prison officially closed on April 1, 2011. Population the population was 214, all civilly committed former prison inmates. While the prison was operational, the island had a population well over a thousand residents (1,516 as of the 2000 census) The majority of which were incarcerated in MICC prison. There were about 40 families and about 100 people who lived on the island, with at least one family member employed at MICC. The homes were subsidized by the DOC at a greatly reduced rent. Transportation A small passenger-only ferry was for registered visitors, departing Steilacoom Dock every two hours. The state also supplies emergency speed-boat services for the civilly committed. In 1934, McNeil Island was linked by ferry service with Steilacoom, Anderson Island and Longbranch, Washington. Separate federal or state-owned ferries under the prison administration connected McNeil Island with Steilacoom. The Washington State Department of Corrections continues to operate passenger ferry and barge service to McNeil Island to service DSHS's Special Commitment Center. In popular culture In the 1995 Michael Mann movie Heat, Robert De Niro's character is revealed to have spent time as a prisoner at McNeil Island. In the movie Three Fugitives, Nick Nolte's character (Lucas) is released from McNeil Island prison at the beginning of the film. In the ninth episode of the first season of the podcast Tanis, the editor talks about Charles Manson's trip to the prison. Explanatory notes References External links Photographs of McNeil Island available through Online Public Access, National Archives and Records Administration McNeil Island: Census Tract 727, Pierce County, Washington United States Census Bureau McNeil Island Wildlife Area Islands of Pierce County, Washington Islands of Puget Sound Islands of Washington (state) Populated places in Pierce County, Washington Populated places on Puget Sound Prison islands