Olympic Corrections Center (OCC)
| Program | Program Partners | Highlights as of December 2020 |
| Gardens | Peninsula College, Sunshine and Rainbows Child Development Center, Quileute Tribe | Gardens and greenhouses are maintained by Hoh living Unit and Maintenance department. ~2,000 lbs. of potatoes and 500 lbs. of various produce donated to the Forks Food Bank. Additional 2,000 lbs. of potatoes and various produce was used in the OCC Food Services. Greenhouses had to be rebuilt due to storm damage and are being prepped for 2021 growing season. |
| Flower gardens, boxes, baskets | Peninsula College | Each living unit has several garden beds for residents; hanging baskets and flowering beds throughout staff and incarcerated population areas; in 2019, expanded flower gardens to outside perimeter, encircle greenhouses, and plant pollinator-friendly plants |
| Water features | Two living units have fish ponds; the other has a fountain and basin | |
| Waste sorting & recycling | On-the-job training for incarcerated technicians; recycling cardboard and scrap metal, reducing landfill fees | |
| Large-scale composting | CBCC, Kalaloch Lodge | Processed ~222 tons of food and yard waste from OCC and CBCC; produced ~99 tons of finished compost; on-job training for equipment and safety; use compost throughout the facility to build up soil; lost bulking agent (wood chip) source and now have to buy their own |
| Waste Water Treatment | Washington Department of Ecology (DOE) | Dept of Ecology’s Outstanding Performance Award for 2018 and 2019; DOE 100% compliant 9 years in a row; since 2002, 38 incarcerated technicians trained to Waste Water Treatment Operator 1 / 2 level; many reported work in WWT following release |
| Water catchment | Two 2,100 gal tanks; red faucets for rainwater watering | |
| Solar power | Installed 5k watt solar array produced 9,817 MWh of electricity in 2019 and 2020 | |
| Wood shop | Quileute High School scholarships, Cherish our Children, and Forks Lions Club, CASA, Quillayute Valley School District, Relay for Life, Forks Chamber of Commerce, Timber Museum, Olympic Anglers, Calm Waters and Forks Soroptimists, Olympic Peninsula Humane Society; wood provided by Westport Shipyard and OCC Community Crews (DNR) | Every year OCC donates outdoor furniture, wood toys and games, and other crafts to Quillayute Valley School District Scholarship auction; built signs to replace existing signage for the Korean War Veterans Highway, also built signs for City of Forks parks and city office |
| Dog training and adoption | Olympic Peninsula Humane Society | Temporarily suspended due to COVID-19; in previous year, program adopted out 35-40 dogs; adoption rate is 92%; 207 dogs since start of program in 2010 |
| Green Building | Peninsula College | Program ended December 2018, hoping to bring back in the fall of 2021 |
| Firewood | Olycap, Quillayute Valley Scholarship Auction, Lake Quinault Fire Department, OCC Community Crews (Department of Natural Resources) | Cut and donated 190 cords of firewood in past year to the Native American programs and other charities |
| Community Crew | DNR and others | Most activities are related to sustainability, e.g., lawn and grounds care, trail improvements, brush cutting, fire wood cutting, weed removal, storm debris clean up, stream restoration, fence construction, green house construction, snow removal (also painting and construction) |
| Forestry | DNR and others | Off-site crews trained in and practice re-forestation, wood-cutting, land clearing, and forest firefighting and fire prevention; more than 100 hours of wildland fire training |
Articles about OCC
2019
Wastewater Treatment at Olympic Corrections Center Continues to Impress
Garden expansion and delicious prison bananas: Olympic Corrections Center Horticulture Program
2018
Sustainability at Olympic Corrections Center