Washington state sends violent sex offenders to island

Off the coast of Washington State are many picturesque islands populated with wealthy vacation owners.

But McNeil Island is different, inhabited by 236 ‘sexually violent predators’ whose prison sentences have ended but who the state refuses to release.

These residents are, in the view of the state, the worst rapists and child molesters who are more likely to commit new offenses.  

After sex offenders finish serving prison time for the crimes they committed, an End of Sentence Review Committee assesses whether or not they believe the person is a repeat offender.

Anyone who meets the definition of a ‘sexually violent predator’ is sent to McNeil Island’s center, established in 1991, for an indefinite period of time to receive treatment. Once sent there, it is nearly impossible to convince a court to re-release the person.

Off the coast of Washington State sits McNeil Island (pictured), inhabited by 236 ‘sexually violent predators’ whose prison sentences have ended but who the state refuses to release

After sex offenders finish serving prison time for the crimes they committed, an End of Sentence Review Committee assesses whether or not they believe the person is a repeat offender. If so, they are sent to McNeil Island's Special Commitment Center (pictured)

After sex offenders finish serving prison time for the crimes they committed, an End of Sentence Review Committee assesses whether or not they believe the person is a repeat offender. If so, they are sent to McNeil Island’s Special Commitment Center (pictured)

The island - referred to by some as 'pedophile island' (satellite view) - is only accessible by a ferry that runs every two hours, and has been the home to many of its residents for years

The island – referred to by some as ‘pedophile island’ (satellite view) – is only accessible by a ferry that runs every two hours, and has been the home to many of its residents for years

The island – eferred to by some as ‘pedophile island’ – is only accessible by a ferry that runs every two hours, and has been the home to many of its residents for years.

For a short time in the 1960s, the island was the home of infamous cult leader and serial killer Charles Manson. 

Vice News spoke to Justin, who spent five years in prison and has spent a decade at McNeil Island. He recently convinced the state he should be freed. 

He started molesting children when he was a child himself and was convicted at age 13 of first-degree child rape for molesting his half-sister for more than a year.

Like many sex offenders, he was also abused himself – physically and sexually, he says.

One resident named Justin, who spent five years in prison and has spent a decade at McNeil Island, recently convinced the state he should be freed (Pictured, the grounds of the center)

One resident named Justin, who spent five years in prison and has spent a decade at McNeil Island, recently convinced the state he should be freed (Pictured, the grounds of the center)

Rachel Forde, who worked as Justin's attorney for the last five years, said the treatment center on McNeil island offers 'no benefit at all' (Pictured, a room for residents at the Special Commitment Center on McNeil Island)

Rachel Forde, who worked as Justin’s attorney for the last five years, said the treatment center on McNeil island offers ‘no benefit at all’ (Pictured, a room for residents at the Special Commitment Center on McNeil Island)

'If our society gets together and says: "We want life sentences for all sex offenders", then we should just be honest about that and say that and change our laws,' Forde told Vice (Pictured, a special padded pink room used for residents who might harm themselves or others)

‘If our society gets together and says: “We want life sentences for all sex offenders”, then we should just be honest about that and say that and change our laws,’ Forde told Vice (Pictured, a special padded pink room used for residents who might harm themselves or others)

But staff disagrees. Elena Lopez, the clinical director at McNeil Island, said: 'The purpose of our treatment program is to manage their risk. It's not to eradicate or eliminate or get rid of' (Pictured, restraint chair next to a door in a living unit at the center)

But staff disagrees. Elena Lopez, the clinical director at McNeil Island, said: ‘The purpose of our treatment program is to manage their risk. It’s not to eradicate or eliminate or get rid of’ (Pictured, restraint chair next to a door in a living unit at the center)

‘I will tell you that it took forever for me to forgive myself for what I have done,’ Justin told Vice.

‘I don’t have any urges towards children, I don’t have any struggles about urges towards children. I honestly am baffled because it’s like I just stop thinking about it.’

