Poll:
Do you think Pine Lodge should be shut down?
MEDICAL LAKE, Wash. -- The fate of Pine Lodge Women's Correctional facility in Medical Lake hangs in the balance with an entire city fighting mad to keep it open.
Washington State is delaying its plans to close the Pine Lodge Corrections Center in Medical Lake to see whether it can be shared with the city and Spokane County. The state blames budget cuts for the closure. But during a Saturday town hall meeting in Medical Lake, neighbors say that's just a bold face lie.
Hundreds waited their turn to be heard by local, state and house lawmakers over Pine Lodge's closure. Pine Lodge has a 450 person capacity but currently houses 195 women. The state says that is a waste of money. The state announced back in December they would be closing the facility and transferring all the women to two sites on the west side of the state. Folding Pine Lodge into the county's jail system could save as much as $20 million off current expansion plans.
But on Thursday, state officials said they would delay those plans in hopes the facility can be shared with the city and Spokane County. Both are facing an overpopulated jail and prison. Pine Lodge is on a list of ten institutions to close according to a recent budget proposal by Governor Chris Gregoire.
It that happens, it would mean nearly 100 jobs lost for the small town. The inmate's families would have to drive 400 miles to visit their mother or daughter. Kerry Wiltzius saw her daughter incarcerated at Pine Lodge and another prison on the west side. She says family support is paramount for the inmates.
"They don't have that relationship. They can't visit with mom and they forget who mom is in a way," said Wiltzius. And the inmates lose hope.
"They give up. They don't think anyone cares about them. They don't think they're a face but a number," said Wiltzius.
And with letters in hand from Pine Lodge inmates, begged lawmakers to do something.
"There are women there that really want to go straight and P.L. is very successful at helping these women and closing it down would be a shame," said Wiltzius.
This is a hotly debated issue that has a few sides to the debate. Next Sunday, after the Super Bowl, KREM 2 will take an in-depth look into the issues. They include why the state says the closure is needed, what Spokane County wants to do with the property, and the grassroots protest against all of it.
