Lawmakers Cut Funding For Sex-Offender Program

Sat., April 29, 1995

David Ammons Associated Press

Budget negotiators Friday pulled the plug on the sex-offender treatment program at the Monroe state prison and on a Republican plan to turn over operation of a prison to private enterprise.

Senate negotiators agreed to a House proposal to eliminate the sex-offender program at Twin Rivers Corrections Center at Monroe, saving $814,000 over the next two years. It’s one of the nation’s largest treatment projects, with about 200 inmates.

Prison chief Chase Riveland called the action premature and unwise. About 2,400 sex criminals are behind bars and shouldn’t be released without at least an attempt to reform them, he said.

Lawmakers in both parties cited a new study from the state-sponsored Institute for Public Policy in deciding the treatment program makes no major difference in curing sex offenders.

“They will still be locked up; we just won’t pretend we can treat them,” said Senate budget Chairwoman Nita Rinehart, D-Seattle.

Riveland conceded it’s tough to treat sex offenders, even those who admit they have a problem and who submit to treatment.

Sex predators who are civilly committed to remain in the Special Offender Center on the grounds of the Monroe Reformatory still will receive treatment - because the courts and the commitment statutes require it, not because it works, Rinehart said.

Republicans backed away from their proposal to begin privatizing operation of the state prisons. The House budget had counted on saving $1.5 million, and 69 state employees, by turning over the 400-inmate Coyote Ridge Corrections Center in Connell to a private company next year.

House Majority Leader Dale Foreman, R-Wenatchee, said Republicans still like the idea and think it can be a big money-saver. But he conceded it makes sense to study the ramifications before actually ordering the shift.

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