Compliance Monitoring

Annual Compliance Data Collection

Federal and State Law

The JJDPA and RCW 13.04.116 specify that juveniles accused of a delinquent offense may be held in a secure location, other than juvenile detention, no longer than six hours, pursuant to a lawful detention in the course of an investigation, provided that the confinement is separate from the sight and sound of adult inmates. 

The OJJDP Compliance Guidance Manual states an accused delinquent juvenile can be detained for up to six hours for the purposes of processing, release or transfer to a juvenile facility; and an accused or adjudicated delinquent juvenile could be detained for up to six hours before a court appearance and up to an additional six hours after a court appearance. Under this exception, the juvenile cannot have sight or sound contact with adult inmates during the time the juvenile is in a secure custody status in the adult lockup or jail.

Juveniles held pursuant to a status offense, including those returned on a court order for contempt or a probation violation cannot be held in secure custody for any length of time.

The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) sets forth federal standards to ensure a minimum level of safety and equitable treatment for youth who come into contact with the juvenile justice system.   There are four core requirements:

  1. Deinstitutionalization of Status Offenders (DSO)
  2. Adult Jail and Lock-Up Removal (Jail Removal)
  3. Sight and Sound Separation
  4. Racial and Ethnic Disparities

The Office of Juvenile Justice is the staff agency that supports the WA-PCJJ and is responsible for monitoring all adult jails and lock-ups, juvenile detention centers, and Juvenile Rehabilitation Institutions for compliance with JJDPA and RCW 13.04.116.  The WA-PCJJ administers block grant funds from the federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, U.S. Department of Justice, to the state of Washington. These funds are contingent on compliance with the federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA).

The JJDPA Compliance Manager, Les Liggins, conducts on-site monitoring inspections and provides technical assistance to secure facilities for core requirements compliance.