Prison chief plans amid criticism

OLYMPIA -- Washington's prison system intends to open two large treatment centers for hundreds of parole violators, state prison chief Harold Clarke said Tuesday.

The state has been scrambling for more jail space ever since 52 parole violators were released from the King County Jail earlier this year, leading critics to say Gov. Christine Gregoire and her administration were endangering public safety. A Snohomish County plan to supply about 200 beds fell through.

Clarke, in a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press, also said he has never considered resigning, despite criticism from Republicans, a potential union vote of no confidence and myriad challenges facing the sprawling Department of Corrections.

"I'll tell you, I am not a quitter," he said.

Clarke said some union activists have groused about him ever since he arrived from Nebraska more than two years ago. He portrayed his critics as upset by changes, but he said he plans to go full steam ahead with reforms aimed at reducing the cycle of repeat crime.

"We're about a culture shift here," Clarke said.

The Legislature recently approved a plan from Clarke, the governor and a legislative task force to focus on some issues that lead inmates to reoffend, such as illiteracy, addiction, mental problems and lack of job skills.

The system has been given about $30 million to pay for more prison services and to follow up with treatment and supervision once an inmate is released back into the community.

Clarke announced plans for two large treatment centers, one on each side of the Cascade Mountains, and that each could handle between 200 and 500 ex-convicts jailed for violating terms of parole. The violations typically include failing to get drug and alcohol treatment and failing to check in regularly with a community corrections officer.

The facilities likely would be built and operated by for-profit companies and would offer drug treatment, schooling and mental-health care. Most state work-release centers currently are operated by the private sector.

Clarke said he has toured facilities run by New Jersey-based Community Education Centers, which operates "offender re-entry services" in 22 states. "I've got to tell you, I was tremendously impressed," he said.

Another option would be for the state to build or lease the centers and then operate them, he said.

The agency will send the appropriations request to the governor and Legislature.

Meanwhile, the state has arranged to rent hundreds of county jail cells and use about 400 beds at the Washington State Reformatory at Monroe, Snohomish County, for the parole violators, Clarke said. Counties holding such violators include Yakima, Benton, Clark, Cowlitz, Grant, King, Kitsap, Lewis, Pierce, Okanogan, Snohomish, Spokane and Walla Walla.

Clarke said the state will keep its contracts with local jails for offenders who don't need treatment, with the new state facilities reserved for violators who need the extra services. The Monroe cells will revert to general prison use, he said.

By 2017, the state has projected an additional shortage of 4,100 beds, but hopes the new reforms will shave at least 1,000 off that figure.

The Washington Federation of State Employees will decide later this month whether to conduct a no-confidence vote against Clarke in August. About 1,500 workers would be eligible to vote.

Republicans have been sharply critical of the agency. Josh Kahn, state GOP spokesman, didn't take issue with the new treatment centers but said that, overall, Gregoire is badly mishandling the department.

"She has absolutely dropped the ball," he said.