Start a prison riot? Juveniles can’t be charged with igniting mass violence

A deeply partisan bill that aims to roll back harsh “prison riot” charges against juvenile offenders has now passed both chambers of the Washington State Legislature.

The Senate approved House Bill 1815 on Tuesday with a 27-21 vote and one senator excused. Two Democrats broke ranks to join all Republicans in opposing the bill, which has become a lightning rod in the debate over how to handle youth in custody.

The House previously passed the bill on March 12 with a 64-33 vote, also with one member excused. Three Republicans crossed the aisle to support the bill alongside all House Democrats.

The legislation now heads back to the House for concurrence on a few minor amendments before landing on Governor Bob Ferguson’s desk.

What does the bill actually do?

At its core, HB 1815 draws a clear line between adult prisons and juvenile detention centers. It changes state law so that facilities run by the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) or county juvenile jails are no longer classified as “correctional institutions” when it comes to prison riot charges.

Why does that matter? Because under current law, even a scuffle between two teens in juvenile lockup can lead to a prison riot charge—a Class B felony that can result in up to 10 years in adult prison.

If the bill becomes law, anyone previously charged with a prison riot offense while in a juvenile facility would be able to:

• Ask a judge to vacate (erase) the conviction or adjudication from their record.
• Seek resentencing if that charge was used to increase their punishment.
• And, going forward, have such incidents handled internally by DCYF as behavioral infractions, not felony crimes.

From riot to rehab

Supporters say it’s high time Washington stopped treating juvenile detention centers like maximum-security prisons.

Senator Claire Wilson (D-Auburn) spoke in favor of the bill before the Senate vote, arguing that juveniles involved in fights or disturbances in youth facilities can still be held accountable—just not under riot laws.

“There are consequences for bad behavior,” Wilson said. “But instead of facing a prison riot charge, juveniles would be charged with more specific crimes, like custodial assaul—a Class C felony—or assault in the first degree, which is a Class A felony.”

Other serious offenses, like arson or escape, can still be charged when appropriate.

The debate has largely centered around Green Hill School in Lewis County—the only youth facility in Washington that still regularly charges teens with prison riot offenses. In some cases, those charges stemmed from fights between just two teens. No planning. No group effort. Just a fistfight, and suddenly they’re branded “rioters.”

Washington is one of only a handful of states that allows riot charges with fewer than three people involved and no requirement that they acted together.

The pushback

But not everyone’s on board. Opponents argue the bill goes too far and risks letting serious misconduct slide.

“Just last week, there were charges for a 25-person riot at Green Hill,” said Senate Minority Leader John Braun (R-Centralia), whose district includes the facility. “While I’d agree that three people might just be a fight, 25 people involved in malicious activity could reasonably be considered a riot.”

Critics also point to the retroactive part of the bill, which allows people to go back and ask the courts to erase past charges, as a potential mess for the legal system.

“This bill sends a very clear message that the inmates are more important than the staff tasked with taking care of them,” Senator Leonard Christian (R-Spokane Valley) said. “When inmates work together to cause a riot in a facility, there needs to be a charge available for that.”

Matt Markovich is the KIRO Newsradio political analyst. Follow him on X.

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