Outgoing Gov. Jay Inslee will attend an event at Green Hill School in Chehalis on Monday to “discuss next steps aimed at alleviating dangerous overcrowding in Washington’s juvenile rehabilitation facilities.”

In an announcement Friday, the governor’s office said Inslee will “preview policy and budget proposals aimed at ensuring the state can sustainably and safely serve” the juvenile rehabilitation population.

According to Inslee’s office, the governor will be joined by state Sen. Claire Wilson, D-Auburn, Rep. Tana Senn, D-Mercer Island, and King County Superior Court Judge David Keenan, among others.

The visit by Inslee comes as the facility has seen a wave of high-profile misconduct cases and safety concerns in recent years, which have frequently made headlines across the state.

This summer, the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), the state agency that operates the facility, temporarily paused intakes and transferred some inmates to adult facilities. Following legal challenges, the agency later returned to normal operations.

As DCYF transferred 43 residents to the Department of Corrections this summer, Allison Krutsinger, director of public affairs for the agency, said DCYF eyed changes to JR to 25, legislation that sought to reduce recidivism by allowing some offenders to serve their sentences in juvenile rehabilitation even after they become adults.

According to outgoing DCYF Secretary Ross Hunter, the population at Green Hill increased from 150 residents in 2023 to 240 residents in June 2024, which is 30% above capacity, and the facility saw considerable growth after state law allowed some minor offenders to serve their sentences at the facilities. In October, Hunter announced he would not seek reappointment by the incoming Gov. Bob Ferguson.

Overcrowding at Green Hill School has been cited among the reasons for a rise in crime at the facility, which have included drug possession, assault and other felony charges. Riots, overdoses and drug and contraband possession have been among the issues. There have also been arrests of employees for narcotics and relationships with inmates.

As of July 23, 228 aggressive acts had occurred in state juvenile rehabilitation facilities across the state this year.

As the legislative session nears, DCFY has considered at least two new facilities in Western Washington.

In October, former Green Hill School Superintendent Jennifer Redman resumed her role with the facility following the departure of Jason Aldana, who accepted a new role with the state Department of Corrections.

Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, and former Centralia Police Chief Stacy Denham — who is now the Chehalis city manager — have called on Inslee for a state investigation. Inslee previously noted that improvements are being made at the facility while rebuffing the request.