Washington Corrections Center
{{Short description|Men's prison in Shelton, Washington}}
{{Infobox prison
| name = Washington Corrections Center (WCC)
| image = Washington Corrections Center - aerial.jpg
| caption = Overhead view of Washington Corrections Center
| pushpin_map = USA Washington
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Washington
| location = Shelton
| coordinates = {{coord|47|14|13|N|123|11|35|W|type:landmark_region:US-WA|display=inline,title}}
| status = Operational
| classification = Minimum, Medium, Close, Maximum
| capacity = 1,268
| population =
| populationdate =
| opened = 1964
| closed =
| former_name =
| managed_by = Washington State Department of Corrections
| governor =
| director = Dean Mason, Superintendent
| street-address = 2321 West Dayton Airport Rd.
| city = Shelton
| county = Mason County
| state = Washington
| postcode = P. O. Box 900
| zip = 98584
| country = United States
| website = {{URL|http://www.doc.wa.gov/corrections/incarceration/prisons/wcc.htm}}
| prisoners =
}}
Washington Corrections Center is a Washington State Department of Corrections men's prison located in Shelton, Washington.{{cite web|url=http://www.doc.wa.gov/facilities/prison/wcc/default.asp|title=Washington Corrections Center (WCC) | WACorrections|publisher=doc.wa.gov|accessdate=2016-05-05}} With an operating capacity of 1,300, it is the sixth largest prison in the state (after Stafford Creek Corrections Center) and is surrounded by forestland. It opened in 1964, seventy-five years after statehood.{{cite web|url=http://www.prisonpro.com/content/washington-corrections-center|title=Washington Corrections Center Visiting hours, inmate phones, mail|publisher=prisonpro.com|accessdate=2016-05-05}}
Washington Corrections Center is located at 2321 W Dayton Airport Rd.
Facilities and Programs
Washington Corrections Center facilitates Educational and Offender Change programs, Work and Vocational programs, and Sustainability programs.
- Educational and Offender Change programs include: GED programs, Computer basics programs, and a prison library. their intent is to teach incarcerated new skills, and help them to transition into the outside world.
- Work and Vocational programs include: groundskeeping and vehicle maintenance, these are how prisoners earn prison salaries or commissary.
- Sustainability programs include: Composting, and Vegetable Gardens. Their intent is to allow prisoners to practice skills learned in prison, and make the prison self-sustaining.
Organization
Washington Corrections Center is located on a 400-acre campus in Shelton, Washington.{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zHwq4azxFTmM.k9Oqafa_B2yE&usp=sharing|title=Washington Correctional Center Campus Map|publisher=google.com|accessdate=2016-05-05}} On campus, there is 9 housing units by the names of:
- Cedar
- Evergreen
- Pine
- R-1
- R-2
- R-3
- R-4
- R-5
- IMU
These vary from minimum to maximum security.{{cite web|url=http://www.prisonpro.com/content/washington-corrections-center|title=Washington Corrections Center Visiting hours, inmate phones, mail|publisher=prisonpro.com|accessdate=2016-05-06}}
History
Image:Washington Corrections Center near Shelton, WA.jpg]]
Washington Corrections Center was opened {{Years or months ago|1964}} in 1964, making it the 5th oldest prison in Washington state. All prisoners entering the Washington State Prison System must pass through Washington Corrections Center in order to be classified and assigned to a permanent residential prison.{{cite web|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Welcome-to-prison-inside-Washington-899049.php|title=Welcome to prison -- inside Washington Corrections Center - seattlepi.com|publisher=seattlepi.com|accessdate=2016-05-05}} In 2014, two prisoners at Washington Corrections Center committed successful suicides, leading the Washington State Department of Corrections to reform their official policy on suicides.{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2016/01/01/461700642/computer-glitch-leads-to-mistaken-early-release-of-prisoners-in-washington|title=2 Prisoners Mistakenly Released Early Now Charged In Killings : NPR|publisher=npr.org|accessdate=2016-05-05}} In September 2015, Washington Corrections Center became the second prison (after Snake River Correctional Institution in Oregon){{cite web|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/08/oregon_prison_tackles_solitary.html|title=Oregon prison tackles solitary confinement with Blue Room experiment | OregonLive.com|publisher=oregonlive.com|accessdate=2016-05-05}} to install a "Blueroom" inside of solitary confinement to play nature videos for prisoners.{{cite web|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2015/09/washington_prison_mimicking_or.html|title=Washington prison mimicking Oregon program showing nature videos to solitary prisoners | OregonLive.com|publisher=oregonlive.com|accessdate=2016-05-05}}