Office of Juvenile Court
Administrator: Michael Johnson
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History of Juvenile Probation |
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| 1886 | Grand Jury reports that juvenile crimes are on the increase. Crimes included stealing, burglary, assault, train wrecking, and incorrigibility |
| 1890 | Board of Trustees purchase 50 acres for $5,000.00 to build Washington State Reform School (WSRS). |
| 1891 | Juvenile Offenders law passed, affecting boys and girls, ages 8-18. WSRS opens. Monthly salaries at WSRS are $125.00 for the superintendent; $50.00 for matrons; $30.00 for night staff; and $25.00 for a doctor. |
| 1892 | 73 boys and 6 girls admitted to WSRS. Three escapes, one was killed while boarding a freight train. Boys and girls separated except for religious services. |
| 1904 | Average daily population, at WSRS, is 153 |
| 1905 | Juvenile Court Session Law passed. |
| 1907 | WSRS changes name to Washington State Training School (WSTS). Kids call it Green Hill Academy |
| 1912 | First Parole Counselor hired by the State. Bloodhounds purchased to track runaways from WSTS. |
| 1913 | Laws passed to extend term of commitment to age 21 for boys and girls. Juvenile Court Code passed, also known as Parens Patriae. 200 acres purchased, northwest of Centralia, to build Washington State School (WSS) for girls. Land cost $20,000.00. |
| 1914 | 53 girls moved by freight train, to WSS |
| 1916 | WSTS produced $35,301.00 income from their shop, laundry and farm projects. Money goes to State Treasury. WSTS destroys it’s dungeons used for punishment. |
| 1917 | WSTS purchases first car for superintendent. |
| 1919 |
WSS discipline for runaways is 4-6 week lock-up, with mattress only to sleep on, and bread and water only to eat. |
| 1944 | Earthquake severely damages buildings at WSTS. |
| 1949 | Whipping post removed from WSTS. |
| 1953 | Five (5) parole officers cover entire State of male parolees. |
| 1954 |
Bureau of Juvenile Rehabilitation created within the Department of Public Institutions to oversee juvenile facilities. WSS changes name to Maple Lane School (MLS). |
| 1957 | Parole Officers established in Seattle, Tacoma, and Spokane. |
| 1961 | Mission Creek Youth Camp (MCYC) opened near Belfair. Cost of building was $230,000,00. |
| 1962 | 1,903 youth are committed to institutions. |
| 1963 | State Parole Officers now total 20 people. |
| 1965 |
Juvenile admissions to the institutions, for the year, is 1,247. Washington State builds first structure, in the United States, designed as a “group home” in Woodinville. |
| 1966 | First boy arrives at Nasselle Youth Camp (NYC). Cost for institutionalizing a youth is $16.87 per day. Cost for parolees is $.56 per day |
| 1967 | Echo Glen Children’s Center (EGCC) opens near Snoqualmie. Parole Officers now allowed to work with clients of opposite sex. |
| 1970 | Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) takes over administration of Division of Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration (JRA) |
| 1973 | Green Hill (WSTS) had 306 escapes, compared to eight (8) escapes in 1987. |
| 1976 | Law passed, removing “incorrigible” youth from institutions. |
| 1977 | Juvenile Diversion Programs started in 27 counties. Last “incorrigible” youth removed from State institution. |
| 1978 | Juvenile Justice Act implemented on 07/15/78. Juvenile Law shifts to Determinate Sentencing model and accountability for crime/offense. Juvenile’s level of “incorrigibility is no longer a basis to continue holding a youth in confinement. |
| 1988 | DOL notification for alcohol and drug related offenses, resulting in license revocations/suspensions |
| 1990 | Special Sex Offender Disposition Alternative (SSODA) legislation enacted. |
| 1994 | Stiffer penalties for firearm related offenses enacted by Legislature. |
| 1995 | “BECCA” legislation implemented (truancy, ARY, CHINS) |
| 1997 | Legislation enacted resulting in Automatic Jurisdiction to Adult Courts for certain offenses for certain aged youth. Requirement of School notification for certain offenses. Chemical Dependency Disposition Alternative (CDDA) legislation enacted. |