Ending Youth Detention
Supporting the decommissioning of King County’s youth detention center by 2025.
Strengthening community-based alternatives to youth incarceration through relationship-building.
In 2020, King County Executive, Dow Constantine, announced that the county’s detention center would close by 2025. This is a challenging goal that requires shared commitment, hard work, and sound strategy. Success in the decommissioning project may have echoing implications across Washington, and beyond.
AHSHAY has aimed to create connections in this work through building meaningful relationships. We have also sought to promote community voices and strengthen community-based alternatives to youth incarceration.
AHSHAY is part of advisory committees and workgroups. We work closely with the county’s Children and Youth Advisory Board. The AHSHAY team has also tapped into our epidemiological expertise. This perspective helps us understand the landscape of existing community-based resources. It also prompts ideas for how we can support the foundations of health, wellness, and joy in King County.
Project Goals
Collaborative Planning
Commitments from a diverse range of partners to plan the decommissioning of King County’s detention center.
Strengthen Community-Based Approaches
Listen to and promote community voices, build relationships, and support community-based proven alternatives to youth incarceration.
Visioning the Path Forward
Sharing ideas and providing recommendations for alternate uses for the detention center building.