Kennewick schools ‘particularly concerned’ with plans for sex offender home

Kennewick school officials are examining walking routes after an announcement about sex offender housing about a half mile from an elementary school.

The recent announcement about the Eighth Avenue home raised fear and anger among neighbors, many said they have children who routinely walk and play nearby. More than 100 people gathered at a community meeting at the Union Street branch of the Mid-Columbia Library Thursday to express those concerns.

The property is expected to house men leaving McNeil Island. The men from the special commitment center have been treated for mental health issues that make them more likely to offend again, according to the Department of Social and Health services.

City officials have said they are working with the home’s owner, Joe Field, but they can’t prohibit the men from moving in.

District officials also said they can’t make decisions about where people live, they are “particularly concerned about the proximity of this location to established walking routes used by students” from Edison Elementary School.

“Student safety, before, during and after the school day, is always our highest priority,” the district said in a statement about the home. “We are actively communicating with local law enforcement and city officials to better understand the situation and to share information related to student routes and school operations.”

At this point, there aren’t any plans to change any school operations or walking routes. But the district is encouraging families to review safety plans, speaking to their children about being cautious and to report any concerns to school administrators or police.

The city has promised to hold a meeting involving state and local officials along with Joe Field, the man who will run the new facility. They are hoping to finalize it within the next couple of weeks.

It’s likely that it will be a matter of months before anyone moves into the home.

Sex offender home

McNeil Island is a Department of Social and Health Services facility that houses sex offenders who are found to have a mental health issues that makes it more likely that they will offend again.

It’s located in the Puget Sound, southwest of Tacoma. The island was once home to a federal prison.

To be released from McNeil Island, experts from the state, prosecution and defense need to determine that it’s safe.

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.

When they go to the 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.

This story was originally published January 16, 2026 at 3:28 PM.