Monroe Correctional Complex
The Monroe Correctional Complex is a prison for male inmates at the minimum, medium, and maximum-custody levels. This facility opened in 1910 and is operated by the Washington State Department of Corrections. The Monroe Correctional Complex is located in Monroe, Washington, and can house a maximum of 2,400 inmates.
Minimum Security Unit (MSU)
Living Units (Custody Level): A, B, C, and D (Minimum)
The MSU has three 120 bed living units and one 90 bed unit that houses a Mental Health program called the Crossroads Program. It can house 468 inmates and accepts selected short-term (4 years or less to serve) incarcerated individuals with minimum custody.
Washington State Reformatory Unit (WSRU)
Living Units (Custody Level): A, B, C, and D (Medium/Minimum MI3)
Inmates are housed in two large cell blocks inside a historical building. Each cell block has 316 cells and houses approximately 360 inmates. There are five Extended Family Visit mobile homes that allow for family style visits with immediate relatives, spouses, and children. These units provide services for the entire MCC complex.
Special Offender Unit (SOU)
Living Units (Custody Levels): A/B (Maximum), C/D (Close), E/F (Medium/Minimum MI3)
The Special Offender Unit provides a facility to treat/house the Seriously Mentally Ill (SMI). SOU has a 400 bed capacity with the addition of the Medium/Minimum custody housing of E and F Unit. SOU is made up of a total of six living/treatment units that offer specific treatment programs.
Intensive Management Unit (IMU) – Violator Unit
Living Units (Custody Level): IMU (Maximum)
A level five facility with 200 beds, the IMU houses behaviorally difficult-to-manage incarcerated individuals in a highly-controlled environment.
Twin Rivers Unit – (TRU)
Living Units (Custody Levels): A/B (Medium), C/D (Minimum MI3)
This unit houses more than 800 inmates in four different living units: two minimum custody units and two medium custody units. The Washington State Sex Offender Treatment and Assessment Program (SOTAP) is located at TRU and participants in the program are housed in C-Unit, a minimum long term security unit.
Prison Insights
Monroe Correctional Complex
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Visiting Hours and Rules
The visiting hours at Monroe Correctional Complex are:
Minimum Security Unit (MSU)
MSU Visit Schedule Details
Saturday/Sunday See Visit Schedule
Monday/Friday 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. – 8:25 p.m.
Special Offender Unit (SOU)
Living Units A, B
Intensive Management Unit (IMU)
SOU/IMU Visit Schedule Details
Sunday/Monday/Friday/Saturday 12:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Special Offender Unit (SOU)
Living Units C, D, E, F
SOU/IMU Visit Schedule Details
Sunday/Monday/Friday/Saturday 12:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Twin Rivers Unit (TRU)
TRU Visit Schedule Details
Sunday/Monday/Friday/Saturday 12:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
WA State Reformatory (WSR)
WSR Visit Schedule Details
Saturday/Sunday See Visit Schedule
Monday/Friday 12:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Visiting hours are subject to change and may be interrupted or cancelled. You can avoid making unnecessary trips or being turned away by going checking http://twitter.com/@wadocvisits.
Applying for Visitation
Visitors must have submitted a visitor’s application, be approved, and added to the incarcerated individual’s visitor list before visiting. To start the approval process, fill out the online application. A separate application form is needed for visitors under the age of 18. Minors under 18 years of age may visit with a parent/guardian or an approved escort only.
Visitor Check-In
Visitors are welcome to arrive 30 minutes before visits and must check in at the visitor entrance.
What to Bring to a Visit
Visitors may bring the following items in a clear plastic coin purse or bag:
- Cash for the vending machines: a maximum of $20 (change, singles, and $5 bills only)
- Keys: Drivers may keep one car key and/or remote on a single ring key chain. The keys will be secured in a locker at Public Access prior to visiting.
- ID: You must have one form of ID to visit with an inmate. Visitors who are 18 years of age and older must present identification (ID) that is valid with a current photo (e.g., driver’s license or state ID card, passport, military or government ID, tribal ID, alien registration).
