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Bill

SB 5278

Concerning emergency measures for managing juvenile populations at state juvenile correctional institutions.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by John Braun and 3 co-sponsors

The bill lets DCYF transfer juveniles to community facilities or DOC to reduce overcrowding once 105% capacity is reached, with safety and eligibility limits.

By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading.
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Bill Summary · SB 5278

SB 5278 — Summary (2025): Emergency measures for managing juvenile populations at state juvenile correctional institutions

Status: By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading (last action 2025-04-27). Introduced: 01/15/2025. Sponsor(s): Senators Braun, Christian, Dozier, J. Wilson; reported by Senate Ways & Means.

Purpose / Intent

The bill directs the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) to establish operational rules and emergency population-management tools for juvenile rehabilitation institutions to address overcrowding, safety risks, and impacts on rehabilitation. It authorizes temporary transfers to community facilities or to the Department of Corrections (DOC) under specified conditions and requires development of behavioral management and capacity-monitoring rules. The engrossed version includes an emergency declaration.

Key provisions (major elements)

  • Rated bed capacity rules and monitoring

    • DCYF must promulgate rules establishing the rated (safe operational) bed capacity for each juvenile correctional institution and community facility and revise them as needed.
    • DCYF must monitor census counts and begin planning to avoid exceeding rated capacity once population reaches 90% of rated bed capacity.

  • Population reduction triggers and actions

    • When a secure juvenile institution exceeds 105% of rated bed capacity, the DCYF secretary may transfer enough offenders to community facilities to reduce in-residence population to 100% (subject to exclusions).
    • If rehabilitative goals cannot be met and population exceeds 105%, the secretary (with DOC consent) shall transfer enough offenders to DOC to reduce population to 100%.

  • Exclusions and who may be transferred

    • Transfers to community facilities may not include: offenders adjudicated of violent or sex offenses, offenders who are a risk to public safety, persons posing a serious threat as determined under RCW 13.40.280, those better served by institutional services, or those with infractions rendering them unable to meet residential disciplinary standards.
    • Required DOC transfer (when >105% and DOC consents) applies to: any offender over age 18, and any offender whose term/earned release date extends beyond their 25th birthday.
    • Engrossed amendments further limit DCYF placement of certain individuals convicted in adult court who are over age 21 with an earned release date after age 26 when facilities are at/above 105% — such persons would be placed in DOC.

  • Voluntary transfer requests

    • Persons aged 18+ placed in juvenile correctional facilities may request transfer to DOC; DCYF (with DOC consent) may grant requests after considering safety, rehabilitative impacts, severity of offense, and related factors. The statute clarifies such requests do not create legal rights.

  • Behavioral management and infractions

    • DCYF must establish rules defining an internal behavioral management/infraction system and procedures to respond to continuing and serious threats to safety in institutions.

  • Administrative/other requirements

    • Placement of offenders to community facilities must, in general, comply with existing contracting/placement statute (RCW 72.05.420), but certain requirements may be waived when used to address overcrowding.

Who is affected

  • DCYF: required to adopt rules, monitor capacity, and exercise transfer authorities.
  • DOC: may receive transferred individuals and must coordinate with DCYF.
  • Juveniles and young adults: especially those convicted in adult court for crimes committed under 18, people aged 18–25, and those with release dates extending beyond age thresholds specified (25, 26).
  • Institutions: Green Hill, Echo Glen, community facilities, and their staff—impacts on placement, programming, and safety.
  • Victims and the public: safety considerations factor into transfer decisions.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Bill history includes hearings in Senate Human Services and Ways & Means and House Early Learning & Human Services and Appropriations; floor amendments and substitute versions were adopted. Engrossed Second Substitute incorporates emergency language and broader rulemaking/monitoring requirements.
  • Next legislative step (as of 04/27/2025): returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading; not yet enacted.

Considerations

  • The bill balances emergency population management and safety with continued emphasis on rehabilitation, but it expands DCYF and DOC discretion to transfer and rehouse youth/young adults under capacity/emergency conditions and creates new procedural rulemaking duties for DCYF.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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