Fifth COVID-19 related incarcerated death at Stafford Creek

On Tuesday, an additional incarcerated individual at Stafford Creek Corrections Center passed away at a community healthcare facility due to COVID-19.

This marks the fifth death within the local facility.

“The Washington Department of Corrections offers its condolences to the family and friends of the decedent and remains committed to continue science-based health practices and following the established COVID-19 screening, testing and infection control guidelines as the department works to contain and mitigate any spread of the virus.”

As of Tuesday, Stafford Creek has had 148 COVID-19 cases in the last 30 days among the incarcerated population and 1,167 overall. 

The Department of Corrections tells KXRO that Stafford Creek has a total capacity for 1,942 individuals and a current population of approximately 1840.

This accounts for 63% of the total local population having a confirmed case of COVID. 

The death represents the fourteenth COVID-related death of an incarcerated individual in the custody of the Washington State Department of Corrections.

The department houses approximately 15,000 incarcerated individuals in its system. 

Additionally, two Washington State correctional officers have died of COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic.

“The health and safety of staff and those sentenced to the department’s custody remains the department’s top priority. The department remains committed to mitigating, containing and ceasing any spread of COVID-19.”