FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

SCORE was built to address the shortage of available misdemeanor beds in the greater King County area. 

Yes. SCORE is a government entity owned by these Cities: Auburn, Burien, Des Moines, Renton, SeaTac and Tukwila. These cities worked together through an Interlocal Agreement to form, build and operate SCORE. Located in Des Moines, SCORE opened in 2011. SCORE is run by an Executive Director who reports to an Administrative Board consisting of City Leaders. SCORE’s Executive Director also regularly presents to those City Councils.

SCORE is governed by an Administrative Board made up of representatives from the six owner cities: Auburn, Burien, Des Moines, Renton, SeaTac and Tukwila. These cities collaborate to oversee the facility’s operations. The jail also has an Executive Director, Devon Schrum, who handles the day-to-day management and operations.

SCORE has a maximum capacity of 802 beds, with an average daily population of 476. SCORE makes excess space available to other jurisdictions and local area jails who require additional jail space and services.

No. SCORE is a public government entity owned by the Cities of Auburn, Burien, Des Moines, Renton, SeaTac and Tukwila. These cities worked together through an Interlocal Agreement to form, build and operate SCORE.

Opened in 2011, SCORE’s modern design has received awards from the American Institute of Architects and Engineering News Record. SCORE is equipped with cutting-edge technology, including a virtual court suite, a 29-bed medical unit, dental suite, classrooms and recreational spaces. SCORE facilitates more than 140 virtual court hearings and appointments daily. SCORE has large and small meeting spaces available for professional visits with clients. SCORE has excellent video surveillance coverage reducing crime within the facility. 

SCORE spends more than 20 percent of its annual budget on health care including 24/7 medical care, behavioral services, dental services and comprehensive medication for opioid use disorder treatment. 

SCORE books an average of 54 people a day. 

Yes. SCORE is one of five Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) national mentor sites for MAT (medication-assisted treatment) Program support. SCORE has had a MAT program since 2016 and offers methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone. 

Our program is client-centered and focuses on whole-person care by providing case management, job skills training, MAT with cognitive behavioral therapy and comprehensive wraparound services to people prior to their release from jail and upon reentry. SCORE’s innovative efforts include telehealth services, peer recovery support, linkages to reentry services and treatment of co-occurring disorders. SCORE partners with various agencies to serve individuals from multiple communities.

With 24-hour medical staff and seven-days-a-week mental health support, SCORE leads the industry in addressing opioid addiction and withdrawal through on-site individualized care in a secure setting.

• SCORE offers industry-leading medical, dental and mental health services, including opioid use disorder treatments such as methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone.

• SCORE is one of only five national mentor sites for the Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Program. The program focuses on whole-person care by providing case management, job skills training, cognitive behavioral therapy and more.

SCORE works with man community and state agencies to provide services including telehealth, peer recovery support and reentry services. 

SCORE works with more than 25 community and state agencies to support rehabilitation. Programs such as job training, mental health therapy and reentry services are designed to reduce recidivism and help individuals.

SCORE implements rigorous safety and security protocols, including surveillance, regular safety drills and a well-trained staff to maintain a secure environment for staff and those in our care.

SCORE operates under the highest standards of correctional healthcare and jail professionalism, holding accreditations from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC), Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) and the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), ensuring safety, transparency and access to high-quality medical and mental health care.

SCORE holds accreditation through the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC), the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) and the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA).

• NCCHC sets standards of compliance for access to timely qualified medical and mental health care. SCORE staffs full time coverage, which includes a doctor, multiple providers, nursing and mental health professionals.

• WASPC requires more than 170 standards to be met in jail professionalism and safety. These guidelines ensure SCORE is operating under best practices in our community.

• PREA mandates accessibility to confidential and open communication channels, allowing anyone to quickly elevate safety concerns for prompt investigation and resolution. SCORE is proud to carry out this mission, which helps us maintain high levels of safety and transparency.

SCORE is committed to swiftly addressing safety and medical incidents. When an unexpected fatality occurs, SCORE conducts an independent review as mandated by Revised Code of Washington (RCW 70.48.510 and 72.09.770). SCORE is committed to reviewing the effectiveness of its protocols by implementing and monitoring a system of continuous quality improvement and providing ongoing training for staff.

SCORE operates under the highest standards of correctional healthcare and jail professionalism and is committed to providing respectful treatment, inclusion and access to necessary services for everyone in our care. 

SCORE partners with agencies like the Department of Corrections, Department of Social and Health Services and Disability Rights Washington to provide services that improve care, reduce jail time and enhance behavioral health services, setting a standard for other jails to model. SCORE programs serve more than 70 people a day. SCORE welcomes more than 25 community support programs, state agencies, religious services and peer groups in monthly to provide and/or coordinate services to individuals releasing from SCORE. 

SCORE understands the importance of providing access to other support agencies. SCORE is proud to have several embedded services such as Western State Forensic Psychologists, Department of Social and Health Services Clinical Intervention Specialists and Department of Corrections. These embedded services reduce wait times, provide care and reduces administrative jail time. SCORE also welcomed Disability Rights Washington to evaluate and inform practices in 2015 as part of its AVID Jail Project. This work led to longstanding improvements in behavioral health care and became a model for other jails.

SCORE has proudly maintained consistent staffing levels, low turnover and a diverse workforce by offering competitive salaries, benefits and building a culture of respect and empathy. SCORE has remained consistently staffed throughout the pandemic and pandemic recovery years. SCORE Officers are trained and certified by the Criminal Justice Training Commission and are represented by Teamsters 117. SCORE offers excellent salary and benefits and employs a diverse workforce of custody professionals. 

SCORE has exceptional safety record and operates like a small city with dedicated emergency response within the facility. Medical emergencies are responded to within mere minutes. All custody staff are CPR and First Aid Trained and respond to medical emergencies alongside medical staff. SCORE provides lifesaving care on an average of 3 times a month. Lifesaving care includes CPR, AED and/or Narcan. There have been 16 deaths since SCORE opened. Most recent deaths are directly attributed to the fentanyl crisis in King County, Wash., or natural causes. SCORE is committed to reducing the risk of a drug related death by offering comprehensive treatment options, patient education, access to community providers, 24/7 medical care, officer training/education and enhanced health and security screening.