SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES
What are the alternatives to locking up King County youth?
Apr 2, 2018, 2:59 PM
Protesters block traffic in Seattle in March as they protest a the new King County juvenile detention center. (KIRO 7)
(KIRO 7)
Last month, upset protesters backed traffic up in Seattle.
Protester explains opposition to detention center
What many forgot — or ignored — then was the protesters were raising awareness of a new juvenile detention facility, arguing there are alternatives to locking up our youth.
Back in October, we learned about how Jimmy Hung would prefer many of those beds at the detention center stay empty when the facility is complete. Hung, the chief deputy prosecutor of King County’s juvenile division , believes our current justice system is outdated and restorative service justice programs will lead to a brighter future.
“For a long time we’ve approached juveniles criminal offending like adult criminal offending,” he told KIRO Radio’s Ron and Don. It isn’t so much a criticism of the people working for the system, as the system itself, he says. “It’s a lot of people doing their best using outdated tools.”
Restorative justice, like the peacemaking circles used by some juvenile courts, is an alternative to detention centers. They allow offenders to reflect on what they’ve done, connect with those they hurt, and learn how to give back to the community.
As a system, Hung says stakeholders are confident enough in restorative justice to believe it should continue. Not every child or teen is as responsive, he said.
Of course, it would take time to roll out. In cities like Seattle, the process would need to be fast enough to keep up with the pace of criminal activity.
“If a kid does something wrong, would I put money on restorative justice over the current system? I think the majority of the time I would,” Hung said. “Kids realize their potential, what they’ve done, and go on to do great things.”
It’s not what he sees from the current system.
The new youth detention center at the intersection of Fourth Avenue and James Street is under construction. County voters approved a $210 million levy to replace the current facility in the Central District.
Listen to the entire conversation here.
