Stay up-to-date on news related to Zero Youth Detention.
On July 21, 2020, King County Executive, Dow Constantine, committed to eliminating secure detention for youth in King County by 2025. While the commitment to a specific timeline is new, the work to achieve the goal of Zero Youth Detention began in 2017 when King County Executive, Dow Constantine, announced Public Health – Seattle & King County’s Zero Youth Detention Initiative (ZYD).Continue reading The Road Map to Zero Youth Detention
A message from the Director of Zero Youth Detention:
Dear Friends,
All human lives matter. That is true. Nevertheless, it is equally true that historically not all lives have been understood to matter or have value. This is precisely why it is of great importance, in this moment, that we do not shy away from this truth or attempt to generalize it. The injustice has been specific and so we must be equally specific in the naming of their lives. Under discouraging and often painful conditions they are struggling to be heard and matter in the way they deserve.
Continue reading Standing together against hate
Each year, the Annie E. Casey Foundation hosts a national conference for the over 300 jurisdictions in 40 states that have signed on to implement its Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI). This year, the conference was hosted in King County, from October 16-18, in part to showcase the work of King County’s Zero Youth DetentionContinue reading National conference selects King County as site of annual conference, spotlights Zero Youth Detention
If you were watching the Seahawks game on August 29, you may have seen an excerpt of the short documentary “Out of the Fire,” which tells the story of Community Passageways, a Seattle-based felony diversion program and community partner in our work toward Zero Youth Detention. Community Passageways uses restorative justice practices and racial healingContinue reading Video: Community Passageways Community Diversion Program
KUOW’s Amy Radil interviewed Zero Youth Detention Director Derrick Wheeler-Smith last week about our work to eliminate the use of secure detention for young people in King County – check out the story here. With the opening of the new Children and Family Justice Center (CFJC) on the horizon, much of the discussion focused onContinue reading Intersection of Zero Youth Detention and the Children and Family Justice Center
In February, we wrote about the 2019 Washington State legislative session bills that King County staff and partners were supporting as a part of Zero Youth Detention. One of the Road Map’s primary objectives is to align and optimize connections between systems, and this includes pushing for policy reform that improves the lives of youthContinue reading Policy updates from state legislative session
This Thanksgiving week, King County Superior Court wants to thank the nearly 500 families who stepped up across Washington State this year to adopt children. Continue reading King County Superior Court celebrates forever families
Could there be a time when we don’t need to incarcerate youth? Executive Constantine outlines his plan to help the County reach its goal of Zero Youth Detention in this episode of King County Connects.Continue reading VIDEO: King County Connects on Zero Youth Detention
Jimmy Hung, a senior deputy prosecuting attorney in the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, sees the juvenile justice system from the inside. Learn more about Jimmy Hung and how he’s helping kids make better decisions and stay on a positive path.Continue reading Using restorative justice to help youth in crisis
King County Juvenile Detention, in partnership with Interagency Academy, hosted Michael Bennett of the Seattle Seahawks, his wife Pele, and other members of the Bennett Foundation to inaugurate the new Bennett Foundation Garden located within the detention facility. Continue reading ESPN interviews Seahawk Michael Bennett about juvenile detention gardening program
