Halfway House Plan Scaled Back Work-Release Center Would House 84 Instead Of 120 Originally Planned

Wed., Oct. 9, 1996

By Kristina Johnson kristinaj@spokesman.com

A work-release center proposed for downtown Spokane won’t be as big as originally planned.

Bill Kuennen, director of the Cornelius House, told the city hearing examiner Tuesday the center proposed for 46 W. Third will have 84 beds instead of the 120 originally planned.

The downtown Brownstone Building isn’t big enough to hold 120 prisoners, Kuennen said.

Second Chance, a Seattle-based non-profit organization, needs a special permit to move state work-release prisoners from West Central’s Cornelius House into the building at Third and Browne.

Second Chance provides beds for inmates who are within three to six months of release. While there, they must hold jobs.

About 100 people attended Tuesday’s public hearing on the proposal. Several people questioned the safety of putting prisoners so close to schools and homes.

“If one incident does happen, it’s one incident too many,” said attorney Lisa Vogt.

Others wondered what kind of influence drug dealers and prostitutes working in the area might have on the prisoners.

“Are those to be their teachers?” asked Charlene Kay.

Several people spoke in favor of the proposal, including Spokane County Sheriff John Goldman. Spokane Police Chief Terry Mangan sent a letter supporting the plan.

Lorenzo Driggs, executive director of Treatment Alternatives to Street Crime, noted that inmates in work release are within months of walking away from prison.

“Are they going to be released directly, with no supervision? That is a greater danger to the community than being released with supervision,” Driggs said.

Hearing Examiner Greg Smith will accept written testimony on the proposal until Oct. 24. He is expected to make a decision in early November.

, DataTimes

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.