Jail understaffing is dire. Let counties do their own training

After years of understaffing that has impacted every facet of the criminal legal system, the King County Jail may have at least part of an answer to its labor woes.

It all depends on a legal interpretation by state Attorney General Bob Ferguson.

King County officials ought to start planning now to take full advantage of possible new opportunities to get more corrections officers on board and resolve long-term staffing problems.

As first reported by Crosscut, King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion last fall asked the state AG’s Office to issue an opinion on whether counties could operate their own basic corrections-officer training academies to certify new officers. Standards would be consistent with the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, which currently offers the training.

State law explicitly charges the CJTC with training police, but the Legislature seemingly left wiggle room for counties to train corrections officers.

Only a select few public officials, including county prosecutors, can request an Attorney General Opinion.

The situation is dire. Jail understaffing contributes to King County limiting bookings into its facilities. That has essentially translated into a free-for-all for certain misdemeanor offenses. It has also led to troubles in the jail ranging from mandatory overtime to neglecting inmates’ behavioral health challenges.

In 2009, an arbitrator considering disputes between the county and the corrections officers guild called the county’s use of mandatory overtime “inhumane” and “cruel.” Overtime costs the county millions of dollars annually.

There are currently 108 correction officer vacancies at the King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention, Manion told the editorial board recently. Full staffing at King County’s two adult detention facilities requires 503 officers.

“The statute as it relates to law enforcement having to go through the criminal training center is clear. It’s less clear as it relates to corrections officers, which is why we’re seeking the AGO opinion,” said Manion.

“We’re kind of in a pickle right now, as a criminal justice system,” she said. “We should absolutely try to get through this kind of bottleneck and get our jail staffed.”

For its part, the CJTC told Crosscut that it wouldn’t support Manion’s effort.

“We certify our training. We won’t certify someone else’s training,” said Monica Alexander, CJTC executive director, in an interview with Cascade PBS.

There is currently a 253-person waitlist for the CJTC’s corrections officer course, but Alexander contends that the situation could be fixed by adding additional courses.

This is no time for a jurisdictional turf war.

King County jail staff currently teach courses for the CJTC. The county could absolutely set up its own programs that adhere to state standards but also meet regional needs.

It typically takes several months for the Attorney General’s Office to issue an opinion. Given the language of the law and the reasonableness of the request, barriers ought to be quickly torn down so King County can tackle this longstanding issue and finally begin to meet its staffing needs.