Skip to main content

Juvenile Detention Intake Criteria

Learn more about the reasons youth can be held in Juvenile Detention.

Youth under the age of 8 years cannot be found guilty of offenses under RCW 9A.04.050 and will not be detained.

For alleged new offenses

Screen and Release

Screen and Release was implemented to reduce the number of youth in detention.

Some youth are brought to detention for offenses that are eligible to be “screened and released.” A judge reads all the information about the arrest, even if it is after court operating hours (evenings or weekends). It is used from 8 am to 8 pm, 7 days a week. The judge decides to release the youth into their guardian’s custody or place them in detention.

Screen and Release occurs when either: 

  1. The Detention Risk Assessment Instrument (DRAI) score indicates Screen & Release OR
  2. The DRAI does not indicate Screen and Release, but the youth is presented on one of the following offenses:
    • Assault 2 or 3
    • Burglary 2
    • Driving while Under the Influence (DWI) – Juvenile 

       The youth must have a prior DWI conviction to meet the criteria (RCW 10.31.100(16)).

    • Escape 1, 2, 3 or Attempted
    • Eluding Pursuit of Police Vehicle
    • Explosive-Endangering Property
    • Explosive Unlawful Possession - Attempted
    • Failure to Register As Sex Offender (Felony)
    • Firearm Possession - Attempted
    • Harassment - Felony
    • Motor Vehicle - Theft
    • Residential Burglary
    • Possession of a Stolen Vehicle
    • Robbery 2
    • Taking of a Motor Vehicle 1 or Attempted
    • Violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act (VUSCA) Narcotics Delivery
    • VUSCA Narcotics Delivery - Attempted, Conspiracy, or With Intent to Deliver
    • VUSCA Narcotics Delivery - Meth
    • Violation of Uniform Firearms Act (VUFA) 2 - Attempted
    • Weapon Display
    • Weapon At School

Youth not eligible for Screen and Release who meet the following criteria are detained until a judge reviews their case:

  1. Offenses listed in Addendum 1.
  2. Any offense involving possession of a firearm.
  3. Any assault on a school staff person, administrator, or teacher.

In cases involving Juvenile Domestic Violence

  1. Any person under the age of 18 years presented for assaulting a family or household member as defined in RCW 10.99.020 (more in Addendum 2) is detained for judicial review or, if eligible, admitted into the Family Intervention and Restorative Services (FIRS) Center.
  2. Youth 12 years or older who are presented on a domestic violence charge as defined in RCW 10.99.020 (more in Addendum 2) are detained for judicial review or screened for placement into the FIRS Center.

Warrants

Youth presented on the following active warrants will be detained for judicial review: 

  1. Any warrant issued for an Addendum 1 offense 
  2. Violation of Conditions of Release, Material Witness, or Probable Cause warrants.
  3. Warrants issued for At-Risk Youth, Child in Need of Services (CHINS), Truancy, or Dependency cases.
  4. Out of Jurisdiction, Parole, Federal Detainer or Municipal/District Court warrant.

Other Criteria

Youth who meet the following criteria will be detained for judicial review or transport:

  1. Administrative Holds for court from Juvenile Rehabilitation (JR) in transit, parole hold/revocation, or from other jurisdictions

  2. When the identification of a youth is uncertain, not verifiable by a parent or guardian, and the youth cannot or will not give current information regarding name and age

Detain Override

A youth who does not meet any criteria above may be detained for judicial review if:

 

  1. The youth is likely to interfere with administration of justice
    • The youth has demonstrated a serious intent to intimidate witnesses or others involved with pending matter.
    • There is reason to believe that the youth is likely to destroy evidence and the opportunity exists to do so.                                       
  1. The youth is a danger to themselves
    • When there is reason to believe that a youth is a danger to self for mental health and/or substance abuse reasons, and does not fit other detention criteria, a mental health professional or recognized expert in the appropriate area is to be called immediately for an evaluation. The youth will be released to other resources as soon as possible, or when the condition is no longer present.
  2. There is a fear of harm
    • Upon a finding that members of the community have threatened the health of a youth taken into custody, at the youth’s request the youth may be detained pending further order of the court. 
    • The youth’s behavior demonstrates imminent threat to other person(s) and/or the youth is involved in a volatile and escalating situation that is likely to result in physical harm to other person(s) or significant damage to property.

