Chehalis Tribe Correctional Facilities Security Improvements

The Recovery Act - Renovation of Correctional Facilities on Tribal Lands Discretionary Grant Program assists tribes in developing strategies to cost effectively construct or renovate existing facilities associated with the incarceration and rehabilitation of juvenile and adult offenders subject to tribal jurisdiction. Careful planning is critical to ensure that new and renovated correctional facilities are appropriately designed for the intended population, supportive of cultural and traditional values, safe and secure when completed, and are in compliance with appropriate standards regarding correctional operations, programs, and design.

The Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation will use its Recovery Act Renovation of Correctional Facilities award to add an electronic security system for their wing for female inmates, provide a door between the court clerk's office and the tribal court, and add a raised platform in the courtroom for the judges' area, court clerk's chair, and the witness stand.

The women's facility at the Chehalis Public Safety Facility currently utilizes a manual security system. The men's facility has an existing electronic security system which will be expanded for the women's facility. The facility's existing control room is utilized to monitor the security system and the door to that room will be updated from a digital lock to a proximity reader. This will allow staff to move quickly during an emergency. The grantee will also purchase digital video recorders, channel multiplexers, and an LCD monitor to expand video recording and display capabilities. This system will accommodate the expanded area of coverage that the system will have upon adding the women's facility. Construction costs will include installation of the security system in the women's wing. The wing is currently under construction, which except for the installation of the security system is funded by another source.

Improvements to the courtroom, which adjoins the corrections component of the Chehalis Facility, will include adding a door between the court clerk's office and the courtroom. Although the office and the courtroom share a wall, the current map of the building requires travel from one to the other by going down two hallways and through a secure doorway. This delays the court clerk in accessing court records for the judge. The costs for this construction will include demolition of the wall and installing a metal door frame, and the metal door itself.

The courtroom will also be enhanced by adding a raised platform for the judge's chair, court clerk's chair, and the witness stand. This project will also include building a rail that will be around the elevated platform. One row of courtroom seating will be removed for this project, which will provide a more secure environment, particularly when inmates are being transferred in and out of the courtroom.

CA/NCF