Pine Lodge Corrections Center for Women

pine lodge correction center

PO Box 300 [Driving Directions]
751 S Pine St
Medical Lake, WA 99022-0300
(509) 299-2300

Superintendent: Walker B. Morton

Pine Lodge Corrections Center for Women (PLCCW) is located on 45 acres in Medical Lake, approximately 17 miles west of Spokane. The offender population is 172, there is currently one dorm style living unit occupying two floors.  

Visiting an Offender

If you are visiting a loved one at Pine Lodge Corrections Center for Women, you may be eligible to receive a hotel stay at a reduced rate. Only DOC approved visitors may apply.

Activity dates/times may change or be canceled. Every effort will be made to notify the population if such changes occur but cannot be guaranteed.

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 PLCC specific information: Contact the offender for the proper paperwork.

Programs

PLCCW offers basic education (GED) and computer skills in Microsoft Office 2007. In addition PLCCW has a one year certificate program in Office Assistant / Front Office Professional that is run through the Spokane Community College.

Pine Lodge staff wrote a Federal Grant Proposal and started the first ever Therapeutic Community (TC) Program in the Washington State Department of Corrections, in 1995. That program has now spread to several other DOC facilities across the state.

Correctional Industries

Correctional Industries (CI) provides a vocational certification for the offenders employed in the CI Laundry Department at PLCCW.

Community Involvement

The Community Partnership Program coordinates the volunteer and internship services of approximately 175 community members.

PLCCW utilizes community resources and encourages supervised interaction between responsible citizens and offenders. Volunteers and Interns are instrumental in assisting in the development of well-rounded programs aimed at developing positive changes in personal growth and successful reintegration to society. Volunteer led programs include Chemical Dependency 12 Step Programs, Creative Writing, Quarterly Family Friendly Events, The Little Bus That Could Program, ReBuilding Families, Preparing for Release, GOAL Clothing Closet, and Read to Me Story Time.

PLCCW offenders participate in various activities that support the community. They participate in fundraisers and donate the proceeds to community charitable organizations, grow thousands of pounds of garden grown fruits and vegetables which are donated to local food banks and knit various items for those in need through Project Warm Up.

Facility History

In 1978, Pine Lodge Corrections Center (PLCC) opened as an all-male, 80-bed, medium- and minimum-security prison.  The single, renovated, 46-year-old brick building was initially used as a center for mentally-ill women housed on the Eastern State Hospital campus.

In 1984, there were two buildings on-site with the addition of Walker Hall. In 1990, Eastern Washington Pre-Release (EWPR) co-located with PLCC. Modular buildings were brought in to house approximately 200 male offenders. PLCC and EWPR shared the same perimeter fence, however, only a sidewalk divided the two facilities inside the fence.

In 1991, EWPR received 24 female offenders. In January 1992, PLCC and EWPR consolidated to form Pine Lodge Pre-Release (PLPR). Pine Lodge partnered with Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and ran fire crews out of the facility. In 1995, Pine Lodge introduced DOCs first Therapeutic Community (TC) to the facility, which has since been adopted at several other facilities.

In 2001, the Work Ethic Camp (WEC) from McNeil Island Corrections Center was moved to Pine Lodge and became the Work Ethic Program (WEP). The WEP was transferred to Coyote Ridge Corrections Center in 2004. The last male offender transferred from Pine Lodge on June 3, 2004 and officially became Pine Lodge Corrections Center for Women (PLCCW) on July 1, 2004.

This facility is accredited ACA logo

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