Walla Walla Washington State Penitentiary

David Carter & Michelle Inderbitzin

Construction began on the Washington State Penitentiary in 1886, and the first inmates were moved there in 1887. Located on 540 acres of farmland near the community of Walla Walla in eastern Washington, the penitentiary is the largest correctional institution in the state. It has a rated capacity of 1,825 inmates, but it generally houses between 2,200 and 2,500 male offenders. Approximately 900 employees work at the institution, making it one of the largest employers in the area. Uniformed officers make up the bulk of the staff, with the prison employing 570 officers, sergeants, lieutenants, and captains. Other staff positions include medical and mental health coordinators and assistants, maintenance supervisors and workers, cooks, and stationary engineers. The Washington State Penitentiary holds inmates at all security levels. It is the only correctional facility in the state to house offenders who have been sentenced to the death penalty, and it also confines ...

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