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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 Study recommends keeping all of Monroe prison open By Jerry Cornfield Herald Writers MONROE – A much-anticipated study issued today does not recommend closing the Washington State Reformatory in Monroe to help the state save money. Instead, it suggests sending inmates to the Monroe Correctional Complex from facilities that could be closed. The 40-page report lays out two paths legislators can take to achieve their goals of eliminating 1,580 beds and saving $12 million by mid-2011. One option is closing a wing at the state penitentiary in Walla Walla, half the Larch Corrections Center in Yacolt and the entire Ahtanum View Corrections Center in Yakima. The other option involves shrinking the McNeil Island Corrections Center and full closure of Larch and Ahtanum View. Under either scenario, the 100 elderly and infirmed inmates at Ahtanum View would come to a minimum security facility at the Monroe Correctional Complex. Closing the reformatory in Monroe was considered by the consultants but not recommended. Today’s draft report, which also looks at possible closures of juvenile facilities, will be appended in the coming days with detailed analysis of the costs of the options. It can be found in three parts on the Office of Financial Management Web site at www.ofm.wa.gov. Public comments will be accepted on each portion through next Wednesday. The final report is due to the governor and Legislature Nov. 1. READER COMMENTS Log in or register to post new comment | Log out Convicts roaming through the valley Too bad, I was really hoping they'd close it down. Yes, it adds a few jobs, but not enough to make up for the problems that arise when criminals are released onto our streets. Bad decision all the way around. H White | Oct 14, 2009 11:26 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal

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