(1) In all child in need of services proceedings and at-risk youth proceedings, the court shall verbally notify the parents and the child of the possibility of a finding of contempt for failure to comply with the terms of a court order entered pursuant to this chapter and the possible consequences thereof, including confinement when applicable. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the court shall treat the parents and the child equally for the purposes of applying contempt of court processes and penalties under this section.

Washington Code 13.32A.030

Child in need of services: means a juvenile:

Washington Code 13.32A.030

Crisis residential center: means a secure or semi-secure facility established pursuant to chapter 74. See Washington Code 13.32A.030

Department: means the department of children, youth, and families. See Washington Code 13.32A.030

Parent: includes custodian or guardian. See Washington Code 13.32A.030

person: may be construed to include the United States, this state, or any state or territory, or any public or private corporation or limited liability company, as well as an individual. See Washington Code 1.16.080

Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.

Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.

Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.

Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.

(2) Failure by a party in an at-risk youth proceeding to comply with an order entered under this chapter is a civil contempt of court as provided in RCW 7.21.030(2)(e), subject to the limitations of subsection (3) of this section.

(3) For at-risk youth proceedings only:

(a) If the child fails to comply with the court order, the court may impose:

(i) Community restitution;

(ii) Residential and nonresidential programs with intensive wraparound services;

(iii) A requirement that the child meet with a mentor for a specified number of times; or

(iv) Other services and interventions that the court deems appropriate.

(b)(i) The court may impose remedial sanctions including a fine of up to one hundred dollars and confinement to a secure residential program with intensive wraparound services, or both for contempt of court under this section if (A) one of the less restrictive alternatives under (a) of this subsection has been attempted and another violation of the order has occurred, or (B) the court issues a formal finding that none of the less restrictive alternatives is available.

(ii) A child placed in confinement for contempt under this section may be placed in a secure crisis residential center or any program approved by the department offering secure confinement and intensive wraparound services appropriate to the needs of the child. The child may not be placed in a detention facility as defined in RCW 13.40.020. Secure residential programs with intensive wraparound services as used in this section may be defined as secure juvenile correctional facilities for the purposes of federal law only.

(c) A child involved in a child in need of services proceeding may not be placed in confinement under this section.

(4) A motion for contempt may be made by a parent, a child, juvenile court personnel, or by any public agency, organization, or person having custody of the child under a court order adopted pursuant to this chapter.

(5) For at-risk youth proceedings only, whenever the court finds probable cause to believe, based upon consideration of a motion for contempt and the information set forth in a supporting declaration, that a child has violated a placement order entered under this chapter, the court must direct the court clerk to command the presence of the child by the issuance of a summons or other method approved by local court rule instead of a warrant, unless the court finds probable cause to believe that the child would not appear in response to the command or finds probable cause to believe that the arrest is necessary to prevent serious bodily harm to the juvenile or another, in which case the court may issue a warrant. A warrant of arrest must be supported by an affidavit or sworn testimony, which must be recorded electronically or by stenographer, establishing the grounds for issuing the warrant. The warrant of arrest for a child under this subsection may not be served on a child inside of school during school hours in a location where other students are present if the child named in the warrant is a pupil at the school. The court must communicate the summons to the child through mail, telephone, text message, or other method of communication needed in order to ensure the child has received the information. If the child fails to appear via the summons or other method, the court may issue an order directing law enforcement to pick up and take the child to detention.

(6) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the court’s inherent contempt power or curtail its exercise.

Effective date—2019 c 312 §§ 6 and 9: See note following RCW 7.21.030.

Effective date—2019 c 312 §§ 4, 8, and 12: See note following RCW 7.21.030.

Effective date—Findings—Intent—2019 c 312: See notes following RCW 7.21.080.

Effective date—2000 c 162 §§ 11-17: See note following RCW 43.185C.265.

Findings—Intent—Part headings not law—Short title—1998 c 296: See notes following RCW 74.13.025.

Findings—Short title—Intent—Construction—1996 c 133: See notes following RCW 13.32A.197.

Short title—1995 c 312: See note following RCW 13.32A.010.

Intent—1990 c 276: See RCW 13.32A.015.

Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—1990 c 276: See notes following RCW 13.32A.020.

Severability—1981 c 298: See note following RCW 13.32A.040.