McNeil Island Corrections Center Closes Due to State Budget Cuts

Several hundred people gathered at McNeil Island Corrections Center today to share stories and give a final goodbye to the Pierce County facility that has been part of the community since 1875.

Two years ago, the state housed 1,200 prisoners on the island and had less than 100 left when it finally closed. Legislatures and Gov. Chris Gregoire believe closing the facility will save the state $9 million a year in maintenance and ferry fees.

To mitigate the loss of prisoner housing, the state has added 60 extra beds at the Coyote Ridge facility in Eastern Washington and 240 beds at Larch in the Vancouver area.  Even with those additions, the state will have a total loss of 212 minimum custody beds, according to a facility closure statement made Dec. 22 by the Department of Corrections.  

There is no word yet on what will happen to the adjoining sex offender special commitment center on the prison grounds, which worked in conjunction with the prison to treat inmates. It’s still running, but State Senator Mike Carrell (R-Lakewood) told KOMO News that he believes plans to move the facility off the island within the next year have already begun.