The proposed bill addresses the urgent issue of overcrowding in state juvenile correctional institutions, which has led to increased violence and drug use among youth, hindering their rehabilitation. It recognizes that young adults may benefit from being transferred to the Department of Corrections, where they can access job programs and education while remaining closer to their families. The bill emphasizes the importance of allowing youth to make decisions regarding their rehabilitation, supported by modern brain science that acknowledges their continued development into adulthood.

To facilitate these transfers, the bill introduces a new section to chapter 13.40 RCW, allowing individuals aged 18 and older in the custody of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families to request a transfer to the Department of Corrections. The process includes a three-day reconsideration period for the transfer request, and mandates that the transfer be completed within ten days after this period. Additionally, the bill stipulates that the hearing requirements typically associated with juvenile transfers do not apply in this case, and it establishes that transferred juvenile offenders cannot remain in the Department of Corrections beyond the maximum term set by the juvenile court. The act is titled the Youth Rehabilitation Pathways Act and is declared necessary for the immediate preservation of public safety, taking effect immediately.