- Medical: Visitors are allowed medications or medical equipment that is needed during the visiting period, if proof of prescription or medically authorized need is provided. Prescription medication must be in the original container and only in the limited amount needed during the visit.
- Small comb or brush
- Two pairs of eyeglasses, including one pair of reading glasses, or non-reflective sunglasses for facilities allowing outside visits.
The following items are allowed for infants and toddlers and must be stored in a clear plastic bag or container:
- Two, empty, clear, plastic bottles that can be filled with water, juice, milk, or formula
- One plastic Tupperware-type child’s cup with lid
- Two, unopened plastic containers of formula, juice, or other infant-specific fluids (e.g., Pedialyte). Breast milk may be allowed if it is in a clear plastic bottle that employees are able to inspect
- Two, unopened plastic containers of baby/snack food in their original packaging with one plastic baby spoon
- Two bibs
- Two pacifiers or teething objects
- One non-quilted child’s blanket
- One change of baby clothing
- One disposable diaper per hour of the visit
- Baby wipes that have been transferred to a zip lock plastic bag before the visit
Dress Code
The following guidelines apply to visitors 8 years of age and older:
- Children must wear clothing that will not reveal underwear when they crawl, spin, etc. Shorts under dresses may be appropriate.
- Clothing will be free of reference to obscenity, alcohol, drugs, Security Threat Group (STG), violence, or sex in any form.
- All clothing must be clean and in good repair without rips or tears.
- Appropriate undergarments are required and will not be visible.
- Clothing will not reveal breasts or expose undergarments, cleavage, stomach/midriff, or bare chest or back, including when arms are raised.
- Sheer/transparent clothing is not allowed unless clothing worn beneath is not transparent and no undergarments (e.g., bra, underwear) are visible.
- Tactical and cargo pants are not allowed but carpenter pants are acceptable.
- Sagging of pants is not allowed.
- Camouflage, even in small decorative patches or lettering, and bibbed attire may not be worn.
- Outer garment shirts must have sleeves. Sleeveless garments must be worn with a sleeved outer garment for the duration of the visit. Cap sleeves are acceptable as an outer garment.
- Sweaters, blazers, and sweatshirts are permitted.
- Hooded garments are not allowed in the visit area.
- Shorts, dresses, skirts, capris, skorts, and slits in clothing must reach the top of the kneecap when standing.
- Shoes, sandals, flip flops, and boots must be in good repair, free of rips or tears.
- High heels must be no more than three inches high from the heel of the visitor’s foot to the ground.
Video Visits
Video visits are available at Monroe Correctional Complex. You must be on your loved one’s approved visit list to participate. To register, contact JPAY at (866) 333-5729 or https://www.jpay.com/. Video visits are scheduled in 30 minute increments and may not exceed one hour in duration.
Where Days Check In Time Check Out Time
WSRU Monday - Sunday 6:30 am 8:00 pm
TRU Monday - Sunday 6:30 am 8:00 pm
SOU Monday - Sunday 6:30 am 8:00 pm
MSU Sunday - Friday 9:30 am 7:00 pm
MSU Saturday Only 9:30 am 11:00 am
Physical Address
Monroe Correctional Complex
16550 177th Avenue SE
Monroe, WA 98272
Driving Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/CbxGCagHRiQknszo9
General Phone Number
(360)-794-2600
Inmate Mailing Address(es)
Inmate name and DOC number
Monroe Correctional Complex
P.O. Box 777
Monroe, WA 98272
Staff inspects all inmate mail. Books, newspapers, and magazines must be mailed directly to your inmate by the publisher, publication supplier, or bookstore.
Email and videograms are available through JPAY. To register, please contact JPAY at (866) 333-5729 or visit https://www.jpay.com/.
How to Call an Inmate
You can't call an inmate at Monroe Correctional Complex, but they do have access to phones during daytime hours. For complete details on how to call an inmate in Washington, please click here.
