During the 2020 Legislative Session, Second Substitute House Bill 2277 Concerning Youth Solitary Confinement was passed. Beginning June 11, 2020, separating youth and confining them as a punishment or retaliation is prohibited. In recognition of the potential harm caused by prolonged confinement and the demonstrated ineffectiveness for reducing behavioral incidents, the bill further defined the limited instances when room confinement and isolation can be used. The model policy is intended to provide additional guidance on how to use room confinement or isolation in a way that advances the rehabilitative goals of the juvenile justice system in Washington State, and that it is not used as a punitive measure. Mason County has chosen to adopt the Model Policy for Reducing Confinement and Isolation in Juvenile Facilities.

RCW 13.22.050 requires that counties operating a detention facility must compile and report on their website data related to the room confinement and solitary confinement of youth in their custody.

RCW 13.22.060 also requires that confinement data be reported to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families.

Mason County Juvenile Court Services is committed to providing a therapeutic, safe, and secure detention environment. The attached information completes our obligation to report and post its confinement and isolation data on our website.

• Model Policy for reducing confinement and isolation in juvenile facilties

• 2023 Confinement and Isolation Report