Latest news with #ClaireWilson
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
No fixes on horizon for crowding crisis in WA's youth prisons
A sign and fence at the Green Hill School for juvenile offenders, in Chehalis, Washington. (Photo by Jake Goldstein-Street/Washington State Standard) Problems with overcrowding have enveloped the Green Hill School juvenile detention center in Chehalis for nearly two years, leading to unsafe conditions for the minors incarcerated there and the staff tasked with overseeing them. But Washington state lawmakers left Olympia last month without making substantial changes to address the crisis. The lack of progress was frustrating for lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. While a new facility opening this year in Aberdeen could offer some relief, the failure to pass significant legislation on the issue means Green Hill is on track to continue housing dozens more people than it is designed to safely hold. State Senate Human Services Committee Chair Claire Wilson, D-Federal Way said she 'really felt disappointed for the young people that we let down.' The crowding at Green Hill comes as juvenile crime has ballooned and state law has transitioned to send young adults convicted of crimes to youth detention instead of adult prison until they turn 25. The facility, along with Echo Glen Children's Center in Snoqualmie, is one of the state Department of Children, Youth and Families' two prisons for juvenile offenders. Last year, the crowding crisis grew to the point that the state agency transferred 43 young men from Green Hill to an adult prison run by the state Department of Corrections and temporarily stopped taking in new people at the facility, a decision that drew staunch criticism and litigation. For months, the population at Green Hill, which houses boys and men ages 17 to 25, has fluctuated between 220 and 240, despite a safe operational capacity of 180. Projections show that number rising another 100 by the end of 2026, according to Department of Children, Youth and Families Secretary Tana Senn. Meanwhile, the agency's assistant secretary for juvenile rehabilitation, Felice Upton, is no longer with the department, as of April 21. The circumstances of her departure were unclear. The agency declined to comment. Upton also previously served as superintendent at Echo Glen. Legislators this year earmarked money for increased security at Green Hill School and for operations at the smaller, new facility set to open next month in Grays Harbor County. Lawmakers considered major policy changes this year to tackle the overcrowding. Two bills focused on different aspects of the issue passed the Senate before stalling in the House. Senate Bill 5278 would have set new guidelines for transferring young people to adult prison or placing them there in the first place if youth facilities are above capacity. Senate Bill 5296, sponsored by Wilson, would have tried to direct more youth away from detention in the first place. The measure would've required judges to specifically find, based on a 'preponderance of the evidence,' that custody in juvenile rehabilitation was necessary because community-based placement would have been inadequate. The bill also would have required court hearings to determine if people in youth prison should remain in custody, and expand eligibility for alternatives to incarceration. 'We seem to be very willing, if you will, to put money into a system to move our young people from JR into DOC, but not at all as willing to think about what it would take to keep young people from coming into the system in the first place,' Wilson said. Wilson pushed to pass the two bills in tandem, as a package. But while Senate Bill 5278, sponsored by Sen. John Braun, D-Centralia, had bipartisan support, the debate over Wilson's proposal was fiercely partisan. Even a handful of House Democrats worried about the more lenient approach her bill offered. In the end, Wilson's legislation collapsed over these concerns, and Braun's bill fell with it. 'There was a well-worked, bipartisan bill with a controversial bill, and to hold that bill hostage because you couldn't get the votes in your own caucus for a controversial bill, it just seems wrong-headed or even mean-spirited, frankly,' said Braun, whose district includes Green Hill. More than two dozen House Democrats were so frustrated Wilson's bill didn't get a vote, they put out a joint statement entitled 'Lessons In Failure.' 'For the young people trapped in a system that prioritizes incarceration over rehabilitation, this is more than a missed opportunity — it's a moral failure,' they wrote. State Rep. Lauren Davis, D-Shoreline, was one of the few in her caucus pushing back on Wilson's bill. She thinks the state needs stronger consequences to deter minors from committing crimes, which often leave their peers as victims. 'I do not believe it is just or compassionate to allow these young people to self-destruct,' she said, noting the bill doesn't expand the community supports needed to help young people diverted away from incarceration. The case of a 17-year-old released from custody by a King County judge despite a criminal history before allegedly killing two teens in March further stoked opposition. Davis said she's 'not sure what part of this is acceptable to anybody, but it should be unacceptable to anybody, and this bill would have fomented more of that.' Davis said her views on public safety have evolved since joining the Legislature in 2019. She's seen policies she supported result in homicides and suicides and doesn't want to repeat those mistakes. Her resistance toward Senate Bill 5296 did not make her popular among her colleagues, she said. Eric Trupin, a University of Washington researcher who for decades has worked with incarcerated youth, lamented the bill's failure. 