The Juvenile Legal System Family Handbook focuses on helping family and guardians of impacted youth understand and navigate the King County Juvenile Legal System. It also provides links to additional resources and helpful information for community service providers working to support youth and families.Continue reading family guide to navigating the juvenile legal system
Black Mental Health Matters
The direct effects of increased exposure to violence, police brutality, and systemic racism placed on the Black Community, and a pandemic that has disproportionately affected communities of color here in King County, continues to be a concern for Black Children and Families. Continue reading Black Mental Health Matters
Using a public health approach to reach zero youth detention
Youth have a better chance at positive adulthood when they don’t interact with the juvenile legal system. A public health approach means employing prevention and intervention strategies that eliminate the need for juvenile detention and promote the well-being and development of all youth. Continue reading Using a public health approach to reach zero youth detention
Culturally responsive care for LGBTQ+ youth
The King County Superior Court blog recently highlighted the eQuality Project. Run by the Center for Children & Youth Justice, eQuality has been helping King County Juvenile Court Services better connect court-involved LGBTQ+ youth with trauma-informed, culturally responsive support services. These efforts support our primary objective in the Road Map: to lead with equity. We’reContinue reading Culturally responsive care for LGBTQ+ youth
Youth engagement program provides resources and voice to Latinx students
One of our Zero Youth Detention objectives is to focus upstream to enhance positive supports to young people to prevent youth from entering the juvenile legal system. The Latinx Youth Engagement Project, run by the Department of Community and Human Services’ (DCHS) Children and Youth Services Division, is a great example of positive community developmentContinue reading Youth engagement program provides resources and voice to Latinx students
Trauma-informed fitness leads to skill building for youth
Upower’s trauma-informed fitness program means that they advocate for physical fitness and social-emotional well-being for every teen. Learn more about how Upower coaches build relationships with youth in detention.Continue reading Trauma-informed fitness leads to skill building for youth
The Sharing of Peace
Saroeum Phoung, the consultant who leads the County’s peacemaking training and has been using the peacemaking circle methodology for decades in community building and crime prevention efforts, first in Boston, and now in Seattle.Continue reading The Sharing of Peace
Using restorative justice to help youth in crisis
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
ESPN interviews Seahawk Michael Bennett about juvenile detention gardening program
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
Dramatic drop in juvenile domestic violence case filings follows launch of FIRS program
Within a year of its inception, the impact of a new King County program aimed at reducing further involvement in the juvenile justice system is unprecedented: Compared to the same nine-month period last year, juvenile domestic violence case filings have dropped 62 percent.Continue reading Dramatic drop in juvenile domestic violence case filings follows launch of FIRS program