Ahtanum View Corrections Center
2009 S 64th Ave [Driving Directions]
Yakima, Washington 98903
(509) 573-6333
Superintendent: Jane Parnell
The Ahtanum View Corrections Center (AVCC) is located in a rural setting, approximately six miles west of downtown Yakima. The 130 bed facility is co-located with the Ahtanum View Work Release on approximately 7.5 acres. The Work Release Center has been part of the Yakima Community for over 25 years, and the Minimum Security Prison Facility opened its doors to staff and offenders in July 1997.
Visiting an Offender
Sending a Quarterly Package?
Updates have been made to 450.120 Packages for Offenders and is the policy that outlines quarterly gift packages. Please note there have been significant changes to the quarterly gift package guidelines effective March 1, 2009.
Take the time to review the DOC Policy 440.000, Personal Property for Offenders before sending items to offenders. Personal property items purchased by family and friends are not authorized, except as allowed in a Quarterly Package. Quarterly Gift packages may include new shoes only.
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.
Facility History
AVCC, the first correctional facility of its kind in Washington State, houses the aged, medically challenged and disabled offenders who are not able to program at larger correctional facilities. This minimum custody facility focuses on offenders becoming independent and self-sufficient so they can be law abiding and productive when transitioned to the community.
Programs
AVCC contracts with Walla Walla Community College to provide education services to the offenders. The onsite instructor is teaching Adult Basic Education and Information Technology classes directed primarily for our special needs population.
Offenders assist in the day-to-day operation of the facility. AVCC on-site support jobs include custodial, recycling, food service, unit porters, laundry, warehouse, barber, clerks, offender assistant program, medical porter and plant maintenance.
Our Multi-Purpose Building contains a half court basketball area, exercise equipment, barbershop, hobby craft area, a recreation staff office and an equipment room. The yard provides an area for outdoor sport tournaments including horseshoes, bocce-ball and basketball (on the outdoors basketball court in the yard). There is also a track around the inner parameter of the yard. The focus is to provide appropriate and pro-social leisure time activities for all offenders. We help them become self-directed and motivated to a healthier lifestyle.
The Special Needs Program is designated to help the offender identify what he will need to have in place to transition to the community successfully. Many of our offenders have special needs and are introduced to community resources such as: Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, Department of Social and Health Services, Veterans Administration, etc.
Correctional Industries Programs
The Correctional Industries Program at AVCC includes a flatgoods sewing shop and the facility laundry. The laundry employs 2 offenders and is responsible for the majority of offender laundry and staff uniforms. The flatgoods sewing shop employs up to 17 offenders. They produce offender laundry bags, DNR shirts, robes, coveralls and vests. They also produce vests for staff and custom items for other agencies.
Community Involvement
A Facility Chaplain is responsible for coordinating all religious programming through community based volunteers. He focuses on bringing volunteers into our facility, with volunteers from almost every faith group in the community being active with the offender population. A volunteer clergy support team is available to the offender population during times of grief, end of life issues, depression, etc.
The Facility Chaplain serves as the Community Partnership Program Coordinator (CPPC) in addition to his religious coordinating responsibilities. As CPPC he oversees volunteers who help in the process of transitioning of offenders back into the community. They also help facilitate self-help support groups.