New legislation happened quietly this year in Washington that affects the juvenile justice system. I knew it was happening, but the legislators I work with wanted to keep it quiet. Sometimes, when a light shines on legislation, people stop doing the right thing and do what they think is politically correct to be re-elected.
The most important part of the legislation may be the addition of restorative justice as an alternative to secure detention:
“Community-based rehabilitation” means one or more of the following: Employment; attendance of information classes; literacy classes; counseling, outpatient substance abuse treatment programs, outpatient mental health programs, anger management classes, education or outpatient treatment programs to prevent animal cruelty, or other services including, when appropriate, restorative justice programs; or attendance at school or other educational programs appropriate for the juvenile as determined by the school district.”
Previously, restorative justice had restricted access. This opens it up for local municipalities to make their own judgment regarding what is good rehabilitation. It also defines restorative justice:
“Restorative justice” means practices, policies, and programs informed by and sensitive to the needs of crime victims that are designed to encourage offenders to accept responsibility for repairing the harm caused by their offense by providing safe and supportive opportunities for voluntary participation and communication between the victim, the offender, their families, and relevant community members.”
This is a big deal. Restorative justice is now codified in Washington state law!
We owe a great deal of thanks to Rep. Roger Goodman for being a tireless advocate of restorative justice. You can send a note of thanks via his assistant at: Derek.Zable@leg.wa.gov
Woohoo!!
Youth Chaplaincy Coalition and Peacemaking Coordinating Team 
How and when will we learn if this is applied?
The thing to do is to keep an eye on our local juvenile justice facilities. Each county should watch to see if it is being implemented. I know that King County is already working on this through diversion programs and is in the process of implementing restorative justice within detention walls. (This is a HUGE culture shift–maybe we can talk about why this is able to happen some time!).
The challenge for me, since I work with youth in state-wide and local facilities, is holding together the policies of the Spokane Valley area and the Seattle area. They are not the same! How do we bring the rest of the state along to a place of more mercy is a conversation that is waiting to happen.
Yay! Big steps for Washington!
Let’s look to creat creative based restorative justice programs in Washington state now. Murals for graffiti? Poetry slams for sententious centers? Community activism?
There are poetry slams and other word -based art programs. It really depends on volunteers. If that is what you see as a need, let me help you make it happen. I have the contacts and can smooth the way. What I can’t do, is everything myself.