Allegations of Unqualified Employees in Washington Corrections
An anonymous whistleblower has claimed that the Washington Department of Corrections has been hiring unqualified immigrants as correctional officers. This accusation was reported by a digital news outlet.
The whistleblower sent a letter to the Criminal Justice Training Commission in August, noting that the King County Adult and Juvenile Detention Department may have breached state law, which mandates that correctional and peace officers must be either U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or eligible for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
In the letter, the whistleblower stated, “Over the past several years, we have discovered that the King County Department of Justice has knowingly employed individuals as correctional officers who do not meet these legal requirements.”
The allegations included instances where individuals with temporary work visas or expired permits were employed to oversee detention facilities. “This conduct undermines the integrity of Washington’s criminal justice system and raises serious legal and security concerns,” the whistleblower argued, urging for an immediate investigation into the claims.
The whistleblower suggested that the number of ineligible employees could be over 100, as first reported by a local news show. “The scale of this problem cannot be overstated,” they asserted, adding that some estimates put the figure of involved officers closer to 130.
They also warned that if the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission revokes the certification of these individuals, it could lead to a staffing crisis in the county jail system. “The loss of this many employees could jeopardize safety levels, possibly even forcing jail closures.”
The commission confirmed that they provide training and certification only after ensuring that candidates meet all eligibility criteria set by state law. They are currently conducting a public investigation into King County’s hiring practices.
The commission added that they would begin decertification proceedings against individuals who do not qualify according to state regulations, noting previous actions, such as expelling four new students from King County Correctional School who failed to meet the requirements.
