Spokane County weighs closing Geiger Corrections Center

Spokane County is considering shutting Geiger Corrections Center as part of countywide budget reductions. The proposed transition would move people held there to the Spokane County Jail in June 2027. County commissioners would need to give final approval.

Geiger began as an Army barracks in 1992 and has housed minimum-security inmates for many years. County officials say the aging site needs more than $50 million in repairs. The plan also calls for tearing down the facility by the close of 2028. Officials say fewer offenders and changes in population management would allow the jail to take in the additional population. The county could also stop housing inmates for some outside agencies. An analysis estimates $2.79 million in savings during 2028, partly through removing 24 full-time positions. Demolition and environmental cleanup are estimated at $4.75 million. The idea has surfaced in county discussions before, including reports dating to 2012.