OLYMPIA — Two state employees have filed a legal complaint against the state, alleging they were demoted for exposing skewed statistics used by the Department of Corrections to secure additional funding for a program to reduce prison violence.
Researcher Teri Herold-Prayer and her boss, Michael Evans said they told administrators that the agency’s assertions last year that it had made headway in quelling inmate violence in cell blocks in two Eastern Washington prisons where it was trying out behavioral classes and positive reinforcement were false.
The Legislature provided $1.8 million last year to expand the program.
The News Tribune of Tacoma reported Saturday that the employees say they faced retaliation and were demoted either in position or pay.
Corrections would not comment on circumstances surrounding the pending litigation.
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