'I think we had an opportunity to really move our juvenile justice system in a way that would really have improved outcomes for youths,' he said. Still, he said concerns about a lack of services for diverted youth were valid. Meanwhile, Senn said Wilson's bill wouldn't address the existing population concerns at Green Hill. The debate isn't over. The bills will likely be back next year for the 60-day legislative session. 'We've been working on this one for a long time,' Wilson said. 'So it will come back, and hoping that Senator Braun will be responsive to bringing 5278 with it.' The Legislature did make small moves to address juvenile detention needs. Gov. Bob Ferguson signed a bill last month seeking to protect those held in the state's juvenile detention centers from having to spend extra time in custody over 'prison riot' charges. House Bill 1815 also looks to retroactively vacate those convictions. An analysis found most of the prison riot charges statewide were prosecuted in Lewis County, where Green Hill is located. The new law could affect sentences or convictions for half a dozen or so detainees at Green Hill, Senn said. Trupin said the bill is important for those individuals. 'But it's not systems changing like these other two bills were,' he said. The new state budget sets aside $25 million to run the new 48-bed detention center on the grounds of Stafford Creek Corrections Center in Aberdeen, known as Harbor Heights. The facility is set to open in phases beginning in early June, starting with at least eight young men transferring there from Green Hill and filling to capacity by fall. Harbor Heights will serve as a six-month rotation for young men in juvenile detention who qualify for medium security status. While at Harbor Heights, they would build skills and participate in cognitive behavioral therapy to tackle mental health concerns. They'd then return to Green Hill or be released from custody. 'The hope is that young people will see it as an opportunity to expand their own learning and their own growth and their own development' before returning to be mentors at Green Hill, said Wilson. The plan has drawn pushback from critics worried the former Department of Corrections facility will be dehumanizing, but officials have emphasized the Department of Children, Youth and Families will be running it with more services than adult prisons can provide. Green Hill and Echo Glen are getting about $3.5 million each for increased security. 'I don't think it'll hurt,' Braun said. 'We've put a ton of money into Green Hill in the last five years, six years. I think it's helping. I don't think it's solving the problem. Fundamentally, it's just overcrowded. They are not delivering on the promise to give these individuals the types of services they need to get back on track.' Lawmakers also earmarked $3 million for grants to county courts to serve youth in the juvenile justice system. Another $3 million was set aside to scout new medium-security juvenile detention facilities. A top prospect has been the minimum-security Mission Creek Corrections Center for Women in Mason County, which is slated for closure. Any new facility would be at least four years out, Senn said. The budget is still subject to Ferguson's approval this month.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Students' rights bill clears Washington Senate
The Washington state Capitol on March 13, 2025. (Photo by Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard) Following a contentious floor debate, the state Senate approved a bill Friday that would guarantee public school students in Washington certain rights. Senate Democrats pushed the bill through on a party-line vote, 30-19. 'It's important that we ensure every student, and I mean every student, has access to a supportive environment and responsible environments,' said Sen. Claire Wilson, D-Auburn, who is the sponsor of a related Senate bill focused on parental rights. The students' rights bill is among the most divisive of this year's legislative session and is entwined with discussions around gender issues and diversity, equity and inclusion. Democrats say it will provide important safeguards for students and greater clarity with existing law. But republicans contend it will take control away from local school districts and is too punitive toward schools. And they say it weakens parental rights enshrined under a citizen initiative that lawmakers approved last year. 'This bill will erode parents' trust,' said Sen. Nikki Torres, R-Pasco. 'This bill is very disrespectful to parents and to families.' Senate approval takes the legislation one step closer to becoming state law. But because the Senate amended the bill, it must go back to the House before it can reach the governor's desk. When the session began in January, Democratic lawmakers introduced bills in each chamber — House Bill 1296 and Senate Bill 5181 — both of which addressed parental rights, but the House version also included language dealing with students' rights. In March, the House bill was amended in the Senate committee process to only address students' rights, leaving the Senate bill to tackle parents' rights. During Friday's Senate floor action, Republicans introduced seven amendments, including ones to remove parts of the bill establishing a complaint process and allowing the state to withhold funds for noncompliance. GOP lawmakers also tried to scrap an emergency clause that would allow the bill to take effect immediately and shield it from a potential voter referendum. All of the Republican amendments were rejected. 