Advancing Priorities Presentation Series

About

The Policy Reform and Strategy (PReS) Committee hosts a presentation series called “Advancing Priorities”. In these meetings, guest speakers share about new laws and policy changes that match the Council’s goals. The series helps everyone understand important issues, creates a space to learn about policy, and builds stronger partnerships with the community. 

These meetings are open to the public, and PCJJ encourages community partners to join and participate.

Upcoming

Topic: Unpacking Statewide Diversion Research
Date & Time:  Wednesday, Aug. 5 | 1 p.m.- 2:30 p.m. 
REGISTER HERE
Description:  
Join us for an exclusive webinar featuring juvenile diversion researcher Dr. Lindsey Beach from the Washington State Center for Court Research. Dr. Beach will pull back the curtain on her latest statewide study, breaking down the methodology, the legislative intent behind the research, and the real-world stories of the individuals she interviewed.

We will cover:

  • The Inside Story: How the research was conducted and who informed the findings.
  • Key Patterns & Surprises: Uncovering the most compelling themes and unexpected standouts from the data.
  • A Blueprint for change: A close look at the report’s most actionable recommendations and why they matter for the future of our legal system.

The session will wrap up with a live Q&A to ask Dr. Beach questions about the data and its real-world implications.

Past Presentations

View this webinar to learn how new 2026 laws and agency requests could change juvenile sentencing in Washington.

Presentation Recording
Washington State Sentencing Guidelines Commission Slides
King County Department of Public Defense Slides: Individualized Justice for Youth
Department of Children Youth and Families Slides: Relevant Agency Request Legislation & Decision Packages

Featured Presenter: Washington State Minority & Justice Commission Youth Justice Committee

Materials: 

Diversion Presentation Recording
Diversion Presentation Slides

Priority Topics

The Committee is working on presentations  for the following topics:

An Advocate's Guide to Using the Arrest Dashboard and Court Dashboard

The Partnership Council and Office of Juvenile Justice partner with the Washington State Center for Court Research to maintain interactive data dashboards that compare juvenile justice system data across jurisdictions, demographic groups, and over time. The dashboards include data on arrests, referrals, cases, adjudications, and formal diversions; and will be expanded to include detention admission and victim profile data in late 2025. In its most recent Action Plan, the Partnership Council’s Racial and Ethnic Disparities Committee committed to providing dashboard user trainings to community-based organizations, empowering them to use data to raise awareness and advocate for youth through data-informed storytelling.

Eliminating the use of large institutional facilities as the setting for treatment and rehabilitation for youth in Juvenile Rehabilitation was among the top priorities that the Partnership Council identified in its most recent Biennial Report to the Governor and Legislature. The Partnership Council recommended creating a collaborative plan to transition to smaller and more therapeutic facilities. Advancing this effort supports the Partnership Council’s commitment to amplifying the priorities of our youth and young adult partners in JR.

In its most recent Biennial Report to the Governor and Legislature, the Partnership Council recommended several actions to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline while strengthening the career-to-cradle pathway. Among the Council’s recommendations were elimination of exclusionary school discipline (such as suspension and expulsion) and a redesign of disciplinary guidelines. Establishing and expanding the use of restorative justice practices in school discipline is a priority shared by the Council and many of its youth and community partners.

At the direction of the Washington State Legislature, the Partnership Council recently published a report on the Treatment & Protection of Juvenile Records. The Council is committed to advancing the recommendations in this report. This effort is closely connected to core principles and beliefs of the Partnership Council. Protecting juvenile records so that youth have fair and full access to move forward and thrive is critical to upholding these principles.

At the direction of the Washington State Legislature, the Partnership Council recently published a report with recommendations to establish a State-Funded Community Compensation Program that could replace juvenile court-ordered restitution as a more equitable and complete mechanism for victims' compensation.  The Partnership Council is committed to advancing support and restoration for victims. The Council believes that expanded victims’ compensation could mitigate inequities by addressing the financial cost of victimization so that the parties on either side of an act of harm can focus on more meaningful accountability and healing.

The Legislative Committee invites suggestions for additional topics and presenters. Please contact Office of Juvenile Justice staff with ideas for the Committee to consider.