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Gov. Gregoire endorses changes at Washington State Penitentiary that increase efficiency

For Immediate Release: October 6, 2011

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today endorsed a plan developed by the Department of Corrections that will save taxpayer dollars and provide the prison system with the appropriate custody-level beds.

By Jan. 1 the Department of Corrections will change the oldest units at the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla from medium custody to minimum custody. The original Penitentiary which recently celebrated its 125th anniversary is one of the most expensive prison units to operate in the state. The change will save an estimated $10 million each year and provide the state�s prison system with the additional minimum-security beds it needs.

�This is an excellent example of a state agency finding solutions that make our operations more efficient and more effective,� Gregoire said. �That�s always important, though it�s particularly important as we work to overcome historic budget challenges. We can�t wait until the special session to take action � it�s early action ideas like this that help jump-start our savings and soften the cuts down the road.�

A recent analysis of the offender population determined that the state�s 10 men�s prisons have excess capacity in medium-security units and a shortage of minimums-security beds. The change in custody level will result in the Penitentiary needing about 170 fewer staff positions.

The Department of Corrections has held positions vacant elsewhere in the state so that impacted staff members at the Penitentiary will have job options.

The agency included this plan as part of its package of scenarios to reduce spending by 5 and 10 percent in case the state�s revenue continued to decline. DOC Secretary Bernie Warner said that while his agency is examining the other scenarios included in the package there are advantages to changing the custody level now at the Penitentiary.

�The sooner we take action the more time we have to identify other job options for the affected staff members as well as move offenders to other locations,� Warner said. �While this will make us a more efficient prison system, we want to do it in a safe and responsible manner.