'I'm disappointed that none of the amendments we offered were accepted,' said Senate Minority Leader John Braun, R-Centralia. 'We tried to keep it focused on things that would make it a better bill.' Among the concerns Braun and others raised is that schools could get caught up in situations where federal and state laws conflict. This year's conversations about the rights of public school students and their parents stemmed from Initiative 2081, a citizen initiative that more than 400,000 residents signed onto and that lawmakers passed in the 2024 legislative session. Rep. Monica Stonier, D-Vancouver, said she introduced the House bill to help ensure every student feels comfortable at school and can thrive. 'We have talked for years about how important it is to make sure that every student feels that they're in a school setting where they belong so that they can learn,' Stonier said. The bill outlines a list of nine specific student rights, including the right to receive an education in a safe and supportive learning environment, free of harassment and bullying. It also says students have the right to receive copies of all school policies and procedures related to students and to have access to academic courses and instructional materials with historically and scientifically accurate information. Additionally, the bill makes clear students are free to exercise constitutionally protected rights at school. Schools would have to develop promotional materials that incorporate the statement of student rights and make it available on school websites, social media platforms, and other communication channels. It must be added to civics educational materials as well. The bill also requires that school districts 'immediately' notify parents if a student is a victim of abuse, sexual misconduct, or assault. Setting this standard, rather than requiring notification within 48 hours, was a point of contention earlier in the session. Republicans opposed the 48-hour option, saying it was too long to wait. GOP lawmakers also pushed against including provisions related to gender inclusive policies and procedures at schools. The bill originally included this language, but it was removed by an amendment in the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee. A floor amendment from Sen. T'wina Nobles, D-Fircrest, added language to protect students from discrimination based on ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender expression, and gender identities. The amendment also aims to protect students facing homelessness, those who lack citizenship status, and those who are neurodivergent from discrimination. 'We run public schools that are for the public, for everyone,' Nobles said. 'And while this bill is not just to protect students that identify as LGBTQ, it protects students that have a variety of differences.' The bill would apply to public schools, charter schools and state-tribal education compact schools. It calls for the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop a process to investigate complaints from students, parents, and others alleging that schools are not complying with state laws in areas like civil rights, nondiscrimination, harassment, and the physical restraint or isolation of students. Starting July 1, 2026, the office could investigate 'limited' and 'broad' complaints. A broad complaint is one that involves the entire student body or a subgroup of students. A limited complaint involves one or more individual students. The bill outlines steps that the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction would have to take once it intervenes, with the consequences for school officials and districts becoming more severe in cases where they are found to be willfully flouting state law. As a last resort, the office could withhold up to 20% of a district's state funds and redirect that money toward resolving the issues the state has identified. The bill also stipulates that school districts cannot terminate, demote, suspend, or take any other negative action against a school employee for supporting students exercising their legal rights or for teaching about historically marginalized and underrepresented groups.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
WA Senate passes bill to exclude juvenile facilities from prison riot laws
