As used in this title:

(1) "Secretary" means the secretary of the department of corrections.

(2) "Department" means the department of corrections.

(3) "Inmate" or "offender" means any person committed to the custody or under the jurisdiction of the department.

The department of corrections was established effective July 1, 1981, by chapter 136, Laws of 1981, 47th legislature. Previously, functions delegated to the department of corrections were assigned to the adult corrections division, department of social and health services.

(1) The department is a statutorily created agency of the state of Washington. The executive head of the department is the secretary who is appointed by the governor with the consent of the senate, and serves at the pleasure of the governor. The secretary manages the department and is responsible for the administration of adult correctional programs including, but not limited to, the operation of all state correctional institutions or facilities used for the confinement of convicted felons and the supervision of certain offenders in the community. The secretary may create a succession plan to identify individuals to act as the secretary's designee.

(2) Current organizational and contact information can be found on department's public website at http://www.doc.wa.gov/about/agency/leadership.htm.

As used in this title, words importing the singular number may extend and be applied to several persons or things and vice versa. Words importing the masculine gender may be applied to females or organizations.