Washington is a Decentralized State: Delinquency services are organized at both the state and local level in Washington.

How is detention organized? 

There are 22 detention facilities in Washington. The local Superior Court administers secure juvenile detention in most counties. Several of the juvenile detention programs have incorporated the use of alternatives to detention that may include day and evening reporting, electronic home monitoring, group care, and work crew programs.

Statute RCW 13.40.080 regulates diversion. First-time offenders referred for misdemeanor offenses are eligible for diversion. Most diversion programs are operated within probation departments’ diversion units.

The rights of victims in Washington  reside in RCW Chapter 7.69 and include the right to be informed of the final disposition of the case; to be provided, whenever practical, a secure waiting area during court proceedings

Local courts administer juvenile probation in 36 of Washington's 39 counties. In the remaining counties (Whatcom, Clallam, and Skagit), by agreement with the court, the county legislative authority administers probation.

While each jurisdiction has its own hiring criteria, the standard qualification for juvenile probation officers is a bachelor's degree in a behavioral sciences field. Juvenile probation officers are not professionally certified in Washington.

When a juvenile is committed to the Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration (JRA), legal custody transfers to JRA. JRA determines all of the placement specifics.  The seriousness of the offense and the juvenile's criminal history help determine the sanction received.

The Washington Administrative Code, Revised Code of Washington, and Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration (JRA) administrative guidelines address the release decision. The Assistant Secretary of JRA sets the release date using a prescribed range of commitment time from the sentencing guidelines.

Juvenile parole counselors from the Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration's (JRA) community staff administer aftercare (parole) services. There are four types of parole in Washington: Intensive, Enhanced, Thirty-Day Transition Parole, and Sex Offender Parole.

Washington's purpose clause reflects Balanced and Restorative Justice (BARJ) philosophies.  The BARJ movement advocates that juvenile courts give balanced attention to three primary interests: public safety, individual accountability to the victims and community, and the development in offenders of those skills necessary to live law-abiding and productive lives.

Lower Age: None specified

Upper Age: 17

Extended Age of Delinquency Jurisdiction: 20; may be extended for the purpose of enforcing a restitution order or a penalty assessment.

There is no statewide risk assessment used at detention screening. For those juveniles screened into detention, a Detention Risk Assessment Instrument (D-RAI) is administered. The D-RAI results are provided to the court at the first appearance hearing to recommend a detention placement option.