Minimum to maximum security (men) · State Prison · WA DOC

Washington State Penitentiary

Walla Walla, Walla Walla County, Washington

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (509) 525-3610 Info last verified: June 2026

Washington's oldest prison, a multi-custody state institution for men in Walla Walla housing minimum through maximum custody.

Statewide rules that apply at every WA DOC prison

These rules are set by WA DOC and apply at every unit. The full list — including all permitted and prohibited items and the approval process — is in Visiting in Washington.

Dress code

Dress modestly — no transparent, revealing, or provocative clothing, no camouflage, and nothing gang-related or resembling what incarcerated people or staff wear; shorts and skirts must be at least fingertip length, and avoid underwire bras and metal jewelry that will not clear the metal detector.
Each prison sets and enforces its own visiting dress code and may turn away a visitor who is dressed out of code, so confirm the specific facility's rules before traveling.

ID: Every visitor must be approved on the incarcerated person's Approved Visitor List before visiting — apply electronically with DOC Form 20-060 (adults) or 20-181 (minors); processing takes up to 45 business days, and only one application may be pending at a time. Visitors 18 and older show a valid government-issued photo ID at each visit (international visitors a passport).
What to bring: Bring only what the facility allows — phones, bags, and most personal items are not permitted in the visiting room. A visitor may bring up to $25 in cash or a single debit/credit card for vending; money for the person's account is sent through JPay or Securus, never handed over at a visit.
Scheduling: There is no public online booking for in-person visits — once approved, contact the facility's visit staff for current days and availability (many prisons admit visitors first-come, first-served). Video visits are scheduled separately through Securus. A newly committed person is processed at a reception center first — men at the Washington Corrections Center (Shelton), women at the Reception and Diagnostic Center at the Washington Corrections Center for Women (Gig Harbor) — before transfer. Washington also offers Extended Family Visits for eligible people.

Full statewide rules: Visiting in Washington

Overview

Washington State Penitentiary, on North 13th Avenue in Walla Walla, is a multi-custody state prison for men. WA DOC lists its custody levels as minimum, medium, close, and maximum, and its capacity at about 2,439 incarcerated individuals. It is the oldest prison in the Washington system, opened in 1886, and it sits in Walla Walla County in the far southeast corner of the state, near the Oregon line.

What Makes Washington State Penitentiary Different

It is the oldest prison in Washington. The penitentiary opened in 1886 and has operated continuously since.
It is the statewide maximum-custody flagship. WSP holds men across the full custody range, from minimum through maximum, and includes an Intensive Management Unit for restrictive housing.
It is one of the largest prisons in the state, with a capacity of about 2,439.
It is in the far southeast corner of Washington, in Walla Walla, near the Oregon line and several hours from the Seattle and Spokane metropolitan areas.

Visiting

The statewide WA DOC rules above — the approved visitor list, the dress code, ID, and item limits — apply at Washington State Penitentiary. The facility’s own arrangements:

The full approval process is in Visiting in Washington.

Getting There and Parking

The prison is in Walla Walla, in Walla Walla County, in the far southeast corner of Washington.

Distances are approximate, based on map routing. Visitor parking is on site.

Nearby Services

Walla Walla has the closest gas, food, and lodging. The nearest 24-hour emergency room is at the hospital in Walla Walla, a short drive from the facility, which also offers the fullest range of services in the immediate area.

Mail

Incoming personal mail goes directly to the facility — Washington does not use an off-site mail-scanning vendor. Address mail with the incarcerated person’s committed name and DOC number to the facility’s mailing address (above); mailroom staff review incoming mail and publications. Books and magazines must come directly from a publisher or an approved vendor, and used books are accepted only from approved nonprofit organizations. Legal mail is opened in the person’s presence under the privileged-mail rules. Full rules are in Mail & Packages.

Learn More

For detailed information about visiting and communicating with someone in a Washington state prison:

Visiting in Washington — the visitor application, approval, and the Approved Visitor List
Mail & Packages — addressing mail and the publisher-only book rule
Phone & Video Calls — Securus calls, JPay tablets, and video visits
Sending Money — depositing through JPay and Securus
Medical & Mental Health — the co-pay, mental health, and the Corrections Ombuds
Transfers & Finding Someone — reception, the locator, and transfers

Sources

This page is compiled from the following publicly available sources. Policies change without notice — confirm current details with the facility before relying on them.