MANAGEMENT OF DETENTION FACILITIES — COUNTIES WITH POPULATIONS OF ONE MILLION OR MORE

RCW 13.20
in effect

RCW 13.20.010 Board of managers — Appointment authorized — Composition.

The judges of the superior court of any county with a population of one million or more are hereby authorized, by majority vote, to appoint a board of managers to administer, subject to the approval and authority of such superior court, the probation and detention services for dependent and delinquent children coming under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court. Such board shall consist of four citizens of the county and the judge who has been selected to preside over the juvenile court. The judges of the superior court of any county with a population of one million or more are hereby authorized, by majority vote, to appoint a board of managers to administer, subject to the approval and authority of such superior court, the probation and detention services for dependent and delinquent children coming under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court. Such board shall consist of four citizens of the county and the judge who has been selected to preside over the juvenile court.

RCW 13.20.020 Terms of office — Removal — Vacancies.

The nonjudicial members of the board first appointed shall be appointed for the respective terms of one, two, three, and four years and until their successors are appointed and qualified; and thereafter their successors shall be appointed for terms of four years and until their successors are appointed and qualified. Any such member of the board may be removed at any time by majority vote of the judges of the superior court. Vacancies on the board may be filled at any time by majority vote of said judges, and such appointee shall hold office for the remainder of the term of the member in whose stead he or she was appointed. The nonjudicial members of the board first appointed shall be appointed for the respective terms of one, two, three, and four years and until their successors are appointed and qualified; and thereafter their successors shall be appointed for terms of four years and until their successors are appointed and qualified. Any such member of the board may be removed at any time by majority vote of the judges of the superior court. Vacancies on the board may be filled at any time by majority vote of said judges, and such appointee shall hold office for the remainder of the term of the member in whose stead he or she was appointed.

RCW 13.20.030 Chair — Quorum — Organization — Rules of procedure.

The judicial member of the board shall be the chair thereof; a majority thereof shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; and the board shall have authority to organize itself in such manner and to establish such rules of procedure as it deems proper for the performance of its duties. The judicial member of the board shall be the chair thereof; a majority thereof shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; and the board shall have authority to organize itself in such manner and to establish such rules of procedure as it deems proper for the performance of its duties.

RCW 13.20.040 Powers and duties of board.

The juvenile court board of managers shall: (1) Have general supervision and care of all physical structures and grounds connected with the rendition of probation and detention services and power to do everything necessary to the proper maintenance thereof within the limits of the appropriations authorized. (2) Subject to the approval and authority of said superior court, the board of managers shall have authority and power to determine the type and extent of probation and detention services to be conducted in connection with the juvenile court, and authority over all matters concerning employment, job classifications, salary scales, qualifications, and number of personnel necessarily involved in the rendition of probation and detention services. (3) Prepare, in accordance with the provisions of the county budget law, and file with the county auditor a detailed and itemized estimate, both of probable revenues from sources other than taxation and of all expenditures required for the rendition of the services under the jurisdiction of said board. (4) Prepare and file with the superior court on July 1st of each year, and at such other times and in such form as the court shall require, a report of its operations. The juvenile court board of managers shall: (1) Have general supervision and care of all physical structures and grounds connected with the rendition of probation and detention services and power to do everything necessary to the proper maintenance thereof within the limits of the appropriations authorized. (2) Subject to the approval and authority of said superior court, the board of managers shall have authority and power to determine the type and extent of probation and detention services to be conducted in connection with the juvenile court, and authority over all matters concerning employment, job classifications, salary scales, qualifications, and number of personnel necessarily involved in the rendition of probation and detention services. (3) Prepare, in accordance with the provisions of the county budget law, and file with the county auditor a detailed and itemized estimate, both of probable revenues from sources other than taxation and of all expenditures required for the rendition of the services under the jurisdiction of said board. (4) Prepare and file with the superior court on July 1st of each year, and at such other times and in such form as the court shall require, a report of its operations.

RCW 13.20.050 Compensation of members.

No member of the board shall receive any compensation or emolument whatever for services as such board member. No member of the board shall receive any compensation or emolument whatever for services as such board member.

RCW 13.20.060 Transfer of administration of juvenile court services to county executive — Authorized — Advisory board — Procedure.

In addition, and alternatively, to the authority granted by RCW 13.20.010 , the judges of the superior court of any county with a population of one million or more operating under a county charter providing for an elected county executive are hereby authorized, by a majority vote, subject to approval by ordinance of the legislative authority of the county to transfer to the county executive the responsibility for, and administration of all or part of juvenile court services, including detention, intake and probation. The superior court and county executive of such county are further authorized to establish a five-member juvenile court advisory board to advise the county in its administration of such services, facilities and programs. If the advisory board is established, two members of the advisory board shall be appointed by the superior court, two members shall be appointed by the county executive, and one member shall be selected by the vote of the other four members. The county is authorized to contract or otherwise make arrangements with other public or private agencies to provide all or a part of such services, facilities and programs. Subsequent to any transfer to the county of responsibility and administration of such services, facilities and programs pursuant to the foregoing authority, the judges of such superior court, by majority vote subject to the approval by ordinance of the legislative authority of the county, may retransfer the same to the superior court. In addition, and alternatively, to the authority granted by RCW 13.20.010 , the judges of the superior court of any county with a population of one million or more operating under a county charter providing for an elected county executive are hereby authorized, by a majority vote, subject to approval by ordinance of the legislative authority of the county to transfer to the county executive the responsibility for, and administration of all or part of juvenile court services, including detention, intake and probation. The superior court and county executive of such county are further authorized to establish a five-member juvenile court advisory board to advise the county in its administration of such services, facilities and programs. If the advisory board is established, two members of the advisory board shall be appointed by the superior court, two members shall be appointed by the county executive, and one member shall be selected by the vote of the other four members. The county is authorized to contract or otherwise make arrangements with other public or private agencies to provide all or a part of such services, facilities and programs. Subsequent to any transfer to the county of responsibility and administration of such services, facilities and programs pursuant to the foregoing authority, the judges of such superior court, by majority vote subject to the approval by ordinance of the legislative authority of the county, may retransfer the same to the superior court.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=13.20&full=trueFetched: 6/28/2026