News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 26, 1997
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke directs DSHS to examine, tighten group home security procedures

OLYMPIA - Gov. Gary Locke today directed administrators at the state Department of Social and Health Services to tighten security procedures for group homes operated under contract with the department and to examine the need for further steps to enhance public safety in the state's juvenile justice system.

"We're all very sad about the terrible tragedy that occurred in Stanwood," Locke said, referring to the rape and murder of a 12-year-old Stanwood girl by a teenager who failed to return from work release to a Lynnwood group home. "Our hearts go out to the family of Ashley Jones."

David Dodge, the 17-year-old who pleaded guilty last Wednesday to murder and rape, was serving time for burglary at Larch Way Lodge, a facility for minimum risk young offenders.

Locke ordered DSHS officials to take the following five steps:

* Terminate all recreational outings at juvenile institutions for the next six months;
* Review security procedures at group homes;
* Ensure adequate risk information is gathered when juveniles first enter the state system;
* Investigate ways to better evaluate juveniles coming into the state system and improve how security classifications are determined for them; and
* Ensure that all potential employers are fully aware of a youth's background when they hire someone who is serving time in the state juvenile rehabilitation system.

Locke directed DSHS' Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration to take the lead in ensuring that local juvenile court systems share with state officials all the concerns of law enforcement and court officials - not just the criminal history of a youth - when juveniles are sent to the state for rehabilitation services.

"Ultimately, offenders do return to the community," Locke added. "Group homes enhance public safety in the long run by helping make the transition back to the community more effective than it would be without any transition at all. However, we owe it to the memory of Ashley Jones to do everything we can to avoid the possibility of future tragedies like this one."

DSHS said the steps outlined by the governor address issues brought to light during the recent tragedy, as well as the August escape during a recreational outing of two youths from the state's Maple Lane juvenile detention facility.

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