WA SB5296

Courts must make an independent finding, supported by preponderance of evidence, that commitment to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families is needed for confinement over 30 days because community-based placement would not adequately protect the community; courts must consider offense severity, criminal history, treatment needs, and juvenile characteristics

Expands eligibility for substance use disorder/mental health disposition alternatives and suspended disposition alternatives to juveniles who have not committed offenses listed in RCW 13.04.030(1)(e)(v), removing previous restrictions based on offense categories

Requires juvenile courts to conduct review hearings at the mid-point of minimum sentence range (no earlier than 4 months served), with option to release juveniles to community supervision unless court finds continued commitment necessary for public safety

Requires the Department to establish contracts with at least four juvenile court administrators, including one east of the Cascade mountains, for confinement of youth with terms less than 90 days in local juvenile facilities

Prioritizes release date setting based on juvenile behavior under an internal behavioral management infraction system, and requires prosecutors to provide victims at least two weeks notice before review hearings if requested