Dori: Dept. of Corrections needs to be ‘torn down to the studs’

KIRO 7’s report on the “epidemic” drug problem inside Washington state prisons is concerning in its own right, but when mixed with the early prisoner release controversy late last year, it’s enough for KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson to call for a tear down of the whole system.

KIRO 7 found that prisoners in the Department of Corrections system failed 262 drug tests since 2010, finding everything from THC to heroin. They also obtained surveillance video showing bags of drugs being lobbed over the fences, being collected by inmates.

Related: Dori’s surprising take on a Seattle safe heroin-injection program

Dori notes that if they can throw drugs over the fences, there’s no reason guns, knives and other weapons couldn’t also make their way into the prisons.

“How bad is the institutional lack of control with the Department of Corrections that, along with the accidental release of inmates, two of whom killed upon release, that they have rampant drug use inside the prison, this sounds like a completely broken, dysfunctional department of corrections,” he said.

Although three people lost their jobs for the early release snafu, Dori says that’s not enough.

“This is one that needs to be torn down to the studs,” he said. “You can’t tweak the fixes with the Department of Corrections with problems this serious.”