CONNELL, Wash. – Nearly 70 runners Coyote Ridge Corrections Center participated in the "Beat the Heat" 5K/10K event on Friday, focusing on health and community.

The run included incarcerated participants, staff, and community members, emphasizing teamwork and healthy competition, the Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC) said in a release .

The event highlighted the Washington Way initiative, a partnership between the Washington State Department of Corrections and Amend at the University of California San Francisco.

Research indicates that U.S. prisons often negatively impact both inmates and staff.

The Washington Way seeks to change this by fostering environments that reduce criminal behavior and enhance public safety, DOC said.

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