Justin is set to be released later this year, and he will face plenty of restrictions and monitoring.

Rachel Forde, who worked as Justin’s attorney for the last five years, said the treatment center on McNeil island offers ‘no benefit at all’.

‘If our society gets together and says: “We want life sentences for all sex offenders”, then we should just be honest about that and say that and change our laws,’ Forde told Vice.

But the staff disagrees. Elena Lopez, the clinical director at McNeil Island, said the main treatment offered is group therapy, although they do offer ‘case management’ which is an hour of individual therapy.

‘The purpose of our treatment program is to manage their risk. It’s not to eradicate or eliminate or get rid of, because most of our residents may always have a proclivity for deviancy in some way whether that’s for children or non-consensual sex or other,’ Lopez said.

And Bill Van Hook, who has run the center for almost two years, said the only way people get out of the center is if they throw themselves into treatment.  

‘They think: “I have to get involved in treatment and that’s how I’m going to get out”,’ Van Hook said.

In September of last year, about 200 residents filed a federal lawsuit alleging that the facility is violating their rights by forcing them to drink the often-cloudy, brown water. Resident JD McManus (pictured) said his friends on McNeil Island have contracted diseases from the water

In September of last year, about 200 residents filed a federal lawsuit alleging that the facility is violating their rights by forcing them to drink the often-cloudy, brown water. Resident JD McManus (pictured) said his friends on McNeil Island have contracted diseases from the water

Calvin Malone (pictured), a resident leading the legal challenge, said the water contains high level of chemicals and fecal matter and that he never sees the staff drink the water

Calvin Malone (pictured), a resident leading the legal challenge, said the water contains high level of chemicals and fecal matter and that he never sees the staff drink the water

Special Commitment Centers (pictured, on the island) have been the subject of controversy for many years because of the involuntary confinement of sex offenders past fulfilling their court sentences. Nineteen other states have facilities like the one on McNeil Island 

Special Commitment Centers (pictured, on the island) have been the subject of controversy for many years because of the involuntary confinement of sex offenders past fulfilling their court sentences. Nineteen other states have facilities like the one on McNeil Island 

Despite the lack of research as to whether these centers reduce sex offenders' chances of committing new crimes, the Supreme Court ruled the facilities legal in 1997 (Pictured, McNeil Island)

Despite the lack of research as to whether these centers reduce sex offenders’ chances of committing new crimes, the Supreme Court ruled the facilities legal in 1997 (Pictured, McNeil Island)

For a short time in the 1960s, the island was the home of infamous cult leader and serial killer Charles Manson (pictured, 1969)

For a short time in the 1960s, the island was the home of infamous cult leader and serial killer Charles Manson (pictured, 1969)

Special Commitment Centers have been the subject of controversy for many years because of the involuntary confinement of sex offenders past fulfilling their court sentences.

Nineteen other states have facilities like the one on McNeil Island. Despite the lack of research as to whether these centers reduce sex offenders’ chances of committing new crimes, the Supreme Court ruled the facilities legal in 1997. The court declined to revisit the issue last year. 

In September 2017, about 200 residents filed a federal lawsuit alleging that the facility is violating their rights by forcing them to drink the often-cloudy, brown water.

The residents alleged the contaminated water causes stomach pain and skin rashes and has been blamed for unexplained deaths. Health reports say the facility’s water treatment plant has been ‘on the verge of failure’ since 2013.

Calvin Malone, a resident leading the legal challenge, said the water contains high level of chemicals and fecal matter.

‘None of the staff drinks the water here,’ he said. ‘If the water was perfectly fine, why would they carry water from the mainland onto the site or use bottled water from the kitchen when the residents have to drink water from the pipes?’ 

JD McManus, who has lived at the center since 2001, said his friends on McNeil Island have contracted diseases from the water and he has suffered ill effects such as developing hives after taking a shower.

‘Just because we did a crime, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have clean water,’ McManus said.



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