An override may not be considered solely on the youth’s likelihood for failure to appear. 

When an override to detain a youth who does not meet the Detention Intake Criteria is requested, specific circumstances must be cited that directly support the reason for the override.

Addendum 1 - Detainable Offenses

Youth presented to detention on the following charges will be detained for judicial review:

 *Second DWI meets the Alleged New Offense detention intake criteria. The youth must have a prior DWI conviction to meet the criteria (RCW 10.31.100(16)).


NCIC

MATTER

GRADE

2000

ARSON 1

A

2005

ARSON 1 - ATT

B+

2001

ARSON 2

B

1311

ASSAULT 1

A

1305

ASSAULT 1 - ATT

B+

1312

ASSAULT 2

B+

1313

ASSAULT 3

C+

5215

BOMB THREATS

B

2202

BURGLARY 1

B+

2203

BURGLARY 1 - ATT

C+

2204?

BURGLARY 2

B

2216

BURGLARY-RES

B

1121

CHILD MOLEST 1

B+

1125

CHILD MOLEST 1 - ATT

C+

1120

CHILD MOLEST 1-7/97

A-

1119

CHILD MOLEST 1-ATT 7/97

B+

1124

CHILD MOLEST 6/98

B

1122

CHILD MOLEST 2

C+

1126

CHILD MOLEST 2 - ATT

C

1127

CHILD MOLEST 2-ATT 7/97

C+

4020

COMN W/MNR IMORL PUR

D

4021

COMN W/MNR IMORL-PRIOR

C

0500

CONSPIRACY-A FELONY

B+

6225

CRUELTY ANIMALS 1

(after 7/04)

B

5400

DWI – JUVENILE*

E

5353

DRIVE BY SHOOTING

B+

5354

DRIVE BY SHOOTING - ATT

C+

5408

ELUD PURS POLICE VEH

C

4901

ESCAPE 1

C

4905

ESCAPE 1 - ATT

C

4902

ESCAPE 2

C

4914

ESCAPE 2 - ATT

C

4903

ESCAPE 3

D

4917

ESCAPE 3-ATT

E

2015

EXPLOSIVE DEV-ATT

B

2014

EXPLOSIVE DEV-POSS

A

2017

EXPLOSIVE UNLAWFUL POSS

C

2018

EXPLOSIVE UNLAWFUL POSS - ATT

D

2027

EXPLOSIVE-ENDANGER PROP

C

NCIC

MATTER

GRADE

1135

FAIL REGISTER AS SEX OFFENDER (FELONY)

