Washington Department of Corrections (WA DOC)

You can support your loved ones at Washington DOC on InmateAid, if you have any immediate questions contact the facility directly at 360-725-8213.

The Washington State Department of Corrections (WADOC) oversees the management and operations of adult correctional facilities and community supervision programs across the state. Its administrative hub is the Edna Lucille Goodrich (ELG) Building in Tumwater, Washington. The ELG Building serves as the operational center for over 1,000 employees and supports the department's mission of enhancing public safety through offender accountability and rehabilitation.

WADOC manages a diverse range of correctional institutions, which vary in security levels and program offerings to address the needs of its incarcerated population. These facilities include prisons for both men and women, as well as community reentry centers. Male offenders sentenced to more than a year and a day are initially sent to the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton, while female offenders begin their incarceration at the Washington Corrections Center for Women in Gig Harbor. At these reception and diagnostic centers, offenders undergo medical examinations, psychological evaluations, and testing over four to six weeks. Based on these assessments, offenders are classified into custody levels: maximum, close, medium, or minimum. Behavioral factors play a crucial role in determining the least restrictive custody level necessary to ensure the safety of the public, staff, and other inmates.

Following classification, offenders are transferred to prisons that match their security needs and program requirements. Through good behavior and participation in programming, inmates can earn approval to transition to a lower custody level. This classification system is integral to maintaining order and safety while offering offenders pathways to personal development and eventual reintegration into society.

WADOC manages a comprehensive system of correctional institutions across the state, comprising both men's and women's facilities. These institutions vary in security levels and specialized programs to address the diverse needs of the incarcerated population. Below is a list of the current state-operated adult prisons under WADOC's jurisdiction:

Men's Prisons:

• Airway Heights Corrections Center (AHCC): Located in Airway Heights, this facility opened in 1992 and houses male inmates with varying custody levels.

• Cedar Creek Corrections Center (CCCC): Situated in Littlerock, this minimum-security prison for men focuses on rehabilitation and work programs.

• Clallam Bay Corrections Center (CBCC): Opened in 1985 in Clallam Bay, this facility manages male inmates with medium, close, and maximum custody levels.

• Coyote Ridge Corrections Center (CRCC): Located in Connell, this institution opened in 1992 and houses male inmates, offering various programs aimed at reducing recidivism.

• Larch Corrections Center (LCC): Situated in Yacolt, this minimum-security facility focuses on forestry work and other rehabilitation programs for male inmates.

• Monroe Correctional Complex (MCC): Located in Monroe, this complex comprises multiple units with varying custody levels, including minimum, medium, and maximum security for male inmates.

• Olympic Corrections Center (OCC): Situated near Forks, this minimum-security facility emphasizes work programs in forestry and other areas for male inmates.

• Stafford Creek Corrections Center (SCCC): Opened in 2000 in Aberdeen, this facility houses male inmates with medium and minimum custody levels, offering various educational and vocational programs.

• Washington Corrections Center (WCC): Located in Shelton, this institution serves as the intake and classification center for male inmates entering the state prison system.

• Washington State Penitentiary (WSP): Established in 1886 in Walla Walla, this is one of the oldest and largest prisons in the state, housing male inmates with various custody levels.

Women's Prisons:

• Mission Creek Corrections Center for Women (MCCCW): Located in Belfair, this minimum-security facility focuses on rehabilitation programs for female inmates.

• Washington Corrections Center for Women (WCCW): Situated in Gig Harbor, this institution houses female inmates with varying custody levels and offers a range of programs aimed at facilitating successful reentry into society.

Each facility is designed to meet the specific security and rehabilitative needs of its population. Specialized programs like therapeutic communities, vocational training, and educational opportunities are offered to address substance abuse, mental health, and skill development, enhancing the prospects for successful reentry. WADOC also operates reentry and community justice centers to support offenders as they transition back into the community by providing housing assistance, counseling, and job training.

Through its network of correctional facilities, diagnostic centers, and reentry programs, WADOC strives to balance public safety with offender rehabilitation. By addressing behavioral and psychological needs and encouraging good conduct, the department fosters a safer environment both inside correctional facilities and within the broader community.