Juvenile Probation and Parole

Washington’s Department of Social and Health Services, Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration, Community Programs within the Executive Branch of state government, is responsible for community facilities, juvenile parole, community-based placement contracts, diagnostic services, and Consolidated Contract services with Juvenile Courts.

Juvenile parole officers do not carry a firearm. They are classified as peace officers and do have the power to arrest or take juveniles into custody.

Department of Social and Health Services policy does not permit employees to carry or possess firearms on state property.

At the time of the survey, it was not under consideration to allow the officers to carry a firearm.

There are no private companies providing juvenile aftercare supervision.

Adult Probation and Parole

In Washington, the Department of Corrections (DOC), Community Corrections Division is responsible for the supervision of adult felony probationers, parolees, interstate cases, and cases supervised under the provision of the Sentencing Reform Act (SRA), which was enacted into law on July 1, 1984, for felony level crimes. Cases sentenced under SRA are Determinate Sentences and are referred to as “Community Supervision” when sentenced by the courts to supervision in the community. When convicted felons are released from prison after serving their sentences and are ordered to be supervised, they are referred to as “Community Custody”. DOC provides community supervision to felony and Gross Misdemeanor cases sentenced by the state’s superior courts only. Misdemeanant cases sentenced to probation by the lower level district courts are supervised in their perspective counties by the local county government. Some municipalities in Washington State also operate probation offices. These cases fall under the jurisdiction of the local municipal city government.

Arming of State Community Corrections Officers (CCOs) is limited to field officers and is optional. They are not classified as peace officers. They can arrest and often exercise that authority. Washington’s firearm policy was instituted in 1997 at the request of the union. Officers are required to undergo psychological testing prior to being allowed to carry a firearm.

CCOs are required to proficiently complete training prior to being allowed to carry a firearm. Only those who carry a firearm are required to take the training. Education and re-qualification is required twice a year and is provided by the state.

Field officers are required to carry a 9mm that is provided by the state.

There are no private companies providing adult probation or parole supervision services, however, electronic monitoring is contracted out to private companies.

For updates or corrections to the information on this page, please contact: Diane Kincaid