DCYF Juvenile Rehabilitation Programs

May 2025

Casey Radostitz, project coordinator
Stephanie Hoffman, deputy legislative auditor | Eric Thomas, legislative auditor

Why we are doing this study

The 2024 Legislature directed the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC) to review juvenile rehabilitation programs operated by the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF).

JLARC must review the following:

• Programs and services offered to young people.
• Staffing including recruitment, retention, and training.
• Safety and security practices.

The review must include comparisons to other states and best practices.

Read the study mandate: ESSB 5950, Section 103(8)

Background

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) administers juvenile rehabilitation for young people who are convicted of certain crimes such as sex offenses, violent crimes, burglary, or theft.

The goals are to hold people accountable, help them rehabilitate, and prepare them for the future. DCYF is responsible for screening and assessing young people to determine appropriate services and programs. Services include substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, and behavioral health therapy. Programs include K-12 and postsecondary education, vocational training, life skills, and reentry supports.

DCYF juvenile rehabilitation is provided to people up to age 25 at ten facilities

In 2018 and 2019, the Legislature expanded eligibility for juvenile rehabilitation through a package of laws known as "JR to 25." The laws allow people sentenced in juvenile or adult court as minors to be served in a juvenile rehabilitation facility until age 25. Before these laws, people could be served only until age 21.

DCYF operates ten residential facilities and Community Transitions Services (CTS).

• The two secure facilities are Echo Glen Children's Center in Snoqualmie and Green Hill School in Chehalis. Echo Glen serves males age 11 to 17 and females age 12 to 25. Green Hill serves males age 17 to 25. Both facilities have medium and maximum security areas. A third secure facility is scheduled to open in 2025.
• The eight community facilities have minimum security and are located across Washington. Each facility houses males or females through age 25. Young people must be served at a secure facility before transferring to a community facility.
• Community Transitions Services (CTS) allow eligible young people to finish their sentence while living in the community with an electronic monitoring device.

At the end of 2024, there were approximately 350 young people in secure facilities, 80 in community facilities, and ten in CTS.

DCYF currently has nearly 900 full-time staff members that support juvenile rehabilitation. Staff work at DCYF headquarters and residential facilities. Facility staff include counselors, psychologists, educators, medical professionals, security staff, and other specialists.

DCYF is responsible for ensuring safety and security at the facilities

DCYF states that safety and security of residents, staff, and the public are top priorities.

• Safety involves promoting the physical and psychological protection of young people (e.g., preventing self-harm and harm to and from others). Practices include assessments, supervision, and treatment.
• Security refers to reducing threats and risks to safety. It includes measures like risk assessments, security classifications, discipline, room confinement and isolation, and incident response protocols.

Study scope

This audit will evaluate DCYF's administration of juvenile rehabilitation. It will include how DCYF plans and provides for the safety and security of young people, staff, and the public. The study also will examine DCYF's services and programs. The audit will review whether DCYF has the appropriate staff and service providers to provide safety, security, services, and programs.

During preliminary research, JLARC staff heard broader concerns about the juvenile justice system. However, this review will focus on the Legislature's mandate: DCYF's administration of juvenile rehabilitation. The process for entering the juvenile justice system and juvenile detention facilities run by counties are outside the scope.

Study questions

JLARC staff aim to answer the following questions through this audit. They reflect specific directives in the study mandate, as well as our preliminary outreach, research, and analysis of potential racial equity considerations per RCW 44.28.076.

Safety and security at DCYF facilities

Safety and security apply to young people, staff, and the public. For questions 2-5, JLARC staff will also include a comparison to best practices and other states.

1. What factors affect safety and security in DCYF facilities?
   1. Factors may include staffing, policies and procedures, and characteristics of young people served.
2. How effectively does DCYF plan for and respond to changes in the juvenile rehabilitation population?
   1. How have the population, types of offenses, and lengths of sentences changed over time, including after the JR to 25 laws?
3. Does DCYF use security measures effectively and equitably?
   1. This may include reviewing risk assessments, security classification, infractions, disciplinary practices, and room confinement and isolation.
4. Are incident response protocols appropriate to ensure safety and security?
   1. The review may include room confinement and isolation, new offense charges and additional sentences, and working with local law enforcement and other agencies.
   2. Are protocols equitably designed and implemented?
5. How does DCYF set the staffing level it needs to ensure safety and security?
   1. Is DCYF's approach to hiring, training, and retaining staff sufficient to meet its staffing needs?

Juvenile rehabilitation programs and services

For questions 2 and 3, JLARC staff also will include a comparison to best practices and other states.

1. Does DCYF offer services, programs, and reentry supports that are evidence based?
2. What factors affect young people's access to rehabilitative services and programs?
1. This may include reviewing individual needs, staffing, service availability, facility location, population trends, and client demographics such as race, ethnicity, and gender.
2. How does DCYF ensure equitable access and delivery of services and programs?
3. How does DCYF set the staffing level it needs to consistently deliver appropriate and equitable services and programs?
1. Is DCYF's approach to hiring, training, and retaining staff sufficient to meet its staffing needs?

What's next

• Preliminary Report: July 2026
• Proposed Final Report: September 2026

Learn more about our study process.

Study team

Casey Radostitz, project coordinator, (360) 786-5176
Zane Kelly, research analyst, (360) 786-5184
Jill Satran, research analyst, (360) 786-5679
Ashley Trunnell, research analyst, (360) 786-5181