State-run detention centers like Green Hill School need security-protocol overhaul

Governor needs to be accountable, stop minimizing problems

OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, and Centralia Chief of Police Stacy Denham are disputing the governor’s recent claim that security protocols at Green Hill School, the state-run maximum-security detention facility in Chehalis, are “improved.” They provided the following statement in response.

“We cannot emphasize enough how badly the hiring, training and security protocols at Green Hill School and other state-run detention facilities across Washington need to be overhauled to ensure the safest and most effective environment for the rehabilitation of offenders. We call on Governor Inslee and DCYF Secretary Ross Hunter to step up and take responsibility for enacting real solutions rather than just putting a bandage on the problem and calling it good.


“The governor minimizes the problems plaguing detention centers around the state, including Green Hill School in Chehalis. He likes to claim his administration has fixed the security problems that allowed Green Hill officials to ignore policy and stockpile contraband such as drugs and weapons in lockers instead of turning them over to law enforcement. That is not the case. Items are not turned over daily but instead are given to law enforcement as a ‘package’ once a month, accompanied by a report so poorly written that the Chehalis Police Department offered to teach the facility staff how to prepare it correctly.

“Chronic, systemic mismanagement of the agencies under Jay Inslee’s watch has become a hallmark of his 12 years in office. Yet, he accepts no accountability for it. Sweeping change is needed. The current situation is a complete failure, not just for the staff and inmates, but also for communities across Washington. When security can’t enter an inmate’s room after ‘lights out’ to confiscate the illegally obtained cannabis being smoked, something is wrong. When kids are allowed to walk unescorted from building to building, giving them the opportunity to pick up footballs with drugs hidden inside that have been thrown over the fence, something is wrong. And when the governor won’t allow an investigation of one of his agencies, something is wrong. Fix the system and let security do their jobs.”

Inmates at Green Hill School include adult males, yet the facility and others like it are managed by the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) – not the Department of Corrections (DOC).

A history of problems at the Green Hill School:

“Four Green Hill School inmates charged for prison riot; eighth riot charged at facility in 2023” (The Chronicle, Jan. 8, 2024)

“Green Hill School inmate charged for alleged possession of fentanyl in January 2023” (The Chronicle, Jan. 5, 2024)

Braun: Drug contraband, obstruction of justice at Green Hill School warrants thorough investigation (Sen. John Braun, Nov. 4, 2023)

“Search warrant served as part of drug investigation at Chehalis juvenile detention center” (King TV, Sept. 7, 2023)

“Rampant sexual abuse at The Green Hill School in Chehalis” (PCVA Law)

Senator John Braun

Washington State Senate Republicans

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