Inside the Washington juvenile prison opening next month

Kendrick Rochelle visits Washington's Green Hill School to recruit young men for a leadership program at Harbor Heights, a new juvenile detention center opening June 9. The facility will start with eight men transferring from Green Hill and grow to a maximum capacity of 46 by fall. Rochelle, who has a background in criminal justice and grew up without a father, aims to inspire the young men by showing them his success despite similar challenges. State officials recognize that while Harbor Heights provides some relief from overcrowding, it does not resolve the unsafe conditions at Green Hill, which has housed 220 to 240 inmates despite a capacity of 180. The overcrowding crisis has intensified due to rising juvenile crime and changes in laws that keep young offenders in juvenile facilities until age 25.

Lawmakers approved $25 million for Harbor Heights but have yet to implement a policy solution for the broader issue. Critics have questioned the facility's renovations, comparing them to "putting lipstick on a pig. " However, Harbor Heights aims to offer therapy, leadership skills, and mentorship opportunities for the young men.