shall also have the power to establish temporary branch institutions for the state penitentiary, state reformatory and other penal and correctional institutions of the state in the form of honor camps .”
Mcgovern v. Dept. of Soc. & Health Servs., 617 P.2d 434 (Wash. 1980). “050 provides that, "The secretary [of DSHS] shall also have the power to establish temporary branch institutions for the state penitentiary, state reformatory and other penal and correctional institutions of the state in the form of honor camps.”
State Of Washington V. Steven Champeau (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). “RCW 72.01.050(2) and RCW 72.01.090 grants the DOC exclusive authority to determine visitation eligibility and conditions, emphasizing the executive agency’s autonomy in administering correctional facilities.”
Pers. Restraint Petition Of Kevin Scott Griffith Sr. & Kevin Scott Griffith Jr. (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). “” RCW 72.01.050. The Department’s policies for “visits for incarcerated individuals” include a section describing persons ineligible to visit inmates.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 72.01.050(1) — 2 cases
State v. Klein, 124 P.3d 644 (Wash. 2005). “The hospital is administered by the Department of Social and Health Services, RCW 72.01.050(1), and is located at Fort Steilacoom, Pierce County, RCW 72.”
State v. Klein, 124 P.3d 644 (Wash. 2005). “The hospital is administered by the Department of Social and Health Services, RCW 72.01.050(1), and is located at Fort Steilacoom, Pierce County, RCW 72.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 72.01.050(2) — 3 cases
Greenhalgh v. Dep't of Corr., 324 P.3d 771 (Wash. Ct. App. 2014). “DOC applied the same property policy to all Washington State inmates because of their incarceration and not because of their underlying convictions.”
Snohomish Cnty. v. State, 648 P.2d 430 (Wash. 1982). “As noted above, the Legislature in approving various appropriations for the facility was continually aware of the new facility's proposed location and the County's zoning of that land.”
State Of Washington V. Steven Champeau (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). “RCW 72.01.050(2) and RCW 72.01.090 grants the DOC exclusive authority to determine visitation eligibility and conditions, emphasizing the executive agency’s autonomy in administering correctional facilities.”
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