OLYMPIA – Legislation from Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, to address overcrowding in Washington’s juvenile-justice facilities and improve safety for both staff and inmates was passed by the Senate unanimously today. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.
Senate Bill 5278 responds to ongoing issues at institutions like Green Hill School in Chehalis, which have worsened since juvenile-justice laws were changed in 2018 and 2019. One such change, known as “JR to 25,” allows those convicted of crimes before age 18 to remain in juvenile facilities until age 25 instead of being transferred to adult prisons.
This policy has contributed to rising violence, gang activity, riots, drug smuggling, overdoses, and even deaths at Green Hill. The facility, overseen by the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), has become increasingly difficult to manage, with some staff members even participating in illegal activity.
“The current system is failing both staff and inmates,” said Braun. “Violent offenders are taking advantage of a system that wasn’t designed to hold them long term, leading to dangerous conditions inside our juvenile-justice facilities. JR-25 was well-intentioned, but our system was unprepared for the overcrowding that would happen.
“Green Hill School sometimes houses residents at twice its capacity. SB 5278 would provide officials with tools to manage the population so that minimum-risk residents can begin transitioning back into society and more-dangerous residents can be transferred to the custody of DOC.”
SB 5278 also would give DCYF more flexibility in managing its inmate population, allowing inmates over 18 who pose a danger to others to be transferred into the custody of the Department of Corrections (DOC). Additionally, inmates over 18 could voluntarily request a transfer to a DOC facility.
“A critical piece of this legislation is the set of rules it puts in place for infraction management,” Braun explained. “Frequently, criminal charges have been made against residents because the system doesn’t provide those managing our juvenile-justice facilities with a method of providing consequences for infractions without returning the residents to the criminal-justice system. When you combine all these tools, they allow staff to operate the facilities in a way that keeps staff and residents safe.”
The bill also creates pathways for less-dangerous inmates to reintegrate into society before completing their sentences. Some could be transferred to one of eight residential facilities, where they would receive treatment, educational, and vocational support, or serve part of their confinement in a community setting.
Another option under SB 5278 is participation in a DOC work-release program. Eligible inmates would live in partial confinement while holding a job, attending college, or participating in vocational training. However, their privileges could be revoked if they violate supervision conditions.
“We aren’t providing the services that the residents at our juvenile-justice facilities deserve – that we are required to provide – because the overcrowding has made conducting classes and providing treatment or counseling too dangerous. We need to do more to get these young people back on track,” said Braun.
“The unanimous passage of this bill in the Senate shows that improving public safety and rehabilitating young offenders is not a partisan issue. We all want a system that protects staff, supports rehabilitation, and ensures that those who are truly dangerous are placed in the right environment. Senate Bill 5278 moves us in that direction.”