Washington bill could allow juvenile killers to seek early release from prison
Mar 5, 2025, 5:00 PM | Updated: 5:54 pm
The Washington State Capitol in Olympia, WA. (Photo: Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest)
(Photo: Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest)
A new bill making its way through the Washington State Senate is drawing attention for its controversial provision that could allow individuals convicted of two murders before the age of 18 to petition for early release from prison.
Senate Bill 5266, known as the “Youth Hope Act,” is designed to give young offenders the opportunity to seek a second chance outside of prison by applying for early release once they reach 24 years old.
Currently, individuals convicted of serious crimes as juveniles can petition the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board (ISRB) for parole after serving 20 years in prison. However, Senate Bill 5266 would change that by lowering the age to 24 for a board review. There’s still no guarantee that a convicted murderer would be released; that decision would be left to the board.
The reason for early release
At the heart of the bill is the belief that young people, especially those under the age of 25, should be given a chance to prove they’ve changed. State Senator Noel Frame (D-Seattle), a key sponsor of the bill, passionately argued for the opportunity of rehabilitation during the bill’s public hearing last month.
“The question is simple,” she said. “Why would we make a young person wait 20 years when they’ve done everything we’ve asked them to do? When they’ve taken accountability for their actions and worked hard to better themselves through education and vocational training?”
“These young people want a chance to prove themselves,” she added. “This isn’t about guaranteeing early release; it’s about giving them hope. Hope is what’s going to motivate them to stay on the right path during a period of brain development known as neuroplasticity, when they need to build good habits and become productive members of society.”
An aggravated first-degree murder conviction is the one crime that would be excluded from consideration, and anyone convicted of more than three murders would not be eligible. And they must not have committed any crime 12 months prior to asking for an early release.
The bill also limits the number of cases that the ISRB can review each year, capping the number at 35 petitions annually. Supporters of the bill say this cap ensures the ISRB can prioritize the most serious cases and individuals who have served the longest sentences.
More from MyNorthwest: Washington joins lawsuit to help roughly 1,000 local federal workers from mass firings by Trump
The severity of the crime should be considered
Critics, however, have expressed concerns that the bill’s provisions could undermine public safety, especially for the families of victims. Opponents like Russell Brown, the Executive Director of the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, argue that granting early release to someone who has committed multiple murders sends the wrong message about the severity of their crimes.
“The harm caused by serious crimes like first-degree murder is significant and should not be minimized,” Brown said during his testimony. “A review for early release after just a few years of incarceration doesn’t fully account for the severity of the crime or the lasting impact on the victim’s family and the community.”
He stressed that while rehabilitation is important, punishment must be commensurate with the crime and its impact.
“We believe that reviewing early release for individuals convicted of murder — especially after just a few years — fails to recognize the harm done and could send the wrong message to society,” he stated.
Brown added that when someone is sentenced, the victim is told how long the offender will be confined. Allowing a person to petition for a hearing with a presumptive release, he argues, is unfair to the victim.
One of the most discussed aspects of the bill is the inclusion of housing assistance for those granted early release. If an offender is released, they would be eligible to receive housing vouchers through the Department of Corrections. Supporters argue that this is essential to ensuring individuals have a stable place to live, which could help reduce the likelihood of re-offending.
The bill has passed the Senate Human Services Committee and the Ways and Means Committee and is now up for a potential floor vote by the full Senate.
More from MyNorthwest: Are hiking, camping and fishing trips about to get more expensive in Washington?
Matt Markovich is the KIRO Newsradio political analyst. Follow him on X.
