By The Seattle Medium
OLYMPIA, WA — A coalition of Washington state lawmakers has issued a forceful response to the Legislature’s failure to advance a key juvenile justice reform measure, condemning the inaction as a moral and political failure that leaves vulnerable youth trapped in an inhumane system.
In a letter released on April 17, 2025, 28 legislators expressed their deep disappointment over the House’s failure to move forward with Senate Bill 5296, companion to House Bill 1322, which sought to overhaul the state’s juvenile rehabilitation policies. The letter was addressed to incarcerated youth at Green Hill School, community justice advocates, and constituents across Washington.
“For the young people trapped in a system that prioritizes incarceration over rehabilitation, this is more than a missed opportunity — it’s a moral failure,” the lawmakers wrote.
The signatories include Reps. Davina Duerr, Natasha Hill, Steve Berquist, Beth Doglio, Tarra Simmons, Adam Bernbaum, Sharlett Mena, Jamila Taylor, Edwin Obras, Brianna Thomas, Julia Reed, Julio Cortes, Debra Lekanoff, My-Linh Thai, Shaun Scott, April Berg, Brandy Donaghy, Darya Farivar, Debra Entenman, Chris Stearns, Osman Salahuddin, Sharon Wylie, Shelley Kloba, Strom Peterson, and others who pledged continued advocacy.
The lawmakers criticized the status quo at Green Hill School, a juvenile detention facility where many of them have visited, noting disturbing conditions such as overcrowding, limited access to basic services, and long hours of isolation.
“We’ve listened to the youth who are confined there. We’ve heard from the staff who show up every day in overcrowded, under-resourced conditions. What we’ve seen is not justice.”
Their statement highlighted the stark racial disparities in the system, where Black, Brown, and Native youth are sentenced nearly four times more often than white peers. Many are held in cells for up to 22 hours a day, with little access to programming, education, or even regular bathroom use.
“This isn’t just a policy failure — it’s a humanitarian one,” said one of the letter’s authors, noting that current conditions violate both principles of equity and common sense.
The letter emphasized that proven solutions already exist. Approaches that keep youth connected to their families, schools, and communities have demonstrated far better outcomes than incarceration. Allowing judges greater discretion to consider the full context of a child’s life — rather than focusing solely on the offense — was central to the proposed legislation.
“When judges have discretion to look at the whole child — not just the crime — we open doors to appropriate accountability, treatment, supervision, and healing.”
The lawmakers argued that failure to pass the bill contradicts the Legislature’s professed commitment to racial equity and investment in marginalized communities. “These aren’t optional values — they are fundamental,” the letter stated. “And yet, yesterday, we did not uphold them.”
Despite the setback, the legislators remain committed to pushing forward. They announced plans to continue developing the policies outlined in SB 5296 and HB 1322 during the interim period, including measures to reduce racial disparities, expand community-based alternatives to detention, and invest in restorative justice frameworks.
“We are committed not only to our youth, but to the future in which we claim to believe.”
They closed the letter with a call to empathy and action, urging fellow lawmakers and the public to recognize the shared humanity of the youth in the system.
“There are not many things that separate us from the young people in juvenile rehabilitation facilities. What brought us to Olympia — opportunity, community, and someone who believed in our potential — should be the same for them. Every child deserves that chance.”
Source: Seattle Medium
