RCW 72.01.410
Findings-Intent- 2019 c 322 : "The legislature recognizes state and national efforts to reform policies that incarcerate youth and young adults in the adult criminal justice system. The legislature acknowledges that transferring youth and young adults to the adult criminal justice system is not effective in reducing future criminal behavior. Youth and young adults incarcerated in the adult criminal justice system are more likely to recidivate than their counterparts housed in juvenile facilities.
The legislature intends to enhance community safety by emphasizing rehabilitation of juveniles convicted even of the most serious violent offenses under the adult criminal justice system. Juveniles adjudicated as adults should be served and housed within the facilities of the juvenile rehabilitation administration up until age twenty-five, but released earlier if their sentence ends prior to that. In doing so, the legislature takes advantage of recent changes made by congress during the reauthorization of the juvenile justice and delinquency prevention act by the juvenile justice reform act of 2018 that allow youth and young adults who at the time of their offense are younger than the maximum age of confinement in a juvenile correctional facility, to be placed in a juvenile correctional facility by operation of state law. The emphasis on rehabilitation up to age twenty-five reflects similar programming in other states, which has significantly reduced recidivism of juveniles confined in adult correctional facilities." [2019 c 322 s 1.]
Effective date-2017 3rd sp.s. c 6 ss 601-631, 701-728, and 804: See note following RCW 13.04.011.
Conflict with federal requirements-2017 3rd sp.s. c 6: See RCW 43.216.908.
Effective date-2002 c 171: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately [March 27, 2002]." [ 2002 c 171 s 3.]
Finding-Evaluation-Report-1997 c 338: See note following RCW 13.40.0357.
Severability-Effective dates-1997 c 338: See notes following RCW 5.60.060.
Effective date-1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
Juvenile not to be confined with adult inmates: RCW 13.04.116.