How to Send Money
The Department of Corrections (DOC) provides the following three options to send money to your inmate at Monroe Correctional Complex:
Programs For Inmates
Academic & Partnership Programs
- Adult Basic Education
- Business Associate of Technical Arts Degree
- College Prep Math
- English as a Second Language
- General Education Development (GED)
- Medication Management
- Sustainability in Prisons Project
Research Based Programs
- Sex Offender Treatment
- Substance Abuse Treatment
Work & Vocational Programs
- Building Maintenance/Construction Trades
- Graphic Arts & Printing
- Information Technology
- Small Business Entrepreneur
Innovative Programs provided through MCC Community Volunteers
- Alternatives to Violence: Monthly workshop series sponsored by Peace Between People International Organization teaching alternate methods of communications and conflict resolution.
- Black Prisoners Caucus (BPC) and Concerned Lifers Organization (CLO): Target specific portion of population to address issues of education, reentry (BPC), and long term incarceration.
- Bridges to HOPE: Focus on education and community service through liaison with University of WA HOPE (Huskies for Opportunities in Prison Education) organization.
- Bridges to Life: Restorative Justice 14 week Faith Based curriculum that helps offenders realize and understand the full impact of their crime.
- Breaking Barriers: Cognitive Behavioral Change program.
- Community Aid Coalition: Offenders create items to donate to Community non-profit organizations. Sewing, woodworking, ceramics.
- Community Life Skills: Open discussion question and answer forum from a Christian perspective on skills needed for successful community life, whether upon Release or in the prison community during incarceration
- Dispute Resolution: Sponsored by Volunteers of America and Dispute Resolution of Snohomish County, teaches offenders conflict resolution and mediation skills.
- Financial Peace University: Dave Ramsey’s Financial Management course teaches offenders a step-by-step process to be debt free, including budgeting and savings and how to set financial goals.
- Foreign Language Bible Studies: Agua Vivas; Tierra Nueva; Russian Bible Study
- Freedom Project: Non-Violent Communications weekly classes, monthly workshops, and weekly Mindfulness Training classes. Mission of Freedom Project is to transition prisoners to peacemakers through various skill building classes and workshops.
- Girl Scouts Behind Bars: Sponsored by Girl Scouts of Western Washington, monthly scout troop meetings between offenders and their daughters, with supervision by staff and Scout representatives.
- Goodwill New Connections: ReEntry and Job Skills program that offers pre-release skills building and post-release Case Management Support services.
- Interaction Transition: Sponsored by Interaction Transition Organization, Seattle, WA. Previously offered transition housing, currently provides weekly meetings to assist offenders prepare for release. Working on opening a new Transition House in the near future.
- Marriage Seminar: Christian based marriage seminar with offenders and their wife/fiancée.
- Reading with Dad: Time in Visit Rooms with incarcerated dad and approved minor family visitors to read books together. Book then approved to be taken home by child.
- Preparing for Release: Family Focused 4-week communications and reentry workshop between offender and family support person.
- Prison Fellowship-Anticipate Pre-Release Class: Sponsored by Prison Fellowship, an international non-profit organization whose mission is reconciliation to God, family and community reentry.
- Prison SMART: Offers “Stress Management and Rehabilitation Training” by teaching practical life skills to accept responsibility for past actions and to handle future conflict and breathing practices for cleansing the body and mind.
- Purrfect Pals Foster Kitten Program: Mentally ill offenders foster feral kittens until the kittens are ready for adoption.
- Summit Assistance Dog Program: Working with Summit Assistance Dog Organization, offenders learn to train service dogs. Summit provides trained mobility, hearing and/or therapy dogs for people with disabilities.
- Toastmasters: International organization offers classes in public speaking and self confidence. Transition Release: Multi-week curriculum focusing on communication skills, job skills, conflict resolution. Community guest speakers present sessions on budgeting, insurance, and other transition skills needed.
- University Beyond Bars (UBB): Offers college preparation and accredited courses through volunteer instructors and professors from local higher education organizations.
- Yoga Behind Bars: Seattle based non-profit teaches yoga techniques to facilitate therapeutic, conscious human development and decrease recidivism.
Pictures of Monroe Correctional Complex
Careers at Monroe Correctional Complex
If you are interested in a career with the Washington State Department of Corrections and would like more information about job listings at the Monroe Correctional Complex, click here.
