On October 17, a diverse group of stakeholders convened at the Smart on Youth Justice Conference to share their perspectives on how to improve outcomes for youth who are sentenced to the adult criminal justice system and who are currently serving sentences in juvenile or adult facilities. Legislators, judges, prosecutors, public defenders, child and family service professionals, social justice leaders, academics, youth and family members with experiences in the system advocated for reform. They heard and participated in dialogues related to adolescent brain development, racial disproportionality, effective rehabilitation and community safety.

The conference garnered support for a greater emphasis on evidence-based and humane juvenile justice policies. Among them, an expansion of programs and opportunities for rehabilitation, education and vocational achievement for youth in state correctional facilities. The Smart on Youth Justice Initiative will continue to strive for legislative changes regarding raising the age of youth managed in the juvenile rehabilitation system to age 25, initiating a review of crime categories that automatically send juvenile offenders to adult jurisdiction, and expanding judicial discretion to how youth are sentenced.

The Smart on Youth Justice Conference was sponsored by the Washington Partnership Council on Juvenile Justice, was hosted by the Division of Public Behavioral Health and Justice Policy at the University of Washington, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the Center for Child & Youth Justice.