Important Update: DCYF Suspends Intakes at State Juvenile Rehabilitation Facilities

Today, we have new information regarding the recent letter from Ross Hunter, Director of the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), suspending new intakes into the state’s Juvenile Rehabilitation Facilities. A copy of the letter can be found here, and here is a link to a recent Seattle Times article discussing the issue.

We have been in contact with both DCYF and the Governor’s office over the last couple of days about this issue. Here’s what we can share in addition to the letter and what has been reported:

• This decision has been prompted by overcrowding, specifically at the Green Hill facility in Lewis County. The facility was designed for about 150 residents but is currently housing 240. Over the last couple of months at Green Hill, intakes have far exceeded releases (6-8 weekly entries vs. 2-4 exits). The overcrowding has resulted in double bunking, with about 60 residents currently housed in rooms/cells without restroom facilities. It has also limited the ability to separate inmates who don’t get along and has led to increased violence among residents and between residents and staff.
• Echo Glen is not in the same situation, but the state is using this suspension to prevent that facility from having a similar outcome.
• The target the state seeks to achieve for Green Hill residents before lifting the suspension is 180, and it will likely continue until that target is reached. Current release rates without a change could be anywhere from 3-6 months.
• It is unknown how long it will take to reduce the population, but early release is not being considered an option. DCYF is now conducting some analysis to better predict how long the suspension may last.
• While DCYF has stated that they anticipate a solution will not arrive quickly, the Governor’s office has said that they hope this suspension is a “very short-term” solution but acknowledge there are many factors to be considered and addressed.
• We have spoken with DCYF about local costs for continued housing of juvenile offenders after sentencing that should be sent to state facilities. They stated they intend to expand existing contracts and implement new agreements to provide resources. We do not yet know what those resources will look like. We have expressed concerns that current contract rates will likely not cover extended stays. If this situation persists, counties will incur other costs to provide services that haven’t been previously considered. I expect a follow-up in writing from DCYF on contracting and resources shortly.
• We have also expressed the need for youth programming and rehabilitation services if county facilities are to continue housing juveniles who should be transferred to state facilities. Both DCYF and the Governor’s office currently do not have a solution for this issue, but they are aware of the need.
• We have also asked what the plan is if county facilities also become full as a result of this suspension. We have been told they are looking into options for such a possibility.
• We have also been told the state is looking into the possibility of leasing some facilities very quickly, where some of the youth may be housed as an alternative so that the population at the Green Hill facility can be reduced in a shorter period of time.

So far, both DCYF staff and the Governor’s office have been very forthcoming with information. When asked about the suddenness of this decision, they claim that the inmate population growth has been a recent development over the last couple of months. They expressed that they are closely monitoring the situation and are actively looking at various options to address it.

WSAC is organizing a meeting with a few juvenile court administrators and key members to begin our assessment of the impact of suspension. We hope to meet in the next few days to hear from county staff, judges, and others about their individual and collective concerns so that we can advocate effectively.

We may contact you for information as we consider options for addressing the suspension. Please stand ready to respond quickly to any data requests we need.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please reach out. We will provide updates when more information is available.