Kids carrying guns is a very serious issue that requires a very serious response. That’s what a representative from the King County Prosecutor’s Office testified before the Judiciary Committee earlier this week on a bill that may be a good place to start toward solving this problem.
Currently, the sanctions for a person under 18 years old convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm vary depending on the severity of the offense. It may take multiple offenses for a kid to go through treatment, and up to five convictions before he or she is committed to Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration.
By requiring that most juveniles participate in an evidence-based or research-based program at their first offense, instead of waiting for them to reoffend several times, House Bill 2164 aims to lessen the chance of recidivism.
“I want to make sure we’re intervening as early as we can on these young offenders. There is a percentage that will continue to reoffend and with more serious crimes, let’s ensure we intervene at an earlier point,” said the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Tina Orwall, D-Des Moines. “Part of their disposition would be treatment, and in this state we’re really fortunate because we have some of the most outstanding evidence-based treatment options in the country.”
The programs that qualify under HB 2164 include aggression replacement training, functional family therapy, or any other pertinent evidence or research based program that is also cost-effective.
The measure has wide support, but Orwall and stakeholders are still working on the language to make sure the right kid is in the right program since any one-size treatment can’t fit all offenses.
HB 2164 is scheduled for executive session in the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, January 21 at 1:30 pm in House Hearing Room A.