Washington State Penitentiary
Find messaging, video, and phone options for Washington State Penitentiary. Compare providers and discover what communication services are available. Free, no account required.
- Facility Type
- State Facility
- Security Level
- Maximum
- Inmate Capacity
- 2,500 approx.
- Established
- 1886
- Operated By
- Washington Department of Corrections (WDOC)
Washington State Penitentiary Inmate Communication Overview
Washington State Penitentiary is the primary maximum-security state prison in Washington, operated by the Washington Department of Corrections and located in Walla Walla County in the southeastern corner of the state, roughly 150 miles southeast of Yakima and about 260 miles from Seattle. Opened in 1886, it is Washington's oldest prison and houses the state's most serious long-term offenders. Walla Walla is a small city known for its wine region, and the prison has been part of the local community for well over a century. The facility's location in eastern Washington means many families in the Seattle and Puget Sound area face a significant drive.
Communication at Washington State Penitentiary follows Washington DOC provider contracts. JPay is the primary platform for electronic messaging, photo sharing, and money transfers. Families create a JPay account and add the inmate using their Washington DOC number. GTL manages phone calls and video visitation under the WDOC statewide contract. Setting up a GTL AdvancePay account allows families to receive inmate-initiated calls, and video visits can be scheduled through the GTL platform. The two-platform setup applies here: JPay for messaging and money, GTL for phone and video.
For families in western Washington, Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, the drive to Walla Walla is roughly four to five hours over the Cascade Mountains. Many families rely primarily on JPay messaging and GTL video visits for regular contact rather than making the long cross-state trip. For families in eastern Washington or the Spokane area, the drive is much shorter. Washington DOC accounts created for WSP carry over to any other Washington facility if an inmate is transferred.
Facility Information
Contact details and location information for this correctional facility.
Address
1313 N. 13th Avenue, Walla Walla, WA 99362
Main Phone
(509) 525-3610
Administrative line — not for inmate calls
Official Website
Visit official siteVisit and Contact Details
Inmate search, mail, visiting hours, costs, commissary, and bail information for this facility.
Inmate Search
Search inmates on the official roster
Check the spelling of the name carefully, and allow 24 to 72 hours for new arrivals to appear in the roster.
Communication Options
Available communication services at Washington State Penitentiary.
Messaging
Electronic messages to and from the inmate.
Provider: JPay
Full JPay messaging available. Requires Washington DOC number.
Video Calls
Remote or in-person video visitation.
Provider: GTL
Remote video visits available. Especially practical for western Washington families. Schedule in advance.
Photo Sharing
Send approved digital or physical photos.
Provider: JPay
Digital photos via JPay. Subject to WDOC content guidelines.
Phone Calls
Inmate-initiated phone calls to approved numbers.
Provider: GTL
Inmate-initiated calls via GTL. Fund AdvancePay account to receive calls.
Money Transfer
Send funds to commissary or phone accounts.
Provider: JPay
Trust account deposits via JPay for commissary and personal purchases.
Communication Providers at Washington State Penitentiary
These providers operate communication services at this facility. Each may cover different services.
JPay
Electronic messaging, photo sharing, and trust account deposits. Uses Washington DOC number.
View JPay ServicesGTL
Phone calls and video visitation under the Washington DOC statewide contract.
View GTL ServicesCommunication Rules at Washington State Penitentiary
- JPay and GTL are separate platforms. Messaging stamps and phone funds are not interchangeable.
- Messages are reviewed by WDOC staff before delivery.
- WDOC system-wide accounts carry over if the inmate transfers to another Washington facility.
- Video visits must be scheduled in advance through GTL.
- Senders must be on the inmate's approved contact list.
Related Facilities
Other correctional facilities with communication guides.
Frequently Asked Questions: Washington State Penitentiary
Common questions from families about communication at this facility.
- How do I message someone at Washington State Penitentiary?
- Create a JPay account at jpay.com and add the inmate using their Washington DOC number. Purchase stamps and compose your message. WDOC staff review messages before delivery, typically within 24 to 48 hours.
