Historic Washington Prison to Close

McNEIL ISLAND, Wash. — The historic McNeil Island Corrections Center in Washington will close next April due to budget cuts.

The island prison will transfer its 515 offenders to other prisons in the state, according to reports. The Washington Department of Corrections announced it would work to find jobs elsewhere for its 245 staff members.

State lawmakers say the DOC has must also reduce its budget by nearly $53 million. Full closure of the McNeil Island prison is expected to save the agency $6.3 million a year.

The costs to operate the ferries, barges and fire boats to McNeil Island will shift from the Corrections Department to the State Department of Social and Health Services, which runs the Special Commitment Center for sexually violent predators on the island.