In 1994, King County Superior Court organized its Task Force on Unified Family Court, reviewing jurisdictional programs nation-wide to find an ideal model. Completion of an initial plan and implementation proposal is scheduled for late 1996. Alternatives to detention A shortage of juvenile detention space was a continuing concern for courts in '95. Nationally, statistics show the number of detainees between the ages of 14 and 17 will have swelled 14 percent by 2005. In Washington, only 18 of the state's 39 counties have dedicated juvenile facilities.
Few beds are available for runaways and youthful offenders.
But in '94 and '95, facilities were expanded in Clallam, Whatcom, and Yakima Counties. County facilities are also set for Snohomish, Clark and Chelan Counties, and a regional detention center will be built in Spokane County. Meanwhile, Washington courts are exploring innovative alternatives to detention, including electronic home-monitoring, early intervention, weekend schooling, day reporting centers, and community service work crews. Now, upwards of 1,500 individuals visit the page each month for a variety of general and specific information that helps them understand and deal with the court system. If your computer is sound-equipped, you can hear Supreme Court arguments by accessing the home page of TVW, the cable network that broadcasts public affairs programming statewide.