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Washington to open juvenile justice center adjacent to Stafford Creek to relieve Green Hill overcrowding
Summary
Governor Jay Inslee announced the state will lease Building F at Stafford Creek in Aberdeen and open a DCYF-operated juvenile justice center to add capacity after Green Hill exceeded its rated capacity; the proposal will go into the governor's budget and is intended to be juvenile-justice (not DOC) in orientation.
Governor Jay Inslee announced at Green Hill School that the state will site a new juvenile justice center adjacent to the Stafford Creek facility in Aberdeen to address severe overcrowding at Green Hill.
Inslee said the site chosen is Building F at Stafford Creek, a physically separate and currently unused building that DCYF will lease from the Department of Corrections. "It is physically separate from the Department of Corrections facility," he said, adding that DCYF will staff and operate the center and DOC staff will have only a single entry-point presence and limited logistics support.
The governor framed the move as the fastest way to add capacity after the state reviewed dozens of potential sites; he said the center would start with about 48 men and operate on an opt-in basis, while offering programs including an "Emerging Adult Leaders Program" and vocational training such as automotive instruction. "This will be fully staffed by the DCYF personnel," Inslee said.
Inslee said the plan complies with an existing court order that limits the use of DOC facilities for juvenile residents and that prior litigation on the issue remains on appeal. He told reporters the proposal will be included in his budget and that officials were still working on the exact dollar amounts and staffing plans; a director posting was expected to be announced immediately.
DCYF official Felice, when asked about the opt-in process, said planning is ongoing and described an intended cohort model similar to prior programs: a six-month cohort with programming and an opportunity to return and work in paid roles. "Our hope is that we are able to design a program that young people will be able to apply for like they did for Baker North," Felice said.
The governor acknowledged the plan is a near-term step and will not solve longer-term demand: other facilities including Echo Glen also have limits and the state expects additional capacity needs in the future. He said the administration would present financing in the budget for lawmakers to consider.
Next steps: the administration will post the facility director job, finalize the opt-in criteria and include the project in the governor's budget; timing for openings and cohort start dates was not specified.
