Layoffs at Planned at Washington Jail

YAKIMA, Wash.— Due to a large loss of contract to house inmates from another county at the Yakima County Jail, the county must lay off 34 Department of Corrections employees effective January 31.
 
Jail officials learned that they are losing about 200 inmates from King County, Wash., that are housed under contracts worth approximately $6 million. The Yakima County jail has had contracts with communities to house their inmates, but a new 800-bed jail in Des Moines, Wash., has been able to underbid Yakima County, taking those contracts.
 
Job losses include 29 corrections officers, four office workers and another five unfilled corrections officer positions.