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There are 33 juvenile courts in Washington State. Twenty one counties operate detention facilities and one regional facility operated by a consortium of counties in eastern Washington. Of the 21 court/county facilities, 14 are located in western Washington and eight (8) are located in eastern Washington.
Functions of Juvenile Court,
Juvenile courts, are a division of Superior Court, have jurisdiction over all criminal juvenile cases, at-risk (BECCA) youth, and dependency matters.
JUVENILE OFFENDER - Criminal offenses committed by juveniles are adjudicated by juvenile courts who then administer community supervision on local sanction sentences, Special Sex Offender disposition alternative, Chemical Dependency disposition alternative, Mental Health disposition alternative, diversion, and deferred dispositions.
BECCA - Cases include civil procedures on Truancy, At-Risk Youth (ARY), and Child in Need of Services (CHINS).
DEPENDENCY - Children can be found to be dependent by a juvenile court if (1) they are abused and/or neglected, (2) have no parent or guardian willing or capable, or (3) are abandon. Once found dependent, the court appoints the Department of Social and Health Services to act as the custodian for the child throughout the duration of a case. The juvenile court manages the care and custody of the child while the parents are ordered to comply with treatment to correct the deficiencies that necessitated the dependency action.
CASA - Washington State dedicated 8 million dollars per biennium to juvenile courts for Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Programs. CASA volunteers are assigned to act in the capacity of guardians ad litem in dependency cases. Twenty-nine programs are funded in thirty-one counties in the state.
Juvenile Court History
1886 Grand Jury reports that juvenile crimes are on the increase. Crimes included stealing, burglary, assault, train wrecking, and incorrigibility
1890 Board of Trustees purchase 50 acres for $5,000.00 to build Washington State Reform School (WSRS).
1891 Juvenile Offenders law passed, affecting boys and girls, ages 8-18. WSRS opens. Monthly salaries at WSRS are $125.00 for the superintendent; $50.00 for matrons; $30.00 for night staff; and $25.00 for a doctor.
1892 73 boys and 6 girls admitted to WSRS. Three escapes, one was killed while boarding a freight train. Boys and girls separated except for religious services.
1904 Average daily population, at WSRS, is 153
1905 Juvenile Court Session Law passed.
1907 WSRS changes name to Washington State Training School (WSTS). Kids call it Green Hill Academy
1912 First Parole Counselor hired by the State. Bloodhounds purchased to track runaways from WSTS.
1913 Laws passed to extend term of commitment to age 21 for boys and girls. Juvenile Court Code passed, also known as Parens Patriae. 200 acres purchased, northwest of Centralia, to build Washington State School (WSS) for girls. Land cost $20,000.00.
1914 53 girls moved by freight train, to WSS
1916 WSTS produced $35,301.00 income from their shop, laundry and farm projects. Money goes to State Treasury. WSTS destroys it’s dungeons used for punishment.
1917 WSTS purchases first car for superintendent.
1919 WSS discipline for runaways is 4-6 week lock-up, with mattress only to sleep on, and bread and water only to eat.
1944 Earthquake severely damages buildings at WSTS.
1949 Whipping post removed from WSTS.
1953 Five (5) parole officers cover entire State of male parolees.
1954 Bureau of Juvenile Rehabilitation created within the Department of Public Institutions to oversee juvenile facilities. WSS changes name to Maple Lane School (MLS).
1957 Parole Officers established in Seattle, Tacoma, and Spokane.
1961 Mission Creek Youth Camp (MCYC) opened near Belfair. Cost of building was $230,000,00.
1962 1,903 youth are committed to institutions.
1963 State Parole Officers now total 20 people.
1965 Juvenile admissions to the institutions, for the year, is 1,247. Washington State builds first structure, in the United States, designed as a “group home” in Woodinville.
1966 First boy arrives at Nasselle Youth Camp (NYC). Cost for institutionalizing a youth is $16.87 per day. Cost for parolees is $.56 per day
1967 Echo Glen Children’s Center (EGCC) opens near Snoqualmie. Parole Officers now allowed to work with clients of opposite sex.
1970 Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) takes over administration of Division of Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration (JRA)
1973 Green Hill (WSTS) had 306 escapes, compared to eight (8) escapes in 1987.
1976 Law passed, removing “incorrigible” youth from institutions.
1977 Juvenile Diversion Programs started in 27 counties. Last “incorrigible” youth removed from State institution.
1978 Juvenile Justice Act implemented on 07/15/78. Juvenile Law shifts to Determinate Sentencing model and accountability for crime/offense. Juvenile’s level of “incorrigibility is no longer a basis to continue holding a youth in confinement.
1988 DOL notification for alcohol and drug related offenses, resulting in license revocations/suspensions
1990 Special Sex Offender Disposition Alternative (SSODA) legislation enacted.
1994 Stiffer penalties for firearm related offenses enacted by Legislature.
1995 “BECCA” legislation implemented (truancy, ARY, CHINS)
1997 Legislation enacted resulting in Automatic Jurisdiction to Adult Courts for certain offenses for certain aged youth. Requirement of School notification for certain offenses. Chemical Dependency Disposition Alternative (CDDA)
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