State penitentiary, Airway Heights inmates grow medicinal plants

WALLA WALLA – A program at the Washington State Penitentary that has expanded to the Airway Heights Correction Center is allowing inmates to grow medicinal and sacred plants on site to help reduce recidivism.

The penitentary and Huy, a tribal non-profit corporation, worked together to find a way to bring incarcerated Indigenous people closer to their cultural roots, while providing skills and resources that can be used both inside the facility and in society upon release.

According to their website, Huy’s mission is to provide economic, educational, rehabilitative and religious support for inc...