OLYMPIA - The Department of Social and Health Services’ Rehabilitation Administration (RA) has teamed up with The Washington State Center for Court Research (WSCCR) to study the state’s recidivism rate for juvenile offenders. The partnership has produced the first comprehensive look at the rate at which juveniles in Washington state reoffend in more than a decade.
DSHS and WSCCR examined the data on all youth ages 10 to 17 sentenced in a juvenile court in 2013 or released from a Juvenile Rehabilitation (JR) Institution or Community Facility in 2014. In Washington state, the vast majority of youth (95%) are treated in the county system. Those found guilty of more serious crimes are committed to the state’s Juvenile Rehabilitation program.
The study found:
- 28% of youth who appeared in juvenile court reoffended.
- 54% of juveniles released from the state’s Juvenile Rehabilitation program reoffended; down from 58% in 2011.
- Among JR youth who reoffended, rates of felony and misdemeanor recidivism were comparable to each other. Only 7% were found guilty of a violent felony that was committed within 18 months of their release.
“The partnership with the Center for Court Research is critical for us to evaluate how well we fulfill our commitment to enhancing community safety when a youth returns home,” said Rehabilitation Administration Assistant Secretary Marybeth Queral. “The effectiveness of our services is measured by whether or not a young person leaves our custody and is an engaged, productive and healthy citizen who contributes to his community and commits no new crimes.”
DSHS and WSCCR plan to update the data annually in order to keep the public, courts and stakeholders better informed about patterns and trends for juvenile recidivism and offenses.
In 2016, Governor Jay Inslee signed an Executive Order designed to reduce recidivism and better support the successful transition of people leaving prison or a Juvenile Rehabilitation institution. DSHS has also launched innovative programs in recent years designed to equip youth with skills that bolster their chances for gainful employment when they return to their communities. My Journey Out Beyond (MyJOB) offers a work-based curriculum in the classroom and learning opportunities tied to labor market demands. The youth have access to internships, pre-apprenticeships, job shadowing and on-the-job training based on their identified skills and areas of interest. Also, as part of a partnership with the Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee, juveniles can participate in a Manufacturing Academy that trains them for entry-level jobs in advanced manufacturing.