Senate bill would expand judicial discretion, add review hearings and alternatives to reduce juvenile incarceration

Senate Bill 5296 would change Washington’s juvenile sentencing scheme by giving juvenile court judges more discretion to keep many youth in their communities while preserving commitment for those the court finds, by clear and convincing evidence, cannot be safely supervised outside JR.

Will Tronson, committee staff, told the Human Services Committee that the bill would require an independent judicial finding — supported by clear and convincing evidence — that a commitment to a state juvenile institution is needed because a community placement would not adequately protect public safety, except for a limited set of serious offenses. The bill would expand eligibility for suspended dispositions and other alternatives (including electronic monitoring), remove the statutory requirement that youth serve at least 10% of their sentence (but not less than 30 days in any case), and add a requirement that youth who receive JR time over six months have a six-month review hearing that would result in release on community supervision unless…