Washington's Youth Prisons Under Fire | Seattle News

A damning new audit exposes Washington’s youth prison system as dangerously overcrowded, sparking chaos with four times the fights and contraband incidents at Green Hill School. Staff training falls short, fueling unsafe conditions and high turnover—nearly half quit within a year. A 2019 law letting serious juvenile offenders stay until age 25, combined with longer sentences for violent crimes, has locked kids in with no room to breathe. The crisis forced some teens into adult prisons, igniting backlash and lawsuits. Racial disparities and flawed risk assessments further undermine rehabilitation. While officials claim progress and tout new facilities like Harbor Heights and future smaller centers, the core issues—safety, staffing, and systemic design—remain unresolved, demanding holistic reform. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/95c41a634ab9df9f