Policy 25 citations
Youth Incarceration Research Compendium
Washington State & National Data
Cody Lestelle 2026-02-11
#incarceration
#youth justice
#WA state
#racial disparity
#alternatives
This is a summary. The full paper is available with complete citations.
Key Findings
Washington State Crisis
- Green Hill School (Chehalis, WA): Target capacity 150, actual population 240 (June 2024) — 60% over capacity
- Both WA juvenile facilities suspended intakes in July 2024 due to overcrowding
- A public defender stated: “No rehabilitation is happening at Green Hill right now.”
- 43 young people transferred from Green Hill to adult Department of Corrections
Racial Disparities
- Black youth: 5× as likely to be incarcerated as White youth in WA
- Indigenous youth: 3× as likely
- Latino youth: 2× as likely
- White youth referred to juvenile court are more likely to receive diversion
National Context
- 31,900 youth confined away from home (2023 one-day count)
- Despite a 70% decline over 25 years, the US still leads the industrialized world
- 72% of youth in “transitional” facilities held longer than 90 days
- 390+ children aged 12 or younger confined
The Alternative
Nature-based education, community programs, and restorative practices show consistent evidence of reducing delinquency. The cost of incarceration vastly exceeds the cost of prevention.
Full document: Read Full Paper
Preliminary Draft — Open for Review
This paper is a preliminary draft and may contain inaccuracies. The open comment period and collaborative public drafting and review is active for Q1 2026.
All papers will receive updated drafts, including co-authors being added based on engagement and participation in our first cohort at skool.com/7abcs.