Cuts Could Come To The Pen

Tools

Story Published: Aug 10, 2009 at 6:41 PM PDT

By Holly Zuluaga

Video
WALLA WALLA--More jobs are on the line at the Walla Walla pen.

The state wants to cut beds, and Walla Walla is in the cross hairs, but the community isn't taking it lying down.

They've formed a task force to do their own study of the pen.

Walla Walla relies on the jobs at the penitentiary, even more than most.

Next to Mason County, it's the second spot in the state that relies most on jobs from The Department of Corrections.

“We can't afford economically to lose hundreds of jobs, 20 million dollars of payroll out of the Walla Walla Valley,” Jim Kuntz with the Port of Walla Walla said.

The State can't afford what it's got now, either.

It needs to cut back.

An outside group is looking for where to trim the fat.

The pen is a logical choice, because it's the oldest in the state, and the cost per inmate is higher than normal.

Officials at the pen explained that's because of the expansion, but say they've brought those numbers down.

“What the state I believe is going to be looking at is what's called the main institution, which is the older unit within the Washington State Pen to eliminate beds,” Jim Kuntz with the Port of Walla Walla said.

So the port is teaming up with other agencies to do their own study to make sure the state gets all the facts and it's all done fairly.

“We're asking lots of questions...we're looking at employee turn over rates thinking Walla Walla they don't have as large of an employee turn over rate so training costs to correctional officers is not as great in Walla Walla compared to other markets,” Jim Kuntz with the Port of Walla Walla said.

As the only prison to form a task force, they hope it will help.

A cut at the pen, is a cut to the community.

The Community Task Force has an open meeting Wednesday at 3 P.M. at the airport terminal building.

The state should make its decision on cuts later this year.

Current Weather

Icon
Current Temp 39.0 °F
Fair
Video
More Weather

Upload directly from your mobile device.

Learn how

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

On Demand