By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
As King County grapples with the complexities of juvenile justice reform, Councilmember Reagan Dunn plans to introduce a motion at the King County Council’s regular meeting, opposing the closure of the Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center (CCFJC). This motion follows the heated debate ignited by the final ‘Care and Closure’ report, which controversially suggested the potential use of unsecured detention facilities for juvenile offenders, particularly those convicted of violent felonies.
“I’m putting this motion forward because I have lost faith in the planning process for the future of juvenile detention,” says Dunn. “There is an ongoing push at King County to not only close the youth detention center but to place these juvenile offenders in community homes across King County, with no locks on the doors. This I find entirely unconscionable and unrealistic. I want to make it clear to King County residents that this is not a policy supported by the King County Council.”
The backdrop of this debate is a startling surge in juvenile violent crimes. In 2023, juvenile violent felony filings rose by 57% from the previous year and a staggering 146% from 2021. As of the latest data, of the 46 crimes leading to juvenile detention, 33 were of a violent nature, including murder, rape, and armed robbery.
The report presented to the Council’s Law and Justice Committee revealed deep divisions within the Advisory Committee regarding the future security measures of the detention facilities. While some members advocate for locks on the doors of ‘community care homes,’ others disagree, leaving the committee unable to reach a consensus on this critical issue.
The CCFJC, which opened its doors in 2020 at a cost of $242 million, symbolizes a modern, rehabilitative approach to juvenile justice, encompassing classrooms, a library, a gym, and a medical clinic. Originally set to close by 2025, the new report suggests pushing this date to 2028, reflecting the ongoing debate and challenges faced in juvenile justice reform.
“The fact that the County is still considering placing violent felons in unlocked facilities is preposterous and a glaring danger to our communities,” asserts Dunn. “We must work to improve juvenile justice while holding younger offenders accountable for their actions and without creating more victims out of innocent people.”
Amidst this, Councilmember Girmay Zahilay offers a different perspective, acknowledging the complexities of the situation.
“I think innovating our criminal justice system, if it is done in a way that improves public safety and reduces violent crime, it could be a good thing,” says Zahilay. “Youth incarceration can create adverse childhood experiences, brain trauma, isolation, disconnection from communities, and can lead to youth lagging behind in educational and job outcomes. All these factors contribute to a higher rate of recidivism. That’s why you see young people go to jail and are more likely to return in the future.”
“The problems the executives are trying to solve are good ones,” he continued. “Metrics for success must include a reduction in violent crimes, the well-being of our youth moving forward, and the elimination or reduction of harm out in the community.”
However, Zahilay did express concern about the timing and methodology of the proposed reforms.
“I would hope, if I could rewind time before becoming a councilmember, that would have been the time for innovation,” says Zahilay. “The reason they are thinking about closing it, I believe, is due to the quick shift in the political environment post-2020, with heightened awareness of the potential harm of putting kids in a concrete cell. This shift has propelled the need for innovation in juvenile justice.”
Zahilay also questions how these changes align with broader legal and fiscal frameworks.
“How does this move work with state law, the separation of powers, and our budget constraints?” questions Zahilay. “Most importantly, how does King County communicate this to the public without causing confusion?”
“Many think that if a young person commits murder, they won’t be in any form of secure detention the next day, which is not what’s being proposed,” he added.
According to Zahilay, the conversation also touches upon the importance of language and messaging.
“The way we talk about this issue matters a lot,” says Zahilay. “We need to hold people accountable, promote youth healing, and do everything we can to eliminate violence in our communities. It’s also true that doing something different doesn’t mean allowing a person who commits murder to walk free the next day. I think what’s being proposed is having secure detention in a way that’s healing and positive for young people, rather than what we have today, which is not the case.”