The Pierce County Detention and Corrections Center

The Pierce County Detention and Corrections Center

By Lt. Martha Harris

The Pierce County Jail is a medium to maximum custody center, consisting of two facilities, the Main Jail, and the Jail Annex. The Main Jail is our maximum security facility confining up to 772 prisoners. It includes the current booking area. The Jail Annex holds 500 medium to minimum-security prisoners in direct supervision units. It was constructed as a temporary facility to ease overcrowding and comply with a Federal Court Order, until the new addition is completed. It is located just south of the Main Jail and County City Building tower. Although just a few hundred feet from each other prisoners are shuttled via transport van. This is due to a high level of courthouse foot traffic.

Construction of a new 1,000-bed addition began on May 30^th, with a construction budget of 53 million. It will include 12 direct supervision dormitory units with new booking/intake, laundry, kitchen, release areas, and an 18-vehicle sally port. The new addition will include a combined central control center aimed at ensuring movement throughout the new and existing jail.

Each facility will be joined by an enclosed secure walkway. Five elevators will service the new facility. The building will be 7 stories high with a screened roof mechanical area, giving the appearance of an eight-story high-rise. Each direct supervision unit will have its own rec. yard, multipurpose room, medical screening room, and visiting booths. Absher-Kitchell Construction is the general contractor. Its completion date is September of 2002.

The lower level of the Main Jail is being enclosed to accommodate new staff locker rooms, a new staff dining area, mechanical, maintenance and storage areas.

We are also improving the Main Jails housing units with low voltage upgrades for fire, duress alarms, cell call buttons, and paging, intercom and camera upgrades. Each staff station will be fitted with a combined graphic touch screen panel. Work on this project has already begun.

Following project completion in September 2002, the Main Jail will go through extensive renovation. The Medical and Mental Health space will be expanded through the old booking/kitchen/release/property room areas. This will include 24 new medical/mental health isolation cells, two being tuberculosis negative pressure rooms. New disciplinary isolation cells will be added on the 3^rd floor. On the 4^th floor we are adding several video arraignment rooms, with joining attorney interview rooms, and court holding areas. The renovation project is scheduled for completion in the spring of 2003.

To accommodate the increased staffing levels, Pierce County is actively recruiting over 150 officers. Lateral entry officers are encouraged to apply. We offer exciting opportunities for job diversity and training, with a multitude of specialized assignments. We offer 5 weeks of classroom training, then 6 weeks of training with a Field Training Officer to all newly hired officers.

At the year 2000 rates: Officer salary currently ranges $16.29-$21.63 hour. Sergeants salary ranges from $22.70-$27.59 hour. There are great promotional opportunities for managerial positions after 3 years of service.

There are many special job opportunities for officers. A Career Rotation Program is in place, where officers can submit for a 3 year position in release, reception, classifications, home monitoring, records/supply, information services, commissary, court escort, recruiter /background investigator, road crew, medical transport or training officer.

Shift bidding is for a one-year term, and is bid by seniority. Once assigned to shift, we bid for which building to work, also by seniority.

PCDCC currently has two offender work crews. Sponsored by the County Road Department, one crew is for roadside trash collection. The other is a paint-crew that is contracted out to schools, and communities for a fee. This paint-crew will also be used to paint the new jail addition.

Other opportunities include the field training officer program, range master, defensive tactic instructor, transition team, trustee coordinator, sheriff's honor guard, safety officer and numerous committees.

There is extensive educational prisoner programs offered. These are for GED, adult basic education, Life Skill classes on anger management, stress management, conflict resolution, domestic violence, computer literacy, planned parenthood and family planning. There are also classes offered by DSHS on community reintegration and aptitude classes by the Employment Opportunity Resource Center. We also continue to offer group counseling on A.A. and N.A..

The jails Chaplaincy staff run a program called "The Responsible Living Unit". In addition, our Chaplains work with the assistance of nearly 70 community volunteers to provide counseling and religious services.

We have coordinated the availability of a work release program to the Piece County courts. In cooperation with Rev. Leo Brown, Executive Director of Progress House Association, we are able to accommodate individuals in their program, located across the street from the County-City Building.

Pierce County is working in partnership with a Victim Information and Notification System (VINE). This automated system will notify registered victims, of when the prisoner is released, transferred or escapes or the victim may call at anytime to check on the custody status.

BUILDING HISTORY

The Main Jail was built in 1984 with an approximate cost of 18 million, and included grants from the State of Washington Corrections Standard Board and the U.S. Marshals Service. During the past 10 years there have been renovations. Two clusters (4 East & 3 East) were created, by remodeling portions of the old jail, adjacent to the County-City Building. Several clusters were also double bunked.

The temporary Jail Annex was built in 1996 at a cost of 6 million, to ease overcrowding, and for us to be in compliance to a Federal Court Order. It is scheduled to close upon completion of the new addition.

LOCATION

The Pierce County Detention and Corrections Center is located in Tacoma, Washington. The County of Pierce spans 1800 square miles from the beautiful "Majestic" Mt. Rainier to the waters of Puget Sound. The Sheriff's Department currently employs 350 Deputy Sheriff's and 300 Corrections Officers. The county services 2 major military installations, hosts numerous colleges and universities, as well as being home to distinct art, award winning museums, and musical productions. Our health care facilities are setting the pace for national health care reform. The quality of life and strong economic base is drawing people and business worldwide. It is home to 686,000 people.

STATISTICS AND SERVICES

PCDCC

910 Tacoma Ave. S.

Tacoma, WA. 98402

Jail Administration (253) 798-4668

Prisoner Population:

Current: 1272

Future: (Year 2002): 1772

(Year 2003): 1808

Acting Sheriff: Paul Pastor

Chief of Corrections: George Wigen

Annual Budget: over $30,000,000