OLYMPIA, Wash. — The retiring director of state prisons is defending his record amidst the pandemic.
Steve Sinclair has served 4 years as the lead person in charge and responded to a critical ombuds report from last November.
Sinclair said he feels horrible for the 14 inmates and 2 staff members who died, but overall when you look at the number of those who have lost their lives, Washington is among the lowest states in the nation.
He says an unexpected outcome of the pandemic is a drop in the state’s prison population from around 18,000 to roughly 13,000, which is the lowest he’s seen in his career.