C

1136

FAIL REGISTER AS SEX OFFENDER

D

5213

FIREARM - DELIVER

C

5219

FIREARM-POSS STOLEN

B

5214

FIREARM-POSS-ATT

D

5216

FIREARM-THEFT

B

5209

FIREARM-THEFT-ATT

C

1325

HARASSMENT - FELONY

C

3511

HOMICIDE BY CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE

B

2012

INCENDIARY DEV-ATT

B

2010

INCENDIARY DEV-POSS

A

1141

INCEST 1

B

1142

INCEST 2

C

3600

INDECENT LIBERTIES

B+

3602

INDECENT LIBERTIES-ATT

C+

5011

INTIMIDATE WITNESS

B+

1000

KIDNAP 1

A

1003

KIDNAP 1 - ATT

B+

1001

KIDNAP 2

B+

1002

KIDNAP 2 - ATT

C+

0902

MANSLAUGHTER 1-RECKLESS

B+

0905

MANSLAUGHTER 1-ATT

C+

0904

MANSLAUGHTER 2-NEGLIGENT

C+

0906

MANSLAUGHTER 2-ATT

D+

2404

MOTOR VEH - THEFT

B

0900

MURDER 1

A+

0920

MURDER 1 - ATT

A

0901

MURDER 2

A+

0921

MURDER 2 - ATT

B+

0903

NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE

B+

NCIC

MATTER

GRADE

2810

POSS STOL VEHICLE

B

4000

PROM PROSTITUTION 1

B+

4003

PROM PROSTITUTION 1-ATT

C+

4005

PROM PROSTITUTION 2

C+

4006

PROM PROSTITUTION 2-ATT

D+

1101

RAPE 1

A

1106

RAPE 1 - ATT

B+

1102

RAPE 2

A-

1107

RAPE 2 - ATT

B+

1103

RAPE 3

C+

1115

RAPE 3-ATT

D+

1111

RAPE OF CHILD 1

A-

1116

RAPE OF CHILD 1-ATT

B+

1112

RAPE OF CHILD 2

B

1114

RAPE OF CHILD 2 (AFTER 7/98)

B+

1117

RAPE OF CHILD 2-ATT

C+

1200

ROBBERY 1

A

1202

ROBBERY 1 - ATT

B+

1210

ROBBERY 1-CONSPIRACY

B

1201

ROBBERY 2

B+

4010

SEXUAL EXPLOIT MINOR

B

2410

THEFT OF A MOTOR VEHICHLE 1 – 7/07

B

2411

THEFT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE 1 ATT – 7/07

C

2402

TMV 1

C

5324

UNLAWFUL IMPRISON

C+

1323

VEHICULAR ASSAULT

C

0909

VEHICULAR HOMICIDE

B+

5039

VIOLATE PROT ORDER

D

5035

VIOLATE ANTI-HARASS ORDER

D

5040

VIOLATE PROT ORDER-FELONY

C

3575

VUCSA/METH DELIVERY

B+

3506

VUCSA/NARC DEL-CONSPIRACY

B+

3587

VUCSA/NARC W/INTENT

B+

3500

VUCSA/NARCOTIC DELIVERY

B+

3510

VUCSA/NARCOTIC DELIVERY ATT

B+

5212

VUFA 1- ATT

C

5218

VUFA 1-FIREARM-PRIOR

B

5211

VUFA 2 - ATT

C

5210

VUFA 2-FIREARM

C

5230

WEAPON AT SCHOOL

D

5205

WEAPON-DISPLAY

D

Addendum 2: Domestic violence

RCW 10.31.100 Arrest without warrant (excerpt)

A police officer having probable cause to believe that a person has committed or is committing a felony shall have the authority to arrest the person without a warrant. A police officer may arrest a person without a warrant for committing a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor only when the offense is committed in the presence of an officer, except as provided in subsections (1) through (11) of this section.

(1) Any police officer having probable cause to believe that a person has committed or is committing a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor, involving physical harm or threats of harm to any person or property or the unlawful taking of property or involving the use or possession of cannabis, or involving the acquisition, possession, or consumption of alcohol by a person under the age of twenty-one years under RCW 66.44.270, or involving criminal trespass under RCW 9A.52.070 or 9A.52.080, shall have the authority to arrest the person.

RCW 10.99.020 Definitions (excerpt)

(3) "Family or household members" means spouses, former spouses, persons who have a child in common regardless of whether they have been married or have lived together at any time, adult persons related by blood or marriage, adult persons who are presently residing together or who have resided together in the past, persons sixteen years of age or older who are presently residing together or who have resided together in the past and who have or have had a dating relationship, persons sixteen years of age or older with whom a person sixteen years of age or older has or has had a dating relationship, and persons who have a biological or legal parent-child relationship, including stepparents and stepchildren and grandparents and grandchildren.

(5) "Domestic violence" includes but is not limited to any of the following crimes when committed by one family or household member against another:

expand_less