Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Early Learning & Human Services Committee |
HB 1280
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Including referred and diverted youth in establishing community juvenile accountability program guidelines.
Sponsors: Representatives Kagi and Fey.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/24/17
Staff: Luke Wickham (786-7146).
Background:
Community Juvenile Accountability Act.
The Legislature enacted the Community Juvenile Accountability Act (CJAA) in 1997 as part of an omnibus juvenile justice bill. The CJAA allows local governments to submit proposals for funding community juvenile accountability programs in their communities. These proposals must be submitted to the Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration (JRA) of the Department of Social and Health Services.
A Community Juvenile Accountability Program (CJAP) proposal must include:
a demonstration that the proposal was developed with the input of the community public health and safety networks, and the local law and justice councils;
a description of how local community groups or members are involved in the implementation of programs; and
a description of how the grant funds will contribute to the expected outcomes of the program and the reduction of youth violence and juvenile crime in the community.
Local governments that receive CJAP funding must agree that the funds they receive be used efficiently to encourage the use of community-based programs that reduce the reliance on juvenile offender secure confinement.
The JRA, in consultation with the Washington Association of Juvenile Court Administrators, the state law and justice advisory council, and the family policy council establishes CJAP guidelines. These guidelines must:
target diverted and adjudicated juvenile offenders;
include assessment methods to determine services, programs, and intervention strategies;
provide maximum structured supervision in the community;
promote work ethic values and educational skills and competencies;
maximize the efficient delivery of treatment services that reduce risk factors associated with committing juvenile offenses;
maximize reintegration of the juvenile offenders into the community after release;
maximize a juvenile offender's ability to make restitution to the victims;
support an encourage increased court discretion in imposing community-based intervention;
be compatible with research;
be outcome-based;
include an evaluation component; and
recognize the diversity of local needs.
Washington State Institute for Public Policy Juvenile Justice Program Evaluations.
The CJAA required the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (Institute) to develop standards for measuring the effectiveness of juvenile accountability programs funded by the CJAP. The Institute has evaluated the effectiveness of several juvenile justice programs including the Coordination of Services Program, Aggression Replacement Therapy, Family Integrated Transitions, Functional Family Therapy, and Multisystemic Therapy.
Summary of Bill:
The target population of community juvenile accountability programs is expanded to include referred youth, in addition to the existing target populations that include diverted and adjudicated juvenile offenders.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 19, 2017.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.