McNeil Island Corrections Center

mcneil island

35 Settler Street [Getting to McNeil Island]
Post Office Box 881000
Steilacoom, WA 98388-0900
(253) 588-5281

Superintendent: Ron Van Boening

McNeil Island Corrections Center (MICC) is located 2.8 miles from Steilacoom in southern Puget Sound.  It is reached by a 20-minute boat ride on one of the facility's passenger vessels.  The main facility houses medium-custody offenders in five living units and a segregation unit. It is located on approximately 89 acres and is within walking distance of the island passenger dock.    Also located on McNeil Island is the Special Commitment Center, which is operated by the Department of Social and Health Services.

Visiting an Offender

Getting to McNeil Island

Sending a Quarterly Package?

The following is the approved Vendor List for purchasing personal property items as authorized in DOC Policy 440.000, Personal Property for Offenders. Personal property items purchased by family and friends are not authorized, except as allowed in a Quarterly Package.

Access Catalog Swintec Corp. Eastbay
J C PENNEY Union Supply Company FJA Products
Mike's Better Shoes J L Marcus PACK CENTRAL, INC.
Walkenhorsts LL Bean Holabird Sports

The following vendors are approved for purchase of CD’s/cassette tapes.

Barnes and Nobles AZURE GREEN Music by Mail
Christian Book Distributors The source for everthing Jewish Daedalus Music
Astrolabe Islamic Bookstore BARRY PUBLICATIONS Drumbeat Indian Arts

Books are NOT considered property. Books are considered publications (mail) and are authorized as long as they arrive directly from any publishing company ( like Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Borders, etc.)  and meet the guidelines per DOC Policy 450.100, Mail for Offenders.

Programs

Seminars are offered on preparing for release.

Correctional Industries Programs

MICC has 222 Class II Industries positions and approximately 900 additional jobs throughout the facility and island.  These positions include food service workers, maintenance workers, fire crew members, barbers, recreation aides, teacher's aides, library assistants, laundry workers, clerks, janitors, carpenters, painters, welders, plumbers, electricians and steam fitters. More about CI.

Community Involvement

Ongoing community partnerships and projects include the Angel Bear Program, Bicycle Project, Chambers of Commerce, Clothing Donations, Community Advisory Board, Community Tours, Giving Tree Project, Hats and Scarves Program, Read to Me Daddy Program, Toys for Tots Project and the Family Fatherhood Program.  Additionally, over 700 volunteers provide a variety of quality programs and services, including religious, self-help, 12-step, recreation and educational programs.

Facility History

In 1976, the U.S. government made a decision to close the federal Penitentiary that had operated on McNeil Island since 1875. The state of Washington, which needed more inmate bed space, initiated efforts to take control of the prison.  In 1981, the state signed a lease agreement allowing it to use the Penitentiary, and later that year the Washington Department of Corrections (DOC) moved the first state inmates into the newly renamed McNeil Island Corrections Center. In 1984, the island was officially deeded to the state of Washington. A new deed to McNeil was issued in 1996 from the Department of Justice. 

More McNeil Island History

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