Washington State Penitentiary

washington state pen

1313 N 13th Ave [Driving Directions]
Walla Walla, WA 99362
(509) 525-3610

Superintendent: Stephen D. Sinclair

Washington State Penitentiary (WSP) is located on 540 acres of farmland near the city of Walla Walla. Four separate facilities exist within the institution, each of which house a different custody level of offender. WSP employs 1,289 staff members. One building in the penitentiary is a LEED™ certified "green" building.

Visiting an Offender

Need assistance with transportation? Contact Matthew House.org for services.

Important Notice for Visitors

Beginning September 4, 2009 all prisons in Washington State are taking extra precautions to lower the risk of influenza and other illnesses entering our facilities. Because of the unique nature of prisons and the special risks posed by the spread of illnesses we will deny entrance to visitors who have flu-like symptoms.

Symptoms of flu include: fever or chills and either cough or sore throat. Additional symptoms of flu can include runny nose, body aches, headache, fatigue, diarrhea, or vomiting.

Visitors who display these symptoms will be denied for that day and visiting may resume after the person has been symptom-free for 24 hours. This measure is necessary to prevent the virus' spread and to ensure the safety of all visitors, staff and offenders - especially those in high-risk categories.
We appreciate your cooperation and understanding.

H1N1 Precautions

Due to the recent spread of the novel H1N1, or swine flu, virus the Department of Corrections encourages visitors who have flu symptoms to stay home. These symptoms include runny nose, nasal congestion, sore throat, cough and fever.

Please remember that the best way to prevent the spread of infectious diseases is by practicing the following precautions:

  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it;
  • Wash your hands with soap and water frequently, especially after you cough or sneeze;
  • Try to avoid close contact with sick people;
  • If you get sick, stay home and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them;
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

These are the same precautions that should be taken to stop transmitting all influenza viruses.

Sending a Quarterly Package?

Holiday 2009 Package Information

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.

This facility had additional WSP specific information. All of items in the (www.washingtonpackages.com) catalog had been preapproved so fewer rejections.

Programs

Walla Walla Community College provides basic education and vocational programs including information technology, barbering, custodial, carpentry, HVAC, and welding. Offender Change programs are also available including stress and anger management, victim awareness, job hunter, and moral reconation therapy.

Correctional Industries Programs

Correctional Industries programs include the metal plant (license plate manufacture, metal chair frames, etc.), sign production, farm operations and the garment factory which makes correctional officer uniforms and food service clothing items.

Community Involvement

Volunteers are involved in religious programs, AA/NA meetings, assisting Veterans with military issues, assisting inmate families with children mentoring programs, and special programs (i.e., dental hygienist, photographer, etc.) that are available to the inmate population and their families. Guest sport teams, choirs, musical groups, guest speakers/lecturers, and professional groups have held programs for the inmate population. There are also groups that assist inmates in the process of re-integrating back into society. Some of the local motels have gift certificates available to assist families with their motel rate, if they need to spend a night at Walla Walla, either before or after a regularly scheduled visit.

Facility History

In 1883, the Territorial Governor authorized the selection of a suitable site for a penitentiary. In 1885, Walla Walla was chosen. Construction began in 1886 using bricks manufactured in nearby Dixie from the fine clay beds there. To provide needed jobs for the prisoners, a one-story jute mill for the manufacture of sacks was built in 1892. Then in 1921, the jute mill was transformed into a license-plate factory, which continues to operate today, producing 2,913,136 sets of plates each year.

More Photos of WSP

More Washington State Penitentiary History

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