KING COUNTY, Wash. — A motion opposing the closure of King County's youth detention center is moving forward.
King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn filed the motion against the county's Care and Closure initiative. The initiative would close the Judge Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center.
It comes as the number of violent felonies committed by kids and teenagers rose 57% last year. King County prosecutors are opposed to the initiative.
"In 2024, unfortunately, we have kids that are out there shooting each other and sometimes killing people – and I think we need a facility to give them a time out, if you will, and figure out what's going on before we can safely reintroduce them to the community," said Jimmy Hung, the county's chief deputy prosecutor of the Juvenile Division.
King County Council's Law and Justice Committee voted Wednesday to send the measure to keep the detention center open to the full council.
Chair of the Law and Justice Committee Councilmember Claudia Balducci said the problem of youth crime needs to be addressed with a "yes and" approach.
"We need to support King County’s youth with robust programs and services to improve outcomes and we also need secure detention for youth in crisis or who have harmed others and pose a threat to public safety," Balducci said.
King County Councilmember Jorge L. Barón voted to advance the motion but argued, "We cannot continue doing the same thing and expect different results."
"My vote today to advance this motion is not a signal of my support for the indefinite use of secure detention for youth as it exists today, but reflects my support for full council consideration of this issue," Barón said.
A spokesperson with the King County Executive's Office said the county needs to do better for the youth who "are caught up in a grossly racially disproportionate system." The spokesperson called for demonstrated alternatives to the juvenile detention facility before the existing facility can be replaced.