Advocate for female prisoners hired

Published 10:23 pm Thursday, August 12, 2010

OLYMPIA — The Department of Corrections hired an advocate for female prisoners who claim they are victims of sexual misconduct by prison officials.

Jeralita “Jeri” Costa, a former state senator, fills the position that was established as part of an agreement between the corrections department and plaintiffs in a 2007 class action lawsuit alleging sexual misconduct by agency staff, said Lynne DeLano, a corrections department spokeswoman.

No female prisoners are held at the Monroe Correctional Complex, so Costa likely will not spend much time in Snohomish County.

DeLano said there currently are 40 open cases of alleged sexual misconduct involving female prisoners. New cases are reported almost daily, she said.

“I think she’s going to be pretty busy,” DeLano said.

Costa currently is the chair of the Washington State Indeterminate Sentence Review Board. She assumes her new duties next week.