The Brief The Washington State Senate passed a bill Tuesday morning that excludes juvenile facilities from laws around punishments for prison riots. Supporters of the bill argue current standards around prison riots are unfairly applied to inmates at juvenile facilities, while opponents say it will only enhance dangerous environments. OLYMPIA, Wash. - The Washington State Senate passed a bill Tuesday morning that excludes juvenile facilities from laws around punishments for prison riots. Supporters argue the change is necessary to correct unfair standards, while opponents say the bill threatens safety for kids and staff at already dangerous facilities. Passed on a 27-21 vote, House Bill 1815 excludes juvenile detention facilities operated by counties or the Department of Children Youth and Families from laws around prison riots. Under those laws, if at least two people disturb the order of the facility, they could be charged with a riot and face at least another year behind bars. Additionally, anyone with a prior prison riot offense would be able to petition to have their conviction vacated by a court, and apply for a resentencing if their overall prison term was determined in part by a riot conviction. Supporters of the legislation argued prison riot charges have been disproportionately brought against juveniles, particularly at DCYF's Green Hill School in Lewis County. The facility has recently been under scrutiny for overcrowding, inmate unrest and allegations of staff misconduct. "Charges are often brought against young people getting into fist fights and not stopping the fight when told to do so," said Sen. Claire Wilson, D-Auburn. "They often are brought also against young people who are in the way and get into a fight and are not part of that fight. It is seriously problematic behavior, I will agree with that. But not what most would consider a riot," she added. Instead, Wilson said, riot behavior would be handled by DCYF's internal behavioral management system. Additional charges for bad behavior would be brought based on other specific offenses like assault, arson or escape. All Republicans were joined in opposition to the bill by two Democrats Tuesday, arguing the bill prioritizes offenders rather than facility staff and their safety. "This is sending a message that it's okay to riot in the prison because you'll not be charged with that charge because it'll go away," said Sen. Leonard Christian, R-Spokane Valley. While opponents acknowledged the current prison riot laws may be too harsh, they said the fix is to change the standards, not get rid of them altogether. Senate Minority Leader John Braun, R-Chehalis, spoke out as the Green Hill juvenile facility is in his district. He argued legislative actions around the juvenile rehabilitation system in recent years have created challenges for staff and led to dangerous situations. "It is a very dangerous place for the students and for the staff," he said. "And what this bill will do, meaning well, but what this will do is add more uncertainty and less chance to create a safe environment." Because the Senate made amendments to the bill, it will go back to the House to weigh in on those changes. Once that is resolved, the legislation will be sent to the governor for his consideration. The Source Information in this story Albert James, a television reporter covering state government as part of the Murrow News Fellowship program – a collaborative effort between news outlets statewide and Washington State University. 2 teens accused of ambush-style killing of 18-year-old in Tacoma, WA Trump order opens up all WA national forests for logging Axe-wielding suspect faces multiple charges after arrest in downtown Bremerton Motorcyclist hopes for justice after Snohomish County crash caught on camera Effort to ban flavored tobacco products in WA revived in legislature Seattle man pleads not guilty for child sex abuse material found in dumpsters 77-year-old Seattle man dies after driving off multi-story parking garage To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.
Axios
25-02-2025
- Health
- Axios
Washington lawmakers debate changes to "parents' bill of rights"
Democrats are trying to amend the "parents' bill of rights" Washington's Legislature passed last year, including by removing requirements that parents be notified of medical services their children receive through school. Why it matters: The debate reflects a tug-of-war between the new law that was sought by conservatives last year and the state's long history of letting teens decide their own mental and reproductive health care. Previous Washington laws allowed teenagers to seek outpatient mental health treatment, sexually transmitted disease testing and abortions without requiring parental notification or consent. Catch up quick: Initiative 2081 guaranteed parents of public school children more than a dozen rights, including to inspect their children's school records and receive notice of medical care delivered or arranged for at school. Parts of the measure were on hold until last month, when a King County Superior Court judge dismissed a legal challenge that sought to overturn the initiative. What they're saying: State Sen. Claire Wilson (D-Federal Way) said in a Senate floor speech this month that "redundancies" and "contradictions" exist between I-2081 and other state and federal laws, causing confusion for school districts that are trying to implement the new initiative. Wilson said her proposal, Senate Bill 5181, is a "cleanup bill" that focuses on "protecting the health privacy of students." The measure passed the state Senate this month on a party-line vote and is now before the state House. Both chambers are controlled by Democrats. A separate House proposal would similarly remove I-2081's mandate that parents receive advance notice of medical treatment. The other side: State Rep. Jim Walsh, the state GOP party chair who drafted I-2081, told Axios there's no real conflict in state law. He accused Democrats of trying to overturn the parents' bill of rights by gutting key provisions. Requiring parental notification of medical treatment is "not the same thing" as requiring parental consent, he added. Between the lines: Underlying the parental rights debate are Republicans' concerns that minors could receive gender-affirming care through school without their parents' knowledge. State Rep. Travis Couture (R-Allyn) posted on X that "the definition of 'mental health care' has radically changed" in recent decades. That makes Washington's law allowing minors to seek mental health care without parental consent more problematic today than it was 40 years ago, he argued. "What once meant talk therapy and substance abuse counseling has now expanded to include gender-affirming medical treatments, psychiatric medications, and reproductive services — all without parental involvement," Couture wrote. What's next: Both chambers of the Legislature would need to approve any changes to I-2081 before they could become law. The legislative session is scheduled to run through April 27.