OLYMPIA –Enhanced Parole ends July 1 for approximately 500 youthful offenders released annually from Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration (JRA) custody in order to save $5.3 million in the recession-depleted state budget. 

Enhanced Parole has provided valuable guidance and monitoring for young felons and their families during the transition back to society.  Many of these offenders have extensive criminal histories and are a high risk to reoffend.

JRA will continue to provide parole to about 1,000 young offenders each year who qualify for Intensive Parole, Sex Offender Parole and Auto Theft Parole programs.  As required by law, JRA will notify local law enforcement agencies when offenders are released from custody.     

JRA is re-engineering release procedures to provide pre-release assistance with needs such as school enrollment, finding  jobs and housing, and knowing where to go in times of crisis to youth who will have no parole and their families. 

"With limited resources, we are doing the most we can with less.  In this bad economy government can’t do it all," said JRA Assistant Secretary John Clayton.

JRA provides services in residential and parole programs that are research proven to reduce criminal behavior.

"Our goal for young people sent to us is that they develop the skills to become confident, competent, responsible adults. We see youth make great strides in this direction. The challenge will be for them to keep up the momentum when they are released back to the community without the support and encouragement of a parole counselor," said Clayton.

"JRA is communicating with faith-based and non-profit human services organizations to assess the role they might play in being the support and encouragement youth released without parole will need.  We deeply appreciate all our partners in juvenile justice, education, and social services who step forward to help JRA youth and their families.  Together we can positively impact young lives and help keep our communities safe." said Clayton 

JRA Facts:

• 623 JRA youth are on parole today

• 713 JRA youth are in secure residential and transitional community facilities today

• $213 million is the allotted biennial budget for JRA

DSHS does not discriminate and provides equal access to its programs and services for all persons without regard to race, color, gender, religion, creed, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, age, veteran's status or the presence of any physical, sensory or mental disability.