Washington Ends Law Forcing Parents to Pay for Kids’ Imprisonment
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has signed legislation repealing a 1977 policy known as “parent pay,” which required parents to pay for the fees incurred by their child while incarcerated in juvenile detention centers,
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Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has signed legislation repealing a law establishing a 1977 policy known as “parent pay,” which required parents to pay for the fees incurred by their child while incarcerated in juvenile detention centers, reports the South Seattle Emerald. The change canceled the nearly $1.1 million in debt owed collectively by only 242 families in the state, with the average cost of fees being $537. According to statistics from Stand For Children, a state advocacy group, 72 percent of families, making on average $31,000 dollars a year, could be charged up to 20 percent of their household income on fees accrued by a child in juvenile detention. Advocates add that there are still other accessory fees incurred by youth and families outside of parent pay that need to be examined as well, including, but not limited to, the DNA collection fee, victim’s penalty assessment, diversion, bail fees, and evaluation fees.
