In-person visits start up again at the King County Jail

In-person visits are scheduled to begin again Monday for people being held at the King County Jail in downtown Seattle.

It will be the first time the face-to-face visits have been allowed since the pandemic started, but critics and jail officials say that staffing shortages are still creating issues.

“People are feeling very pleased with the fact that they can now see their loved ones in person," said Allen Nance, the new director of King County’s Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention. "And while we’ve maintained video visitation, it just isn’t the same.”

With more than a fifth of corrections positions vacant, critics are skeptical that the jail can serve the needs of people held there.

Molly Gilbert heads the union representing King County’s public defenders. She says the jail hasn’t had enough staffing to facilitate visits with defense lawyers. Now staff will struggle to accommodate family members as well.

“When there isn’t staffing to bring people out, I just don’t know what that’s going to look like. So what I would be curious to know is how many visits are able to happen in a given week," Gilbert said.

Michelle Helpenstell is the secretary for the King County Corrections Guild. In September she said she was working mandatory overtime five days a week, not able to go home between shifts, with a vending machine for meals.

"It’s really nice vending machines, they have yogurts, boiled eggs, nicer food. But it does get old," Helpenstell said.

Hiring is picking up this year, and corrections officers are pleased with a 15% pay bump in their latest contract.

Read the full story about the King County Jail here.