Washington Corrections Center
W 2321 Dayton Airport Rd [Driving Directions
Post Office Box 900
Shelton, WA 98584
(360) 426-4433
Superintendent: Doug Waddington
Washington Corrections Center (WCC) is located four miles west of Shelton, Washington and is situated on a 400-acre site sold to the state by the community. WCC employs a workforce of approximately 630 staff, 65% of which live, work and volunteer in Mason County. WCC is comprised of the Reception Diagnostic Center, Cedar Unit and the Intensive Management Unit (IMU). The Reception Diagnostic Center is the receiving unit for all male felons sentenced at least one year and one day in prison except for those sentenced to the death penalty. The Reception Diagnostic Center is comprised of six living units and houses 1008 offenders. It is a close custody facility with the primary responsibility to process, test, and classify offenders. Once classified, offenders are placed in one of the 12 department institutions that best meets their needs. This may include placement in the Cedar, a medium custody unit, which houses 240 offenders. The IMU houses 124 offenders. The average daily population for the Washington Corrections Center in July 2009 was 1742.
Visiting an Offender
For rules and other facility specific visiting procedures (such as locker availability) review Visiting Rules[en Espanol]. For visiting hours, review the Visiting Schedule [en Espanol]. To request to be added to an offenders visiting list you can print and mail in the Visiting Form or have the offender send you a form in the mail.
If a holiday occurs on visiting days (Fri. Sat. Sun. or Mon.), then we have visiting. If the holiday occurs on non-visiting days (Thanksgiving for example) there is usually no visiting. 2009 Family Friendly Calendar of Events
WCC Visit Room is staffed by one Correctional Sergeant and four Correctional Officers on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Hours for visiting are 10:00am to 7:45pm each day. The visit room can accommodate 145 people (visitors and offenders combined total).
Vending machines are available dispensing both hot and cold foods and drinks. Visitors are no longer able to bring cash into the visitation room. Visitors may purchase a Debitek card to use in the vending machines. To purchase the card the visitor must have a five dollar bill, the machine will not accept any other bill for purchase. Once the card is purchased they can put up to 75 dollars on the card using one, five, ten or twenty dollar bills. Lockers are available for visitors to secure keys, purses, wallets etc at a charge of 25 cents, which is refunded upon return of the key.
There is a children's play area and reading area which includes availability of videos, games, books, and coloring supplies. The average number of visitors varies each day with increased numbers on Saturday and Sunday. The usual number of visitors per day ranges between 100 to 145. Cedar Unit offenders may participate in the Extended Family Visit Program if they are eligible by policy.
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 may have additional WCC specific information.
Facility History
Construction of WCC began in February 1962 with completion and opening in November 1964. WCC was originally opened as a facility for young first-time offenders who were convicted of non-violent crimes and needed academic or vocational education.
Since the opening of WCC there have been many changes in legislation, increased offender population and needs. This has caused the focus of WCC to change. As WCC is the Reception Diagnostic Center for the Department, focus has shifted to receiving and diagnostic processes.
Towers, vehicle patrols, and a double fence provide perimeter security. Communication is a core element necessary to carry out the mission of the facility and Department. WCC recognizes the diversity of individuals and their contributions and strives to treat the public, staff and offenders with dignity, respect, and understanding. This philosophy has proven to build a successful rapport with the offender population, which allows both staff and offenders to live and work in a safe and secure environment.
The IMU was built in 1984 to house 124 maximum-security offenders who pose serious behavior, safety or management issues, require disciplinary action, or pose a threat to others. It houses the most difficult to manage offenders and provides intervention and education programs to assist the offender to change negative behavior patterns and to prepare them for re-entry either to general population or the community. IMU offenders remain in their cells 23 hours each day. They are released only under direct staff escort for showers, exercise or programs.
Programs
WCC offers basic education through the Garrett Heyns Educational Center in partnership with Centralia College. Offenders can earn a high school or General Equivalency Diploma through the education program. WCC does offer a vocational program titled "Institutional Sanitation Certificate." This program trains students to provide services consistent with standards and procedures for institutional sanitation and cleaning. Students in the program will learn job market entry-level skills in sanitation services.
Also available are chemical dependency assessment and treatment, offender change groups, recreation programs, library, Correctional Industries, and greenhouse. These programs are available to Cedar Unit offenders and provide an opportunity for them to build skills that will prepare them for re-entry to the community.
Because of the transitional nature of Reception Diagnostic Center, work programs are limited for those offenders.
This facility is accredited 
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