King County Council likely to keep youth prison open

KING COUNTY, Washington. – The future of the King County Juvenile Detention Center remains uncertain as the county council reconsiders whether to keep the facility open.

The debate has been reignited by a proposal from King County Executive Dow Constantine, who advocates for a no-locks, no-cells approach. The proposal, however, faces opposition from Council Member Reagan Dunn, who has filed a motion to keep the facility open.

Tuesday's council meeting saw significant public opposition to the detention center, with numerous speakers voicing their concerns. The meeting was adjourned several times as public comment time exceeded the one-minute allotted time limit.

Despite continued public comments, Council Member Dunn expressed confidence that the Council was leaning toward keeping the youth detention center open indefinitely.

“This is a big day, we have to decide whether to keep the youth prison open or not,” Dunn said. He highlighted the rise in violent crime involving juveniles, saying, “Since 2021, violent crime reports have increased by 146%. Violent crimes and murders involving juveniles have increased significantly.”

Judge Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center

This discussion follows the county's controversial decision in 2012 to replace an outdated youth prison, a project that cost taxpayers more than $240 million. Despite protests arguing for restorative justice instead of incarceration, construction began in 2018 on the new Patricia Clark Children and Family Justice Center, which will open its doors in 2020.

“The facility has classrooms, a gym and libraries – why would we close them?” asked Dunn.

King County Executive Dow Constantine has long sought to revamp the criminal justice system. Four years ago, he stressed the need to find ways to break the cycle of petty crime rather than relying solely on incarceration.

“We really need to focus on getting to the root of the problems. Many people who habitually commit minor crimes do not respond very well to the sanctions of the criminal justice system. They stay in for a short period of time, go back out and continue to cause trouble. We need to find the resources and redirect their energy to break this cycle. That will make the community safer,” Constantine said in July 2020.

However, Dunn believes this approach has contributed to the rise in violent crime among young people.

“Is the system perfect? ​​No, it is not. But for that tiny fraction of youth who are violent and have a persistent pattern of predatory behavior, our only and best option is incarceration in the facility that was designed for youth,” he explained. “If we close the prison, it would be a massive, unprecedented waste of taxpayer money.”

Dunn is strongly opposed to the establishment of rest homes, which could potentially be built throughout the county in cities such as Bellevue, Renton, Federal Way and Shoreline. The council member considers this unrealistic.

“They want a system where no child, no young person is ever incarcerated, and I want that too. But the truth is that that's a utopia that doesn't really exist,” Dunn said. “Some of these people are murderers and rapists. They have a long pattern of violent behavior.”

Dunn expressed skepticism about the motivations of the organizations pushing for the prison closure, pointing out that many nonprofits would benefit financially.

“All of these nonprofits are hoping that the prison will be closed and then these tens of millions of dollars will be paid out to their nonprofits. Most of the people who are testifying are employees. That's not to say they don't have strong opinions, but you can't say they're neutral, detached or unbiased in their point of view,” Dunn said.

He attributed the decline in juvenile corrections to the rise in crime, arguing: “Fewer youth are being incarcerated. They are being sent to diversion programs and in many cases they don't even report to them. So instead of being punished, they are being released into society and then they reoffend. This lack of incarceration is a direct cause of the 146% increase in violent crime that we have seen.”

The issue also prompted a group of retired King County judges to speak out against the closure, breaking legal norms and urging the council to keep the jail open. In an opinion piece published in the Seattle Times, the judges called for increased funding for juvenile courts to support rehabilitation efforts.

“The juveniles in custody face serious charges. They are a danger to themselves and the community. They deserve the opportunity to heal, grow and acquire skills while awaiting trial,” the judges wrote.

As the council's deliberations continue, Dow Constantine's office said it would refrain from commenting further until the final vote is taken.

Dunn stressed that young people must be held accountable for violent crimes. He concluded: “For me, the most important thing is that prisons – we need to be clear and unambiguous that prisons remain open to violent offenders.”

This story is ongoing and will be updated as more information becomes available.

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