Washington State Penitentiary

Visiting Washington State Penitentiary starts with the DOC visitor application, which must be submitted electronically. Approval takes time—official pages list processing at up to 45 business days in one place and about 50 business days in another, so plan for several weeks before you're cleared. You can only visit if you're on the incarcerated person's Approved Visitor List. There's no limit to how many visitors can be listed, but you're generally restricted to one person's list unless you qualify as immediate family. Minors can visit but must be listed and accompanied the entire time by a non-incarcerated parent, legal guardian, or designated escort. Be prepared for searches—visitors, belongings, vehicles, and bags may all be searched. Refusing a search can lead to suspension or termination of visiting privileges.

Washington State Penitentiary records and monitors video visits. Rule violations—including prohibited conduct or allowing non-approved visitors—can lead to suspension or termination of both video and in-person visitation privileges. Schedule all video visits through Securus at least 24 hours in advance. Appointments are 30 minutes and filled first-come, first-served; available hours vary by facility schedule. When setting up your Securus account, enter your exact legal first name, last name, and date of birth. Don't include a middle name or initial—contact Securus if you need corrections. Phone calls placed by incarcerated people are outbound only, and they're monitored and recorded. The exception: unmonitored legal calls to numbers recognized by the state's bar association. Family emergencies go through the prison's emergency message process. Need to close a ConnectNetwork account? Call (800) 483–8314.

Mail rules at Washington State Penitentiary are strict, so send only what's allowed. The facility rejects incoming cash, personal checks, and postage stamps—include them and they'll be returned at the incarcerated person's expense. Sending legal correspondence? Clearly label the front of the envelope with wording like "Legal Mail," "Attorney/Client," or "Confidential." Mail clearly from a court is also handled as legal mail. Staff open legal mail in the incarcerated person's presence and may inspect it to confirm it qualifies and contains no contraband. Mail in languages other than English—both incoming and outgoing—gets reviewed and translated when needed using a Department-certified translator or contracted vendor. For smoother delivery, include the person's full name, facility ID, and a complete return address.

Western Union is a supported way to add funds for someone at Washington State Penitentiary. Select "Washington Dept Corrections" and enter the Account Number as the incarcerated person's DOC number immediately followed by their last name (matching the format in DOC records). Service fees are tiered by amount—small transfers in the $0.01–$30.00 range have a different fee than larger transfers from $200.01 up to $5,000.00. Washington DOC also commonly uses a limited set of deposit methods statewide, which may include certain electronic debit services and mailed cashier's checks or money orders. Exact options can vary. If you mail funds, don't send cash. Use a cashier's check or money order and clearly note the intended sub-account (such as commissary) so it's applied correctly.