POSTED: Friday, Dec. 11, 2009

McNeil Island corrections facility to be downsized

The state would downsize McNeil Island Corrections Center to less than half its current size to save money under a proposal from Gov. Chris Gregoire unveiled this week.

The island facility near Steilacoom would go from a 1,200-inmate mostly medium security prison to a 500-inmate minimum security prison by the end of next year.

Gregoire said Wednesday the McNeil downsizing is part of an overall plan to shut down and consolidate inefficient and outdated state facilities in light of the current $xx budget gap and a need for long-term savings.

“The actions combined will result in millions in savings for state government now, and even more in the future,” Gregoire said.

For the corrections department, the goal is to close older facilities with higher costs and consolidate inmates where it has beds, mainly Coyote Ridge Corrections Center near the Tri-Cities, said Dick Morgan, Division of Prisons director for the state.

In addition to shrinking McNeil, the proposal also calls for:

Closing Ahtanum View Corrections Center in Yakima, Larch Correction Center in Yacolt, Pine Lodge women’s facility in Medical Lake and one wing of the old Main Institution of the State Penitentiary in Walla Walla.

Building new and more efficient units at Walla Walla.

Transferring medium-security offenders to Coyote Ridge Corrections Center in Connell, a 1980’s facility that was expanded in 2006 and has excess capacity of about 1,600 beds.

Transferring minimum-security offenders to McNeil, Coyote Ridge and Mission Creek Correction Center for women.

All-told, the state estimates the realignment would save $65 million over the next four years and would have savings beyond that as well. By downsizing McNeil and converting it to an all-minimum security facility, the state would save $8.8 million for the 2009-11 budget and result in the loss of 81 full-time equivalent jobs.

“It’s much less expensive to operate the island for 500 minimum security inmate than 1,200 medium security inmates,” Morgan said.

A consultant to looked at the possible closure of McNeil, but ultimately it was rejected. The difficulty is that the prison is essentially joined at the hip with the Special Commitment Center, the 300-bed facility Department of Social and Health Services for sexually violent offenders who’ve been civilly committed. The two facilities share infrastructure and overhead costs. Minimum security inmate provide labor for maintenance and corrections officers provide security for the entire island.

“The costs of shutting off McNeil would be dramatic in terms of what to do with the Special Commitment Center,” Gregoire said.

The DOC will also continue to maintain facilities at McNeil in anticipation that units could be reopened if needed in the future.

State Sen. Mike Carrell, R-Lakewood, expects that the governor’s prison realignment plan won’t encounter much opposition in a Legislature dominated by her Democratic Party. But he sees it as part of a flawed corrections strategy that grew out of the last session’s decision to slash post-release supervision and support for most convicts coming out of prison. He predicts many of those unsupervised people will be back in trouble again soon – and back behind bars.

“The savings are a mirage,” Carrell said. “It’s going to be a very temporary thing, because the prison population will eventually explode.”

Carrell wasn’t surprised at the downsizing plan for McNeil Island, which lies in his district.

“Given what’s happening, and the way the majority party is headed, it’s not a terrible option,” he said. “They are going to need a prison out there in some capacity.”

Tracey Thompson, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 117, questions the wisdom of shutting down prisons when economic conditions may cause a surge in crime and recidivism.

“I don’t believe it’s a done deal. We’re going to be lobbying in the upcoming session,” said Thompson, whose union represents 6,000 corrections workers statewide. “The public is going to be concerned – and there’s good reason to be concerned – about taking beds off-line.”

Current employees will be able to apply for transfer, based on their seniority and other factors weighed in the state policies, Morgan said. The net affect of closing some locations and opening new beds will be the loss of xx jobs.

“There’s a very real toll here,” he said. “We’ve got very loyal, dedicated, hardworking employees who are going to be hurt.”

Morgan said planning is already under way for the reorganization, and the “aggressive” schedule will move forward in January. “We’re proceeding assuming the governor’s budget will be adopted as presented,” he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

John Henrikson: 253-597-8651

john.henrikson@thenewstribune.com

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