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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
This week, the King County Council's Law and Justice Committee heard the final report on the "Care and Closure” initiative to permanently close the County’s youth detention facility. During that briefing, we heard that King County is actively considering placing violent juvenile offenders into unsecure, unlocked "community care homes" dispersed across King County as an alternative to the youth jail. I find this absolutely unconscionable and clearly dangerous for our communities, and I strongly oppose it.
Currently, King County's youth detention facility holds the most serious of offenders, currently holding only about 40 juveniles. According to information provided to me by the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention in late February, of the 46 crimes that landed juveniles in detention, 33 were violent in nature, including murder, rape, drive by shootings, assault, and robbery, often involving a gun. These violent individuals need to be in a secure facility for everyone's safety.
Meanwhile, the number of juvenile violent felonies—which include murder, assault, rape, shootings, and burglaries—are skyrocketing. In 2023, juvenile violent felony filings were up 57% from 2022 and a shocking 146% from 2021.
It’s time for leaders to reassess the unrealistic goal of eliminating juvenile detention for violent offenders. The time and funding put into closing the youth detention facility would be much better invested in building up the programs and services that give juvenile offenders a new future, while also holding them accountable for their actions and providing for public safety.
I am paying close attention to this matter and will update you on any developments. You can read more about it online at KIRO Newsradio.
All my best,
 Reagan Dunn
King County Councilmember
District 9
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