"Our job is to listen." That is how Upower coaches describe their role in offering fitness classes at the King County Juvenile Detention Center. Upower offers trauma-informed fitness and wellness classes at no cost to teens in King County. Their classes are fun, safe and open to all fitness levels. Upower's trauma-informed fitness program means … Continue reading Trauma-informed fitness leads to skill building for youth
The Sharing of Peace
How peacemaking circles are changing King County’s juvenile justice system and staff from the inside out “For me, I went to my intro to peacemaking about a year after my father had passed away. And I was close to last on sharing our object, and I had brought a picture of him and me from … 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. He has a passion for helping youth in crisis, and he's been instrumental in bringing restorative justice practices to this work. Via King County TV, learn more about Jimmy Hung and how he's … Continue reading Using restorative justice to help youth in crisis
ESPN interviews Seahawk Michael Bennett about juvenile detention gardening program
The project represents a unique partnership between the Bennett Foundation, King County, Interagency Academy (Seattle Public Schools), the King County Juvenile Detention, and community volunteers. The food in the garden will be planted, maintained, and harvested by students, and will be used in the kitchen to feed the very students who grew the food. Michael … 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
Compared to the same nine-month period last year, juvenile domestic violence case filings have dropped 62% since the Family Intervention and Restorative Services (FIRS) program launched in January 2016. 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 … Continue reading Dramatic drop in juvenile domestic violence case filings follows launch of FIRS program
Peacemaking circle pilot shows new path for juvenile justice
King County Juvenile Court and the Prosecuting Attorney's Office tried its first felony case through a peacemaking circle, which incorporated victim advocates, mentors, family members and community leaders through months of what became a transformative mediation. A moderator who led a peacemaking circle movement in Boston is growing the practice here in King County. A … Continue reading Peacemaking circle pilot shows new path for juvenile justice
New restorative services center for youth offers alternative to detention
Youth involved in domestic violence incidents now have an alternative to detention that offers them a chance to cool off before engaging in counseling services with their families: The Family Intervention and Restorative Services (FIRS) Center. Youth and juvenile justice reform advocates celebrated the opening of a new alternative to detention this month with the … Continue reading New restorative services center for youth offers alternative to detention
New domestic-violence intervention reduces juvenile detention stays
Before the Family Intervention and Restorative Services (FIRS) program launched this year, the King County Prosecuting Attorney Office's options for helping families coping with domestic violence were too limited. About a third of juvenile detention bookings in recent years have involved youth committing violence against a family member. In addition to having a detention stay, … Continue reading New domestic-violence intervention reduces juvenile detention stays
