JRA Consolidated Juvenile Services/Disposition Alternatives Washington State DSHS

Finding DSHS Services

Privacy

Access state agencies
and government
information

Consolidated Juvenile Services/Disposition Alternatives

Consolidated Juvenile Services is a partnership between the state and 34 county juvenile courts in which each shares in the cost of providing local comprehensive services to youthful offenders. The goal is to serve youth locally and halt penetration into the JRA system. Programs funded under this model include:

At-Risk Services

These services include diversion, probation supervision, individual and family counseling, drug/alcohol assessment and treatment, alternative education, vocational training, and psychiatric and psychological services. There are at-risk youth programs in all of the 34 juvenile court jurisdictions representing 39 counties.

Community Juvenile Accountability Act (CJAA)

The CJAA is the first effort in the nation to implement programs on a statewide basis that are research demonstrated to reduce recidivism with juvenile offenders. CJAA programs target youth on county supervised probation who are moderate to high risk for re-offending. In January 1999, 33 juvenile courts began implementing CJAA interventions. Quality assurance oversight is provided by JRA for these programs which include:

Functional Family Therapy (FFT), a 12-week family treatment that has shown significant reductions in delinquency, violence, and substance abuse in at-risk youth.
Aggression Replacement Training (ART), a cognitive-behavioral group intervention that focuses on skills building, moral reasoning, and anger control in youthful offenders.
Multi-systemic Therapy (MST), a nationally recognized family and community-based treatment that targets juvenile offenders who have been assessed as the highest risk for re-offense.

Disposition Alternatives

The following disposition alternatives may be ordered by the courts for youth whose treatment and supervision needs can reasonably be met in the community. These alternatives achieve savings in comparison to the cost of JRA residential care:

Chemical Dependency Disposition Alternative (CDDA)
CDDA allows juvenile courts to suspend JRA sentences for chemically dependent youth, and alternatively order youth into supervised chemical dependency treatment. Youth subject to local sanctions _ detention or probations _ may also receive treatment services through CDDA funding. Juvenile courts, local treatment agencies, and inpatient treatment providers have established programs specific to the needs of these youthful offenders and their families. Local CDDA programs are required to use a standardized assessment process, be consistent with elements proven effective by research, include family service components, and provide intensive case management.
Special Sex Offender Disposition Alternative (SSODA)
SSODA is a disposition alternative for certain first time sex offenders that allows courts to suspend the sentence of an adjudicated guilty of a sex offense. Those youths are required to participate in community based treatment with a certified sex offender treatment provider for at least 24 months. Should an offender fail to meet the treatment, supervision, and monitoring terms of the SSODA agreement, the court may revoke the suspended disposition and commit the youth to the JRA to serve the standard range sentence.
Mental Health Disposition Alternative
This program is a disposition alternative for youth that are subject to a standard range disposition commitment to JRA. Committable youth receive a suspended sentence and one year of community supervision, in combination with a research based Mental Health Treatment Interventions from a specified list of interventions. Eligible youth will be assessed as having a DSM IV, Axis I diagnosis and amenable to a research based mental health intervention.
Suspended Disposition Alternative (Option B)
This program is a disposition alternative for youth subject to a standard range disposition commitment to JRA. Youth receive a suspended sentence with one year of community supervision and are ordered to participate in an appropriate treatment program and educational pursuit. It is expected that the up to one-year, with an average of nine months, of both supervision and treatment will increase the likelihood that the youth will remain free of future delinquent behavior. It is also expected that the youth will develop appropriate social and independent living skills.
Community Commitment Disposition Alternative
This program is a disposition alternative for committable youth subject to a standard range disposition commitment to JRA of 15 to 36 weeks. Committable youth receive up to thirty days of confinement in a local detention center and up to one year of community supervision. The Juvenile Court retains jurisdiction of these youth, which distinguishes the option from other disposition alternatives. The program is a pilot and only available in Clallam County.

Interstate Compact on Juveniles

Washington is a signatory in the Interstate Compact on Juveniles. JRA administers compact activity for Washington State and ensures cooperative supervision of youth on county probation and JRA parole should they move between states and provides for the return of out-of-state escapees, absconders, and non-adjudicated runaways. The program serves over 500 youth per month.

Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant (JAIBG)

In 2005, JRA received an $844,000 annual federal grant that provides funds for state, county, city and tribal juvenile justice programs. Currently, JRA is funding 36 county, city and tribal projects. Projects include intensive county probation services, day-reporting programs, drug court programs, additional juvenile prosecutors, and enhancement to county Community Juvenile Accountability Act interventions.

For more information contact:
Ryan Pinto
360 902-8105
email

Top of Page

Page last modified: June 30, 2006