Neighbors furious about new sex offender home opening in Kennewick. ‘Unacceptable’

A nondescript home in Kennewick became the focus of controversy Tuesday after neighbors discovered convicted sex offenders would be moving in.

A city of Kennewick news release shared on Facebook announced that the home at 5304 W. Eighth Ave. would soon house people released from McNeil Island.

The special commitment center houses sex offenders who have been committed for treatment of mental health issues that make them more likely to offend again, according to the Department of Social and Health Services.

The news about the Kennewick home shocked Lisa Julson, who stopped neighbors in the street to spread the word. She said the sudden announcement through Facebook was “unprofessional.”

“I’m not saying that I’m against having people get rehabilitation, but in a neighborhood with children is not a place to do it,” she told the Tri-City Herald on Tuesday. “This is just unacceptable.”

Joe Field, the owner of the soon-to-open new facility, said as a grandfather of 16 who survived sexual abuse, he understands the fear people are feeling.

However, he is confident that when people from McNeil Island begin moving in, neighbors won’t even know they are there. And he has good reason, another home he has in Walla Walla has been operating since 2017 without any problems, he said.

“They have to go somewhere,” Field told the Herald. “Would you rather have someone (housing them) who has a great track record, or would you rather have just some Tom, Dick or Harry.”

City officials have said that Field has followed the law and took every step required of him. Add to that, a push by Washington state to spread out the offenders being released from McNeil.

Field pointed out that many of the people being released from civil commitment have already served a prison sentence and spent time in treatment. At the youngest, they are in their 40s and many are in their 60s and 70s.

In addition, he said of the people released from McNeil Island in the past 20 years, there have only been two cases where people have reoffended after getting out. And neither involved violent crimes nor strangers.

Field has promised that he wants to meet with neighbors and said he talked with Kennewick police Chief Chris Guerrero about having one sooner rather than later.

“I’m willing to sit and listen to any of them. Let’s do a community meeting. It’s not good as it is, and it will fester,” he said.

While the news about the new housing site broke on Tuesday, it’ll likely take months before anyone moves in. Until then, Field invited people to talk with him and ask questions. He planned to be working on the new property this weekend.

Sex offender center

The civil commitment process for “sexual predators” has its roots in a 1990 law, according to the Department of Social and Health Services. Prior to the law, people would serve their sentence and be released.

Sexual predators have some sort of mental abnormality that makes them more likely to commit another crime, the agency said.

The offenders are classified as Type 3, meaning they are the most likely to commit another sex crime.

Instead of releasing them, the state goes through a process of having them committed.

“The legislature made clear that civil commitment after prison is not for punishment, but for the purpose of sexual offender-specific treatment,” said DSHS.

Much like people committed to mental health facilities after being found insane, patients at McNeil are allowed to petition for their release.

Before that happens, they are reviewed by multiple mental health professionals to determine if it’s safe to allow them to return to a community.

If a judge rules that it’s OK to release them, the patients enter a facility like Field’s, where their movements are strictly monitored.

While they are classified as Type 3 offenders when they are sent to McNeil Island, it’s not clear if they have that same classification when they are released.

When they go to Eighth Avenue facility, they will largely be confined to the house and a small, fenced backyard, Field said. He promised that neighbors won’t realize anyone is in the home.

The grounds will be monitored by 24 cameras and the men will have GPS ankle monitors.

To go anywhere, they will need to apply a week ahead, explain why they must make the trip, what they’re doing there and provide a schedule.

No one leaves the house on any trip without an escort, he said. And they need to call to report when they arrive and when they’re returning. Forgetting any step, can lead to them returning to a DSHS facility.

The homes are regularly inspected by the agency.

Out of city’s control

Field was responsible for opening the first home for offenders leaving McNeil Island in Eastern Washington in Walla Walla County. Currently, there are facilities in King, Pierce, Snohomish and Kitsap.

Field said he started looking for a location in Benton County about a year ago. Many of the locations didn’t meet the requirements set by the law, or his even more stringent requirements.

He is only required to find a site that is more than 500 feet from schools, daycares and parks. He chose to add churches to that list.

There also are state restrictions that require it to be in a populated area. It needs to be within a certain distance of a bus stop, Field said.

He also called in the state Department of Corrections to inspect the area to make sure no one is too close.

Chief Guerrero told the Herald on Tuesday that the decision for a sex offender home is out of the city’s control at this point. Cities and counties aren’t allowed to prohibit this kind of housing.

While it has raised worries, Guerrero said Field has been open and willing with work with the city to make sure they are informed.

“We feel like we’re informed of everything that is occurring,” Guerrero said.

He believed people should be cautious and educate themselves, but he believed Field’s track record in Walla Walla showed that he has been successful.

While Guerrero said that Field is working with him, police aren’t legally allowed to spend an extra amount of time patrolling the area.

This story was originally published January 14, 2026 at 5:00 AM.