Washington State is planning to build a new women’s prison in Thurston County, on Cowlitz and Chehalis land, that will incarcerate 700 people. 

98% of people in women’s prisons are survivors of violence. Prisons are brutal places that harm and endanger our communities. We want WA to stop investing in racist, sexist, anti-poor, ableist, homophobic, transphobic infrastructure and redirect those resources toward all the things our communities need, like childcare, healthcare, housing, and income support. 

The women’s prison at Maple Lane is being framed as a “humane,” re-entry focused facility that will solve the cruel practice of overcrowding women’s prisons. But we know that caging humans is inherently inhumane. The solution to overcrowding is releasing prisoners, not building more prisons. If they build it, they will fill it with vulnerable and targeted people. 

Our targets: WA Governor Jay Inslee who can stop the project, and the Thurston County Commission who can block the zoning needed for the Thurston County site. 

As part of the Week of Action to Defend Survivors and End Carceral Feminism, join the No New Women’s Prison campaign to stop the building of a new women’s prison in Thurston County, Washington State.  Use the language below and the graphics to spread the word on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram! Call Governor Inslee and the Thurston County Commissioners and tell them No New Women’s Prison!

8 Social Media Posts:

1. @GovInslee, @tyemenser, @ThurstonCounty, cancel the new women’s prison! #NoNewWomensPrison #FreeThemAll #EndCarceralFeminism
2. @GovInslee, @tyemenser, @ThurstonCounty: Prisons are terrible for public health. Cancel the new women’s prison and fund #COVID19 relief! #NoNewWomensPrison #FreeThemAll #EndCarceralFeminism
3. @GovInslee, @tyemenser and @ThurstonCounty, 98% of people in women’s prisons are survivors of violence! Stop investing in imprisoning people, redirect resources to housing, childcare and health care! #EndCarceralFeminism #NoNewWomensPrison
4. Prison staff assault more than ⅓ of LGBTQ people in prison. @GovInslee, @tyemenser, @ThurstonCounty, STOP investing in imprisoning people! Redirect resources to housing, childcare and health care! #EndCarceralFeminism #NoNewWomensPrison
5. Black women are 2x as likely to be imprisoned for killing a partner in self defense than white women. @GovInslee, @tyemenser, @ThurstonCounty, STOP investing in imprisoning people! Redirect resources to housing, childcare and health care! #EndCarceralFeminism #NoNewWomensPrison
6. Black people make up 4% of WA state’s population but 18% of its prison population. @GovInslee, @tyemenser, @ThurstonCounty, STOP investing in this racist system!  #EndCarceralFeminism #NoNewWomensPrison
7. Call @GovInslee (360-902-4111) and tell him to stop plans to build a new women’s prison and redirect resources to basic human needs like housing, health care, child care, and income support!
8. Call the Thurston County Commissioners and tell them to stop plans to build a new women’s prison!
   John Hutchings (360) 357-2470
   Gary Edwards (360) 786-5747
   Tye Menser (360) 786-5414

Call Script for Phone Calls:
My name is [Name] and I am calling because I oppose all new prison and jail construction in Washington state. I am firmly opposed to the Department of Corrections’s plan to build a women’s prison in Grand Mound at the Maple Lane School. A new prison at the Maple Lane school would harm our communities.  I want you to stop this project and fight to redirect resources away from criminalizing people and toward basic needs like housing, healthcare, income support, and child care.

Governor Jay Inslee – 360-902-4111
Thurston County Commissioners:
John Hutchings – (360) 357-2470
Gary Edwards – (360) 786-5747
Tye Menser – (360) 786-5414

7 Images to use in Social Media Posts: