WaDOC’s New Gangs Unit
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer has taken a tour of Washington DOC’s new gangs unit in Walla Walla.
Robert Walker is four weeks into his housing assignment at the Washington State Penitentiary’s new gang unit, where he is serving 18 years for assault. So far, he likes his new home, but the 21-year-old former gang member from Seattle doesn’t sense that he has any more freedom. “It’s cleaner and there’s less people,” he said. “The room is bigger, but you know…” Walker’s voice trailed off and he shrugged his shoulders at his surroundings – an open cell block offering officers an easy view of rooms from a central command post …
In an attempt to curb prison violence, largely among gang members, the prison has begun isolating problem inmates and gang members in pods to restrict their interaction with other inmates. “Overall, because we’ve been able to manage the offenders in smaller groups – groups of 99 – we’re able to minimize the incidents,” said Steve Sinclair, prison superintendent. Gang members make up 18 percent of Washington’s prison population of about 17,000 inmates, but they account for 43 percent of all major violent infractions inside the prisons, according to a report released last month by the state Department of Corrections.
The complete article at the Seattle PI is full of detailed information.