Governor Bob Ferguson has fired Jeremiah Bourgeois, the director of the Office of Corrections Ombuds, following allegations of misconduct and insubordination just six months after his appointment to lead the state’s prison oversight agency.

The Office of Corrections Ombuds is a state-level watchdog tasked with monitoring conditions and investigating complaints within Washington’s prison system. The agency’s leadership and independence directly affect the oversight of facilities housing residents from across the state, including the Larch Corrections Center in Clark County and the Cedar Creek Corrections Center, which house individuals sentenced in Southwest Washington courts.

Bourgeois, who was appointed on December 1, 2025, was terminated in late May or early June 2026. According to reporting by KGW, the governor’s office cited several reasons for the dismissal:

• Misuse of a state vehicle and a prison ID badge
• Steering a contract valued under $10,000 to a friend to avoid formal review
• Fostering a toxic work environment that led to four employee resignations and three medical leaves
• Refusal to comply with a home assignment order while under investigation

Bourgeois, a former juvenile lifer who served 27 years in the Washington Department of Corrections before earning a law degree from Gonzaga University, disputes the allegations. He told KGW that his firing was retaliation for his efforts to establish the agency as a truly independent body. He specifically cited instances where the governor’s office allegedly blocked his attempts to hire a retired Court of Appeals judge to assist with investigations.

The conflict has renewed debate over the structural independence of the ombuds office. While the legislature intended for the agency to be an impartial investigator, it is currently housed within the Office of the Governor. Bourgeois argues this placement creates an inherent conflict of interest that undermines the agency’s mission to protect vulnerable incarcerated individuals.

This is the second recent instance of a state-level oversight body facing scrutiny over internal conduct. On August 1, 2026, this publication reported on an investigation into the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, which found that several members had routinely disregarded transparency laws and skirted conflict of interest rules.

The statute governing the Office of Corrections Ombuds is not scheduled for legislative review until 2028. Until then, the agency remains under the direct authority of the governor’s office, which is responsible for appointing its director.

Source: Former juvenile lifer turned prison watchdog speaks out after being fired by Gov. Ferguson