What legislation is in place to protect juveniles involved in the court system?

In Washington, the Juvenile Justice Act of 1977 serves as the fundamental legislation protecting juveniles involved in the court system. This act was designed to keep young people out of adult prisons by ensuring that the court system maintains a juvenile’s best interests in mind throughout their proceedings. The legislation also requires that judges consider a juvenile’s age, mental and physical health, and other individual circumstances before handing down a sentence. Formal court proceedings for juvenile cases must also be conducted in private. The state also mandates a number of additional protections for juveniles, including an obligation for law enforcement to: transport juveniles to court in a manner appropriate to their age, provide a lawyer before questioning them, and offer juveniles an opportunity to inform a parent or guardian before questioning. In addition, Washington law limits the types of information that can be released about a juvenile after court proceedings. Media outlets are not allowed to disclose the name, age, or photographs of the juvenile, no matter what their conviction was. The law also prohibits juveniles from being held in adult jails or prisons. Finally, the Washington Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration provides rehabilitation programs for juvenile delinquents that are designed to provide tools and resources to help young people rebuild their lives. These resources include mental health and substance abuse treatment, job skills training, and educational programs.

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What legislation is in place to protect juveniles involved in the court system?

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