(The Center Square) – A Washington Republican lawmaker has introduced a series of bills intended to curb what he views as systemic issues with the state’s juvenile justice system, particularly Green Hill School located in Lewis County.
In 2018, the state Legislature enacted House Bill 6160, which permits individuals convicted in adult court for crimes they committed under the age of 18 to instead be housed in juvenile rehabilitation until they reach 25.
However, Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, wrote in a news release that this approach has “created a host of serious problems that endanger residents and staff and undermine the state’s duty to provide rehabilitation services.” Senate Bill 5277 sponsored by Braun would repeal the 2018 state law.
One of the most notable examples is Green Hill School, where last year it was reported that inmates physically assaulted each other and employees, while staff has also been arrested for alleged misconduct. Late last year, then-Gov. Jay Inslee sent additional staff to handle overcrowding, which was attributed as one of the causes for violence.
Braun told The Center Square that “it’s hard for them to ignore. It’s a mess down there. I’ve led the alarm that ... there are real problems there, and for the better part of the year the governor and DCYF [Washington Department of Children, Youth, & Families] tried to downplay those. We’re a long way from solving it.”
He added that “We have created an unsafe situation. It’s going to lead to...
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