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Washington Senate passes changes to parental rights in education
The Brief The Washington State Senate passed a bill making changes to parents' rights in education, passed through the initiative process in 2024. Democrats argued the changes were needed to align the initiative with other statutes, while Republicans saw the changes as a rollback of the law. The amendments, which included removing parental notice of medical services or treatments for their children, were passed on a party-line vote. OLYMPIA, Wash. - The Washington State Senate passed a bill making changes to parents' rights in education, passed through the initiative process in 2024. Democrats argued the changes were needed to align the initiative with other statutes, while Republicans saw the changes as a rollback of the law. Senate Bill 5181 passed on a party-line vote of 30-19 Wednesday afternoon. The bill follows up on Initiative 2081, which passed by a wide bipartisan margin by the legislature last year. The initiative outlined 15 specific rights to parents relating to their child's public school education, including access to student records and the ability to review classroom curriculum. What they're saying "We said from day one, that if it brought confusion and if clarity was needed, that we would return and make changes. and that's what brings us to the floor of the senate here today," said State Senator Claire Wilson (D-Federal Way), prime sponsor of the bill. "It's not a cleanup bill, it's an overhaul bill," said State Sen. Perry Dozier (R-Waitsburg) "What was in there that the parents wanted in 2081, was totally changed." Among the changes proposed in the bill, provisions are removed requiring notice when a child gets non-emergency medical services or treatment at school. Democrats argued it protects the established rights of young people to make their own health care decisions. "That makes updates on protecting the healthy privacy of students, aligning the definition of health records for consistency. And protecting student rights that are given to them already under existing state laws," Wilson said. However, Republicans believed the changes put the state in the middle of the relationship between a parent and a child. Senate Minority Leader John Braun (R-Centralia) said it does not make sense for schools to keep health information from parents who see their children for most of the day. "How can we be so confident that the school districts can take care of this without telling the parents this is going on, enlisting their support, making sure the child has the necessary resources – not just in the classroom, but for the balance of their lives," he said. The bill initially changed standards around immediately notifying parents of when their child is questioned by police, or if their child is the victim of – or perpetrated – a crime. Notifications were required "at the first opportunity, but in all cases within 48 hours" under the first version of the bill. Wilson said the intent of the change was to always give parents prompt information, while recognizing that some situations require a bit of time before notifications can be made. However, the bill was ultimately amended to retain the "immediate" standard. "It is broad enough to allow a teacher to take as little time as necessary to ensure that all of his or her students are safe before providing prompt notification to the parents of an incident involving a specific student," Wilson said. How fast the bill could move through the House is unclear. Speaker Laurie Jinkins (D-Tacoma) previously said there are a lot of House bills her chamber has to get through before considering any legislation from the Senate. Similar legislation in the House includes many of the same provisions, and goes further in outlining the rights of students. Though it still has the 48-hour notification stipulation for parents of children who are victims of crime or questioned by police. That bill is awaiting a vote on the House floor. The Source Information in this story is from Albert James, a television reporter covering state government as part of the Murrow News Fellowship program – a collaborative effort between news outlets statewide and Washington State University. Seattle mom beats 14-year-old son to death, causing over 1K wounds: docs Seattle high school principal on leave after DUI, reckless endangerment arrest First electric fire truck in WA unveiled in Redmond King County Metro purchase of 120 Teslas faces scrutiny as anti-Tesla sentiment in WA grows Could new tariffs cost Washington State $4.1B? What we know To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily Fox Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.
