After nearly three years, people will again be able to visit those incarcerated at Whatcom County Jail beginning Dec. 7.
Since January 2022, visitors and those incarcerated have communicated via video visitations as the jail’s elevator system was repaired, said Deb Slater, the public information officer for the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office. Because of the infrastructure’s age, parts of the elevator system were no longer available and ongoing maintenance limited the elevator’s reliability.
The elevator failure had been an ongoing issue in late 2021.
In-person visits were suspended for an indefinite period as county facility teams repaired the elevators, Slater said. Instead, visitors and residents could use video calls provided for free in jail lobbies as well as other means of communication, such as phone calls and messaging.
“We understand the importance of in-person visitation for the well-being and rehabilitation of our detainees,” Whatcom County Sheriff Donnell Tanksley said. “We are committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all detainees, visitors and staff.”
The elevator issues slowed down essential jail functions and caused safety concerns for visitors, staff and jail residents.
In-person visitations will be on Saturdays and Sundays, Slater said. Hours and schedules will be posted on the jail visitation website and available at the jail’s front desk. Visitors must go through standard security protocols, including metal detection and identification verification. Visitors are encouraged to arrive early for check-in and security screenings.
Video visitation, phone calls and messaging will continue to be available, Slater said.
Annie Todd is CDN’s criminal justice/enterprise reporter; reach her at annietodd@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 130.