- How do I set up phone calls from Washington State Penitentiary?
- Phone calls use GTL. Create an account at telmate.com or through the GTL Connect app. Set up a prepaid AdvancePay account linked to your phone number and add funds. The inmate will call you from facility phones.
- How far is WSP from Seattle?
- Washington State Penitentiary is in Walla Walla, roughly 260 miles southeast of Seattle, about a four to five-hour drive over the Cascades. For western Washington families, GTL video visits and JPay messaging are the most practical options for regular contact.
- Is video visitation available at WSP?
- Yes, remote video visits are available through GTL and are especially useful for families in western Washington who face the long cross-state drive. Log into your GTL account, search for Washington State Penitentiary, and select an available slot. Schedule well in advance.
- How do I send money to a Washington State Penitentiary inmate?
- Trust account deposits are made through JPay. Log in, go to Send Money, and select Washington State Penitentiary. Add funds via debit or credit card. Processing takes one to two business days.
- How do I find someone at Washington State Penitentiary?
- Use the WA DOC inmate search at doc.wa.gov/information/inmate-search/default.aspx and search by name or DOC number. The search shows current location, gender, and expected release date.
- How do I get approved to visit WSP?
- Submit a WA DOC visitor application and wait for approval, allowing up to about two weeks, before scheduling a visit. Only approved visitors are admitted. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID and follow WA DOC visiting rules.
- Can I send mail to someone at WSP?
- Yes. Include the inmate full name and DOC number on the envelope. All mail is inspected for contraband. Do not send cash, contraband, or prohibited items.
- What if my loved one transfers to another Washington prison?
- Your JPay and GTL accounts carry over statewide to any other WA DOC facility. Update the facility name when scheduling GTL video visits, and confirm the new location in the DOC inmate search.
Troubleshooting at Washington State Penitentiary
Fix the most common problems families hit with calls, video visits, money, and messaging.
- Why am I not receiving calls from an inmate?
- Inmates can only call out, so you cannot call an inmate directly. If expected calls are not coming through, check your phone's spam or silence-unknown-callers setting, since carriers often block jail numbers. Save the facility's number as a contact, confirm your number is on the inmate's approved list, and check whether your carrier blocks collect or prepaid calls. If several expected calls fail, contact the facility's phone provider support.
- Why is my inmate not showing up in search?
- New arrivals can take 24 to 72 hours to appear in search results, and people in transfer may temporarily disappear from listings. Try alternate spellings and name variations, and make sure you are searching the right system: the federal BOP locator only covers federal inmates, while county and state searches are separate. Some records are withheld for protective custody or sealed cases. If it has been more than a few days, call the facility's records office.
- I sent money but it is not showing in the inmate's account. What should I do?
- Allow processing time first. Electronic deposits can take hours and money orders can take much longer. Check your receipt and confirm the inmate's name and ID matched. Do not send a second payment until the first one is traced, since duplicate payments are hard to reverse. Contact the money-transfer provider's support with your receipt or confirmation number. If the inmate was recently transferred, funds may follow after a delay.
- Why was my video visit cancelled or cut off?
- Most cancellations come from connection problems or conduct-rule violations. Stay in frame, keep your ID ready, follow the dress code, keep other people off camera, and avoid profanity. Visits can also be cancelled for facility lockdowns or schedule changes. For refunds, contact the video provider's support with your visit details.
- What should I do if the facility changed its communications provider?
- Create an account with the new provider, since old accounts and balances do not transfer automatically. Ask the old provider whether refunds are available for unused balances. Confirm the new provider's phone, video, and messaging setup before your next visit or call.
- Why is my JPay account blocked?
- A blocked account usually means the inmate blocked contact, the account details do not match, or JPay flagged the account for review. Confirm the inmate's ID and facility, check for an 'inmate blocked' message, and contact JPay support if the block looks like an error. See our guide: JPay account locked
Stay Connected with Washington State Penitentiary
Compare all available providers, search for other Washington facilities, and find the right communication options for your family. Free, with no account required.